“I’m definitely going to need your floral scarf for my costume, so get it right away” – Bella’s shrill voice was almost a scream, making Mimi, who was picking up the discarded clothes from the floor, flinch.
“But that was my mother’s… sorry, but I don’t want to give it to you, I have so little of her’s to remember her by.”
“Who cares? You can’t go to the party anyway, because someone has to look after Little Oliver. You’ve never worn that scarf before, and it’s just what I need. Hand it over!”
This was too much for Mimi. If it wasn’t bad enough that they had to live together because of their parents, then on top of that they were stuck at home alone for two whole days with Little Oliver, their four-year-old brother. She had reached her breaking point.
“You’re not having it! You can sort your costume out for yourself, but don’t boss me around. Just because my father married your mother, it doesn’t make us sisters!”
“I only asked for a stupid scarf, you can get stuffed, you jealous cow!” Bella flushed red with anger, and stormed out of the room with such force that she even knocked Little Oliver down, who started crying immediately, of course.” ““Come here, Little Oliver! Everything’s all right!” Mimi said as she kissed her little brother’s head.
“Mimi,” sniffled the little boy, “what fancy dress party are you going to? Are you leaving me here?”
“Oh, no, nobody’s leaving you alone anywhere. I’m staying here with you, only Bella is going.”
“But what is a fancy dress party?”
“It’s not a fancy dress party, it’s a costume ball… and there will be a fancy dress costume contest! And guess what the winner gets? A helicopter ride over the city with Bob the Dog, the singer.”
“Wow, I love Bob! I like his song that goes, ‘love is not my bread and butter, come with me if that’s no bother!’ Yay!” Little Oliver chanted the refrain from the most recent hit. Every radio station had been playing it at least ten times a day, no wonder even a four-year-old could remember the catchy tune.
“Yes,” sighed Mimi, “it’s going to be a really cool party. It’s organized by the shoe company that Bob the Dog’s dad owns… Music, dancing and cool costumes… but whatever, there is no way I can go.”
“It’s okay, I’ll play with you so you won’t get bored,” the little boy tried to comfort Mimi.
“Now, that’ll be great! I mean, I can’t wait!”” “The door swung open, and Bella spun through it like a whirlwind.
“Okay, I found a similar scarf at mom’s, so you’re off the hook. But I need your glass figurines! They will fit my shoes just right. I’m going to do something like Lady Gaga did at her last concert.”
“Come off it, Bella! They’ll break if you stick them on your shoes! Don’t be daft!”
“I’ll glue them on so they won’t break. What’s your problem anyway? They are just silly little glass figurines anyway!”
“Because I collect them… It took me years to get this many. You don’t understand because you don’t care about anything, nothing is precious to you!”
Little Oliver was getting fed up. “Stop fighting, that’s not nice! You are always fighting.”
In despair Mimi stood between her brother and her stepsister. Little Oliver started to cry, and Bella was fuming with rage as usual. There was no other way.
“You can take two…” Mimi whimpered.
“I need four” Bella replied sharply, and she was already running to Mimi’s dresser to take four of the figurines.
Of course, she chose Mimi’s favourites.” ““So, how do I look?” Bella twirled around in front of the hall mirror, obviously very pleased with herself. The sun was going down.
“Well… honestly… it’s quite a nice costume… and I especially like the mask,” said Mimi, as she tried but just couldn’t find the words for the horrible pile of clothes Bella had chosen to combine. Little Oliver helped her out:
“Who are you going as? A scarecrow? Ha-ha!”
Bella looked at her brother, enraged at the insult.
“The Spring Fairy, in case you hadn’t noticed. Well, good-bye!” and as usual, she stormed off and slammed the door behind her. Mimi watched from the window as she boarded the bus, barely holding back her tears. Even Little Oliver couldn’t console her.
Then she thought for a moment and took out the phone her parents had left at home in case of an emergency.
“It’s awful here at home without dad! Bella has been torturing me all day, and I couldn’t even go to the fancy dress party because I have to take care of Little Oliver. Auntie Esther, help me!” ‘Could you please call me?’ She texted. Aunt Esther was Mimi’s long dead mother’s sister, and lived not far from them. She was a really cool aunt who travelled a lot.
“Maybe she is away travelling again,” thought Mimi sadly. Her sadness did not last long, however, because the bell soon rang.” ““Hello, sweetie! You see, your fairy godmother is here, so go and get ready for the party I’ll look after Little Oliver. But be home by midnight, because I have a flight to catch… I’m going to the Azores for a yoga camp. Chop, chop!” Aunt Esther said without taking a breath, and threw herself down on the sofa. “Well, are you going, or aren’t you?”
“Aunt Esther… It’s a fancy dress party. And I don’t have a costume!”
“Oh. That’s no good then. But we can sort something out! Let’s go up to the attic and see if we can find something fancy” Aunt Esther was unstoppable as she ran up the stairs. By the time Mimi caught up with her, she was rummaging through a large box in the corner of the attic that contained some of her Mum’s old things.
“Bingo!” She said, as from the box she pulled a beautiful bright red robe, with gorgeous, shimmering feathers on the sleeves and collar. “Darling, you’ll be a phoenix!”
“And the shoes…? I don’t have any shoes either!”
“What size are you? 36, if I am not mistaken? Here, take mine.” And she kicked off her own sparkling, glittery red shoes. “Thank goodness I’m a snazzy dresser. Now, off you go! Oh wait, you need a mask too! This will do” Aunt Esther said, as she cut two eyeholes into the sash from the dress with a pair of scissors.
Mimi could not have been happier.