Cindy, my 18 year-old daughter, was having an off-day. Mothers can just tell these things.
"What's the matter, honey?" I asked her gently after school.
"Oh, mom, the prom is coming up, and I really want Jeremy to ask me to go, but so far he hasn't!" she pouted.
"Oh, there, there," I said gently. "Don't you worry about Jeremy. I'm sure there are lots of boys out there who think you're beautiful and would love to take you out!"
"Really? You think so?"
"I know so!" I assured her proudly.
That seemed to mollify her for just a moment, then she yelled: "Then how come they haven't asked me out to the prom!" With that, she ran up to her room and slammed the door shut.
In the next room, my husband sat smoking his pipe and reading the paper. "Do you want me to talk to her, dear?"
"No, no. I'll do it," I said, standing and smoothing out my pink dress. "You just enjoy your paper."
I walked up the stairs and knocked lightly on her door. "Sweetie? Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?"
"I'm not hungry! I'm never eating anything ever again! Leave me alone!"
"Oh, come on, honey. You know, I had the same problems when I was a young lady, too..."
"Yeah, right! You're gorgeous! You're like a supermodel! I'll never look like you!"
That made me blush. I gazed down at my perfect D-cup breasts filling out my dress. "Well, yes, I'm gorgeous now, but I didn't always look like this. But I'll always remember the day when my mom did something very special for me. It changed my perspective on everything."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"She took me out for a girl's day out, and it was just what I needed!"
"What do you do on a girl's day out?"
"Oh, lots of things! Get our nails done, get our hair done... you name it! It will be out special day! And then afterward we'll go out for chocolate milkshakes!"
"Well... I guess that sounds okay," muttered Cindy.
"Oh, goodie! We'll have a swell time, you'll see! And afterward, you won't even be able to remember Jeremy's name!"
*****
The big day came just one week later. I really dolled myself up that morning, worn my bright red heels, a tight red dress, let my long blonde hair bounce around my shoulders. "Are you ready, dear?"
"I suppose," Cindy said, walking out with her head hanging low.
"Oh, don't worry, you'll be smiling soon enough! Trust me! Momma knows best!"
"All right, you two, don't be out late!" said my husband from his armchair.
"Don't worry, honey, we won't!" I said.
Once in the car, Cindy really opened up to me. "I found out that Jeremy is taking that no good bitch Jessica Clarke to the prom."
"Now I don't want to hear any more talk of this Jeremy!" I said firmly. "Today is not about him! It's about us!"
We drove clear out of Pleasantville, past all the cafes and boutiques and salons... Kept going past the railroad tracks and to the bad part of town. There were boarded up shops and litter blowing on the streets. Mangy alley cats regarded us warily.
"Wait a minute, where is this?" asked Cindy, confused. "Where are you taking me?"