No. 8 – The Prom Dress

By Nandhini G. Natarajan

 

It was a special joy,

a milestone for my high school

Downs Syndrome daughter.

She was going to the prom,

just like her sister, Anjali

the previous year.

Her Best Buddy was taking her.

 

(I wanted to adopt

the best buddy.

But her parents

refused.)

 

I pulled out all stops.

No dress was good enough

for this occasion.

I made a dark-pink satin gown

And got shoes to match.

 

Alas, there was an emergency

on that momentous day,

I would be out of town.

 

Anjali was cajoled

to come from college

and dress her sister for the day.

I was reassured on the

transatlantic call

that Piya looked

splendid.

 

I longed to see the pictures.

When I did, I wept.

Her father came over to point

out proudly.

I even put on her tights which Anjali had forgotten.

And there it was between the lovely satin dress,

and the lovely matching shoes.

A pair of pure white,

thick, woolen stockings.