If Cinderella had been a 40-year-old divorced mother of four….

By Wendy Pierman Mitzel ~~~~~~~~~

“A Ball? A Benefit Ball!… Of course I want to go to a Ball!”

Count me in for a social soiree anytime. And even better, help support a friend.

Just a few minor details to take care of.

Who will take child #1 to dance?

Phone call to fellow dance mom. 

“Help?”

How will #2 get to the baseball game?

Call ex-husband. 

“Help?”

Okay, check, now onto the next thing.

A doctor’s appointment.

An errand to run.

No problem, I got this. Look lots of time.

Now, to the dress.

It’s a conservative crowd.

Cancel out most options as winter or too boho and I’m left with the red dress.

Maybe not that one, it stands out in a crowd.

Quick, two hours to go and I need a fairy godmother.

Call fashionable friend with lots of clothes and jewels.

“Help?”

Fashionable friend is on the case but has lent most dresses to working friend, who is not at home but after panicky phone call has generously allowed us to enter home and expansive closet to attack dresses with abandon.

First must pass confused teenage son of working friend who stares at the two car parade pulling into the driveway and women on the move rushing into house past over-friendly dog and up the stairs. 

There they are! This one? No. This one? Nah, won’t zip. This one? Nope. That one? Okay. Maybe. Yes, that’ll do.

Now the magic wand of accessories: Too sparkly. Too bland. Too matchy matchy. This? Just right!

Thank you Fashionable Fairy Godmother!

Off with the dress, hang up the others, gather the jewels, back in the car, (don’t hit the chickens) nearly knick working friend’s husband’s car that just pulled in driveway. Call on cell phone to apologize.

Round the corner. Scream into driveway. Run into house. 

Mom, I’m hungry.

Dinner?! Forgot dinner.

Okay…. ground beef in fridge. Rip open, dump in pan, turn in high, yell at son to stir, “HELP!”

Strip off clothes, plug in hot rollers, clip up hair, 30 second shower, bathrobe, run out to son stirring beef, give thumbs up, locate cheese and tortillas, toss son taco seasoning, “do something with that.”

Back to mirror, makeup, unclip hair, brush, roll up, wrestle with nylons, re-wrestle with nylons, curse nylons,  unroll hair, shake, spray.

PAUSE

Text from boyfriend: “R U On Way?”

Reply: “Soon. Meet Downtown. Parking Garage. I have your dress shoes.”

GO

Toss on dress, add jewelry, dig out black heels, search out black purse. Clip clop out into kitchen. 

Hug and kiss and thank teenage sons for holding down the fort. And also remind them to put away left overs.

Back out of driveway.

Search for phone to look up directions. Hmmm.. cell phone?

Back into driveway.

Run into house.

“Help!”

Children miraculously move.

Call cell phone. Listen for ringtone. Call again. Where is that coming from! Follow faint tinkly sound into bedroom. Oldest son points to closet. Dig through shoe pile. 

“Seriously?!”

Grab phone, thank children, clip clop out, back in car, back out car, get on the road.

Navigate traffic. Arrive downtown 25 minutes early. Early? Park in concrete garage. Wait for Prince Charming. Check Facebook. Check email. Transfer contents of “mom purse” into “party purse.” Watch attendees park, exit and enter building. Confirm decision not to wear red dress as good choice. 

Prince Charming pulls in, quick here’s your shoes. Do they fit? (tee hee)

Into the doors, up the elevator, through the hallway, into the ball.

Look around, look around. Spot gracious friend making the rounds.

Big hug, kiss, kiss.

“So glad you could come.”

Deep breath, where’s the wine?

“No problem at all… Happy to help.”

Authors Note: The “ball” in the story was the Counsel Conquering Cancer event founded by lawyers, including my amazing friends Melissa and David Mack, for all who support Connecticut Children’s in its fight against childhood cancer. It’s mission is simple: to raise money and awareness for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s Division of Hematology/Oncology.  You can find more information here: http://connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/counsel