Hush, little baby.
Don't say a word.
Mama's going to buy you
a mocking bird.
And if that mocking bird won't sing,
Mama's going to buy you
a diamond ring.
If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's going to buy you
a looking glass.
Out on the scene came the Romany woman, two young girls in tow who skipped ahead of her, talking and laughing with that careless way of the youth. Had the Gypsy ever been as young as though two' Vera didn't think so, pausing to stare at her reflection from a windowpane.
She didn't look bad at all, for a woman whose daughter was turning seventeen soon, or so she reassured herself.
Alyssa was almost a replica of Vera though the Gypsy had intense amber eyes (and how those eyes had landed her in trouble ") opposed to the midnight dark of the younger. Alyssa somehow had flaxen hair, falling to her waist with nary a curl. Vera's hair was all tawny mane, wild and clingy like ivy vines. Today she wore it under a white scarf, silver hoop earrings winking in the afternoon sun. She had forgone the skirts and chose instead a comfortable pair of jeans, peasant blouse hanging just a bit off her shoulders. "I don't look old " Right?" Said the Romany to the murky surface, both kind and cruel in reassurance both given and denied.
"Mom?"
"Oh, nothing ?" They continued walking, venturing on that age old quest of women; they needed to find a dress.
More specifically a formal gown for Alyssa.
The day was a bright one with the sun hanging high in the sky, hardly a cloud to be found to cast a shadow over the people milling from one shop to the next. The chatter hovering still couldn't drown the children's excitement at this "coming of age dance."
Whatever it was, Vera wasn't sure considering she had never attended a formal sort of school. She could still hear Alyssa, "Prom Mom, it's called a prom and I need the best dress for it! It has to be perfect because " "
The rest was lost to the Gypsy's memory, dimmed by the realization that her daughter was growing up " and far, far too fast for Vera's liking. Alyssa was only sixteen years old, with the Gypsy staring at the ripe age of thirty-two. Where had the time gone" When did Alyssa become this woman-child that frightened her so much' That precious loss of innocence that".
"Mom!!!!!!"
Hearing the shout the Gypsy frowned, peering up at two teenage girls staring at her with expectant expressions. Oh, yeah, the damned dress. Vera suppressed a long suffering sigh, along with the strong craving for a cigarette.
"Meu fiica, I'm right behind you."
"Mom, look!"
Alyssa, along with her friend Katie, busied themselves by gawking at the finery displayed in the window. Taking her time Vera considered the dress her daughter seemed to be so keen on.
"No?"
"But Moooooooom!"
"It is too low cut, not at all suitable for a young giir " ahem, woman."
"C"mon! It's perfect, the color, the cut, it's the latest out and I ?"
"Yeah Mama Vera," chimed in Katie with a grin on her dark skinned face, "Aly will look gorgeous!"
Suddenly that craving for a cigarette intensified, bringing with it a headache that nearly had the Gypsy growling at the two teenagers. Twitching her lips in mocking self-contempt at her own protective urges Vera once again considered the dress with a hard gaze, amber eyes sharply narrowed into thin slits.
The dress itself was a lovely shade of sky blue, made from a satin fabric that shimmered in the sunlight and in moonlight it would fairly glow as her daughter danced in the arms of some " Vera swallowed the growl building up in the back of her throat.
Discreetly she cleared her throat, tilting her head she did note that it was floor length so, no leg would be showing. Okay, this was a plus in the Gypsy's mind but one downside to the damn gown (as it had become in her mind) was that it was strapless and would show a small portion of Alyssa's back.
"Fine but you'll wear your hair down."
The two girls cheered and at break neck speed dashed into the shop. It was a lucky thing for the Gypsy that a small coffee shop was directly across from the dress shop, meaning it would be fairly easy to keep an eye on the rather rambunctious duo.
Lighting up that longed for smoke she sauntered across the street, walking with that curious self-conscious way of hers, motherhood doing nothing to dim the sensuous sway of her hips.
Sprawling into a white wicker chair placed conveniently in front of an iron wrought table outside the coffee shop she once again considered her dilemma.
Her baby was growing up. What's a mother to do ".
If that looking glass gets broke, Mama's going to buy you a billy goat. If that billy goat won't pull, Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull. If that cart and bull turns over, Mama's going to buy a dog named Rover. If that dog named Rover won't bark, Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart If that horse and cart falls down, You'll still be the sweetest one in town.
