Prom promise

Ruby wanted to be a prom princess, but could they afford it?

Kelly forgot she’d promised Ruby a prom dress but Ruby remembered all too well. “What d’you think Mum?” Ruby pointed to a dress on her computer screen that could have graced an Oscar winner. “Lovely.” “That’s what I want for the prom.” “What?” Kelly peered at the screen to make sure she hadn’t been wrong about the price.

“You said I could have a dress.” Ruby’s smile vanished. “You promised.”

“I promised you could have a dress but I didn’t know they cost that much.” Kelly remembered her own school leaving party at a disco where she wore her best dress and her sister’s shoes.

The atmosphere was frosty as Ruby lamented her predicament and Kelly reeled from the weighty price tag on the dress.

“I’ll need shoes, a haircut, transport,” Ruby said. “Jewellery, a makeover…” Kelly’s heart sank. The prom dress she’d promised then forgotten was on Kelly’s mind when she woke up the next day. She wanted Ruby to have a night to remember but not at such cost. Providing a luxurious dress when she couldn’t afford it would send the wrong message to her.

Kelly asked her friends what they were doing. Most had saved up all year… or Grandma was buying the dress.

She couldn’t tell her mum that Ruby wanted a two hundred pound dress, fifty pound shoes and all kinds of extras. She’d be shocked and then she’d remind her that she’d been hasty marrying Ruby’s dad, then letting him off his financial responsibilities so easily. She’d ask her if she’d met anyone new. And then she’d offer to make something on her sewing machine.

She couldn’t do that to herself. She’d have to think of something else.

About your dress?” Kelly said to Ruby later that week. “I can’t get the one you showed me but I’ll get a cheaper version of it and jazz it up with accessories.” Ruby rolled her eyes. “Or we can buy one second hand.”

“Mum?” Ruby’s eyes widened with shock. “You promised.”

“I know, but I forgot and now I don’t have time to save up. So, what do you suggest we do instead?”

“Oh Mum.” Ruby folded her arms and looked sad and a bit spoiled too.

“Either we go clothes shopping in town at the weekend or…” Kelly didn’t have any other ideas. “Or what?” “Or we think of something.” Kelly was put out at her daughter’s behaviour. She didn’t want to mention the hardship she’d been through giving her a decent upbringing on one ordinary wage. Nor did she want to remind Ruby that she’d been wearing clothes from the sales for years. And as for her wedding and engagement rings – it had been difficult to sell the modest love tokens to pay bills.

“Like what?” “Like how to overcome a difficult situation.” The best lesson her daughter could learn was how to do that. “Let’s start with selling all the stuff you don’t wear and use any more.” “But that…” “I said, let’s start.” Kelly was heartened when Ruby cleared her cluttered room and placed photos of the things she didn’t want on the internet but she knew that even if everything sold they wouldn’t raise the amount needed.

Kelly contributed boots she’d never worn and a coat. The amount crept up but still wasn’t enough.

“I could ask Grandma if she’s got anything I could sell.” Ruby was getting into her stride.

Kelly wanted to warn Ruby that her grandma would offer to make a dress with material from her plentiful stash but it was too late. Ruby was on the phone.

“I’m raising money for a gorgeous prom dress,” she gushed. “Mum said

“Can I SEE your dress?” KELLY asked on the day a PACKAGE arrived

she’ll buy me the basic model but I want to upgrade.”

Kelly winced at the thought of her mum’s face when she heard that.

“When can I come over? Fab. See you tomorrow.”

Ruby arrived home late the following evening with two bin liners full of items to sell.

“Can I help with the photos?” Kelly asked.

“No thanks, Mum.” Ruby seemed preoccupied.

“Did Grandma give you lots of things?” Kelly probed.

“Eventually, after offering to make a dress from some flowery stuff and giving me lots of advice that I didn’t ask for.” Ruby managed a rueful half smile.

“That sounds like Grandma.”

As Ruby photographed her stash of donated items, Kelly prepared packed lunches and half expected a call from her mum about the wisdom of letting a sixteen year old spend so much on a dress she’d only wear once.

She was right of course, as she’d been right when she said that her marriage to Ruby’s dad had been too hasty to last. That was her mum, absolutely right with advice that no-one wanted.

Each night Ruby returned to the picture of the dress on the internet. It was beautiful, red and backless with just enough material at the front to cover her modesty.

After the dress she looked at strappy high shoes, expensive evening bags and hairstyles.

“Have you ordered it yet?” Kelly asked her daughter.

“Not yet. I’ve not finished selling everything yet.”

More funds seemed possible with her mum’s donations and Kelly had the feeling of a disaster averted. She phoned her mum to thank her. “It was the least I could do,” her mum said with a hint of disapproval. “Why you promised her a dress like that when you’ve struggled to pay your bills I don’t know.” “I know, Mum.” It was pointless explaining the hasty and forgotten promise. “But we’re back on track now, with your help.”

The next few days saw packaged items leaving the house as they were sold. Money trickled into the account and Kelly was relieved that her plan had worked. Upstairs in her bedroom Ruby and her friends watched videos showing them how to style their hair and paint perfect flicks on their eyelids. They were economising on make-up and hairdos to use their savings to book a pink limousine for the evening. The laughter that travelled down stairs was proof that there was as much fun to be had before the prom as there would be at it. “Can I see your dress?” Kelly asked on the day a package arrived in the post for Ruby. “It’s bad luck,” she said. “That’s for brides.” “And prom princesses.”

The sun lingered in the sky on the evening of the prom. In Ruby’s room a handful of joyful girls trooped to and from the bathroom, preparing themselves for the night ahead. The smell of perfume and hairspray rolled downstairs to where Kelly stood with her camera, waiting to capture it all.

In her hand was the ruby bracelet Ruby’s dad gave to her as a wedding present. It was a miracle she’d managed to hold onto it and it would look lovely with the red dress.

“Ready, Mum?” Several high-heeled shoes thundered downstairs and Kelly stood waiting to capture the girls as they burst through the door.

Ruby was the last to step into the room for Kelly’s approval. “What d’you think?” she asked. “It’s gorgeous.” Kelly was astonished at the off-the-shoulder dress whose contours showed off a blossoming figure. “It’s even better than the one you were going to buy.”

Ruby twirled round and a skin tight skirt showed off her lovely long legs and trim waist.

“That’s what Grandma said.” Ruby’s smile was infectious. “She said she bought this just when she found out she was expecting you and never got to wear it.”

Tears sprang into Kelly’s eyes at the thought of her practical mum buying such a dress, having such a figure.

“She made a few alterations to make it right for me.” Ruby glanced approvingly at herself in the mirror. “And for once, she was right.” “What about the dress you wanted?” “After all the sacrifices that have been made to get us here I didn’t want to waste it on a dress I’ll only wear once.”

In Ruby’s words, Kelly could hear her mum’s voice and wisdom.

“Grandma gave me this for nothing. I bought the shoes and bag with what I earned and what’s left over will do for something else.” She spied the bracelet in Kelly’s hand.

“My wedding gift from your dad. It’s yours now…”

“Oh, it’s lovely.” Ruby kissed her mum’s cheek.

“Promise you’ll have a good time?” Kelly said as a pink limousine nosed into view outside. “I promise,” she said. Some promises were made to be broken, she thought, and others were definitely made to be kept.