Rose Red

A recent television commercial said that green signified the color of envy and red symbolized the color of defiance. Jennifer opposed that notion. To her the color of red embodied temptation and that’s what she planned to achieve tonight.

At their luncheon a few days ago, Susan Ritter, full of vim, talked excessively about her dinner party. When she mentioned Dale Larkin along with his miraculous house finding abilities and how her family was indebted to him, Susan procured Jennifer’s undivided attention. With Susan’s constant talking in circles, Jennifer was easily distracted by the wild tattoos displayed on the exposed flesh of the waitresses, especially the tattoo on the small of Zoë’s back of a huge green eye. Its unblinking stare was eerie, as if it could see into Jennifer’s soul.

Realizing that Dale would be at the party, too made Jennifer ache with anticipation. Their social circles never crossed, until now. She was interested in how he performed in a group setting, non-sexually of course. Would he be able to keep his eyes off her? She would make sure he couldn’t. Nothing speaks longer than a carefully tailored dress and the right amount of flesh exposed.

On cue, Zoë brought the check over to the table. “I’ll get this one, Susan. My treat,” said Jennifer smiling.

“Thank you. But only if you’re definitely coming to the party,” said Susan. Jennifer smiled and nodded, as she gave Zoë one of her credit cards. But Zoë’s attention was diverted to Jennifer’s empty teacup. She picked it up and said, “I must read your dregs. Something is compelling me to do this, Toots. I’ve learned not to ignore these warnings.”

Since it had been a day of surprises, Jennifer felt that she could withstand one more. “Dregs? Not my palm?” Jennifer was new to the art of divination.

“I’ve developed an alternative to tea leaf reading. Your dreg pattern is interesting. See the closed bud at the dip where the bottom of the teacup connects with the cup itself? I feel that it suggests that you handled something new with care, maybe a new life. The rest of your dreg pattern is in chaos. Look at this shape.” She pointed to a circle in the center of the cup’s bottom. The moon. It will bring deception but also new beginnings. There will be much change in all aspects of your life very soon, Toots. Prepare yourself.” Zoë’s cryptic forecast sent the women into a bevy of laughter.

Jennifer didn’t hide her disbelief and said to Zoë, “Of course there will be chaos. I’m moving soon.”

Zoë, tolerant as ever said, “Prepare yourself. These changes that are coming will be unavoidable.”

As Jennifer stood, looking at her reflection in the mirror, she smiled and said out loud, “Oh there will be changes tonight! I’ll have Dale Larkin on his knees begging me to be his forever.”

Her halter dress was deep ruby chiffon, the color of lust during a red moon. The cleavage dipped low and was adorned by a rhinestone broach pinned at the valley of her bosom. The skirl was pleated and stayed close to her body, until she turned suddenly, watching it swing around her legs and revealing black stockings. The matching shawl finished the outfit with a subtle touch of vogue.
Jennifer’s blonde hair, which was naturally straight, now exhibited curls and her lips were dewy red, like rose petals in rain. She demonstrated softness, a look she refused to let her professional world see. But tonight was the perfect time to expose it with deadly intent aimed full force at Dale Larkin. She knew that change was going, because she had “red” it somewhere.