Yellow Peril In The Country

Friday nights Jan, Keith, Bobby and I would go out to eat, choosing a different country pub each week. They were a fun couple to be with, but I was beginning to feel the strain. Bobby said I was silly, I looked lovely whatever I wore,
“you don’t need to tart yourself up in new frocks every time we go out love, it’s that gorgeous smile and pretty violet eyes people see when they look at you”
then he kissed and hugged me.

I felt better after he’d said that although as the week wore on my insecurities returned. Jan after all was a tall willowy blonde, who drew men’s eyes wherever she went, her dresses were always stunningly different. She never missed the chance to pass comment on my attire, sometimes even saying,
“ Oh I remember that, didn’t you wear it a couple of times last month? It‘s really very sweet”

That Friday was a scorcher so I chose Bobby’s favourite, the dress he always said was made just for me, it being almost the colour of my eyes. A soft cool cotton halter, and crease resistant, so I always felt good in it. I knew I’d only worn it once before in their company, so with my confidence restored a little, I began to hope she wouldn't notice.

When we arrived at the pub I was feeling relaxed, then my earlier ebullience disappearied the moment Jan got out of their car and began to walk towards us.

She was wearing a silk sheath dress the colour of yellow corn. She looked fantastic.

I slid out of the car and pasted a smile on my face that I was sure didn’t quite reach my eyes, then suddenly her dress started to grow black in great patches, she gave a loud squeal of anguish, frantically trying to escape millions of minute corn flies that had settled upon her.
Behind me I heard a snort, I knew Bobby was trying to hold back a laugh. Inside, my inner imp was chuckling.

Keith began to desperately brush the black menace away, smearing them over the fine silk dress, making a terrible mess saying,
“ never mind sweetie they’ll all come out in the wash”