Tessie D

I went shopping for Christmas presents after work yesterday. I’ve saved up over the past couple months a little bit in each paycheck so that I’d have some set aside. Even before Angel, I knew that I wanted this Christmas to be different. I’ve never really bought presents for anyone — never really had the money to buy anything special. But, I have my own money now, and I want to spend it buying presents for the people I love.

I took off work a little early yesterday, and I went to the department store in town. I got Momma a white satin nightgown with embroidered flowers along the neckline and Annie a pair of soft, grey gloves and a matching hat and scarf. For Daddy, I picked out a new blue western shirt with pearl snaps and the breast pockets for his cigarettes. I found a crystal pie plate for Mrs. Owens and a box of new handkerchiefs for Mr. Owens. I found for Angel a new leather wallet with an A embossed onto it.

I wasn’t planning to buy myself anything, but then I found the most beautiful white pantsuit on sale. There was only one jacket in my size left, and when I tried it on, I swear it fit as if it were made for me. Momma would say it was completely impractical and that I’d have to be careful not to spill anything on it. I didn’t care about any of that. I wanted to wear it out of the store.

And, I don’t know where I’d wear it–it’s much too fancy for the dairy or dinner in town. Maybe I could wear it to a party. But the suit was beautiful and I’d never felt prettier in anything in my entire life. I bought it, brought it home, and hung it on the door frame. I don’t even have shoes or a blouse to wear under the jacket. I’ll have to find those later, but just looking at it every morning when I wake up makes me feel like I’m becoming the adult I’d always wanted to be. I could graduate from college in that suit. I could be a writer in that suit.