The Boy I Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

tried on!’ she cried. ‘It is exhausting.’
    Dora had narrowed the choice down to two dresses. One was a 1950s satin dress, very fitted at the waist with a low neckline and off the shoulder. The other was a simple satin dress cut on the
bias, so very flattering for the figure, and rather sexy. It was black.
    ‘This one needs some sparkly jewellery to set it off,’ announced Dora, holding the black satin up.
    ‘I have no idea which one to choose,’ sighed Sally, who had really had enough and was thinking about a glass of wine and some shepherd’s pie in the pub.
    Jackie suggested they took both.
    Well,’ agreed Dora, ‘that is the obvious answer, but I don’t think the budget will stretch that far.’
    Jackie checked the tickets on both dresses and said, ‘Look, why don’t you buy the satin one and I will give you a twenty-five per cent discount? And I will let you have the other
dress on loan, so take it up to Crewe with you, and if you decide you can use it, we will re-negotiate.’
    ‘Oh, that would be fantastic,’ said Sally. ‘If you are really sure?’ And when Jackie nodded her assent: ‘Thank you
so
much. Actually, it could be very useful
for Crewe because we might well need some period stuff and we could liaise with you. That is brilliant, Jackie.’
    The girls were on a high as they left the shop and danced down the street.
    ‘How amazing is that?’ said Dora. ‘Come on, we will celebrate with a quick glass of wine in the wine bar, then onto more mundane attire like trousers and tops. I want to take
you to this terrific boutique that has opened recently. They have really unusual stuff and it is cheap.’ With that she was off across the street, skipping towards the wine bar, followed by an
equally excited Sally clutching her bag of goodies in her hands.
    By the end of the day, the sisters returned home worn out. They flopped down on the sofa surrounded by bags. Patricia made them a cup of tea and then sat down and waited for
the fashion parade to begin.
    Dora took charge and explained about the two evening dresses. Much against her will, Sally made one last effort and modelled them for her mother.
    ‘Oh yes, girls, you have done well. They are both beautiful and so different. I remember having a dress like this for one of the Chelsea Arts balls,’ Patricia said softly,
remembering the joy of dancing all night and feeling so beautiful in her dress. ‘The fifties one is gorgeous, Sally, and has a very flattering neckline because it shows off one’s
shoulders as well as a bit of bosom.’
    Sally laughed at her mother’s rather coy choice of word for the old cleavage.
    ‘Bosom? Oh, Mother, that is so ladylike!’ she chortled.
    ‘Well, I suppose it is, but it was what we called it in my day. Now the black dress is very sexy, isn’t it? Let’s hope the theatre does some Noël Coward and then you will
have the perfect outfit. It needs some jewellery though, doesn’t it?’
    Dora chipped in, ‘Exactly what I said, so we should go jumble-sale hunting on Saturday and pick up a bit of sparkle.’
    ‘Good idea,’ agreed Patricia. ‘Now show me what else you have bought, please.’
    Sally was secretly thrilled that her sister had sorted out her wardrobe for her. She knew she had no real flair and was not at all interested in fashion. She lived in a couple of pairs of
trousers, a few shirts and jumpers, and a standard navy jacket for every occasion. Dora had found her some great-fitting jeans, and some lovely suede boots to go with them. ‘But also handy
when it gets cold with some thick tights and a short skirt,’ Dora had suggested.
    There was a very useful three-quarter-length wool jacket which looked great over T-shirts, and also a couple of long tops which just covered the bum, and were simple yet attractive. Dora was
able to mix and match and put several outfits together for Sally with ease.
    ‘I don’t know how you are able to see these things so easily,’ remarked Sally.