Delivering to the Bridal shop.

The dressmaker made me wait if there was a fitting. Amid swathes of white net and lace. The opposite to the dusty brown tobacconists. I felt she wanted me to argue but there’d be a Saturday afternoon fug back at the shop so was happy to stand.

(I once tried to sit. Her eyebrows warned me not to.)

So, I waited.
Not touching.
Until summoned.

Doris always asked how much. Then searched for money like the amount (£13.60) and the time (3:00pm) I’d arrived were a shock although everything about her order (200 Silk Cut) was the same every week.