Out on the scene came the Romany woman, two young girls in tow who skipped ahead of her, talking and laughing with that careless way of the youth. Had the Gypsy ever been as young as though two' Vera didn't think so, pausing to stare at her reflection from a windowpane.
She didn't look bad at all, for a woman whose daughter was turning seventeen soon, or so she reassured herself.
Alyssa was almost a replica of Vera though the Gypsy had intense amber eyes (and how those eyes had landed her in trouble ") opposed to the midnight dark of the younger. Alyssa somehow had flaxen hair, falling to her waist with nary a curl. Vera's hair was all tawny mane, wild and clingy like ivy vines. Today she wore it under a white scarf, silver hoop earrings winking in the afternoon sun. She had forgone the skirts and chose instead a comfortable pair of jeans, peasant blouse hanging just a bit off her shoulders. "I don't look old " Right?" Said the Romany to the murky surface, both kind and cruel in reassurance both given and denied.
"Mom?"
"Oh, nothing ?" They continued walking, venturing on that age old quest of women; they needed to find a dress.
More specifically a formal gown for Alyssa.
The day was a bright one with the sun hanging high in the sky, hardly a cloud to be found to cast a shadow over the people milling from one shop to the next. The chatter hovering still couldn't drown the children's excitement at this "coming of age dance."
Whatever it was, Vera wasn't sure considering she had never attended a formal sort of school. She could still hear Alyssa, "Prom Mom, it's called a prom and I need the best dress for it! It has to be perfect because " "
The rest was lost to the Gypsy's memory, dimmed by the realization that her daughter was growing up " and far, far too fast for Vera's liking. Alyssa was only sixteen years old, with the Gypsy staring at the ripe age of thirty-two. Where had the time gone" When did Alyssa become this woman-child that frightened her so much' That precious loss of innocence that".
"Mom!!!!!!"
Hearing the shout the Gypsy frowned, peering up at two teenage girls staring at her with expectant expressions. Oh, yeah, the damned dress. Vera suppressed a long suffering sigh, along with the strong craving for a cigarette.
"Meu fiica, I'm right behind you."
"Mom, look!"
Alyssa, along with her friend Katie, busied themselves by gawking at the finery displayed in the window. Taking her time Vera considered the dress her daughter seemed to be so keen on.
"No?"
"But Moooooooom!"
"It is too low cut, not at all suitable for a young giir " ahem, woman."
"C"mon! It's perfect, the color, the cut, it's the latest out and I ?"
"Yeah Mama Vera," chimed in Katie with a grin on her dark skinned face, "Aly will look gorgeous!"
Suddenly that craving for a cigarette intensified, bringing with it a headache that nearly had the Gypsy growling at the two teenagers. Twitching her lips in mocking self-contempt at her own protective urges Vera once again considered the dress with a hard gaze, amber eyes sharply narrowed into thin slits.
The dress itself was a lovely shade of sky blue, made from a satin fabric that shimmered in the sunlight and in moonlight it would fairly glow as her daughter danced in the arms of some " Vera swallowed the growl building up in the back of her throat.
Discreetly she cleared her throat, tilting her head she did note that it was floor length so, no leg would be showing. Okay, this was a plus in the Gypsy's mind but one downside to the damn gown (as it had become in her mind) was that it was strapless and would show a small portion of Alyssa's back.
"Fine but you'll wear your hair down."
The two girls cheered and at break neck speed dashed into the shop. It was a lucky thing for the Gypsy that a small coffee shop was directly across from the dress shop, meaning it would be fairly easy to keep an eye on the rather rambunctious duo.
Lighting up that longed for smoke she sauntered across the street, walking with that curious self-conscious way of hers, motherhood doing nothing to dim the sensuous sway of her hips.
Sprawling into a white wicker chair placed conveniently in front of an iron wrought table outside the coffee shop she once again considered her dilemma.
Her baby was growing up. What's a mother to do ".
If that looking glass gets broke, Mama's going to buy you a billy goat. If that billy goat won't pull, Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull. If that cart and bull turns over, Mama's going to buy a dog named Rover. If that dog named Rover won't bark, Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart If that horse and cart falls down, You'll still be the sweetest one in town.