((These events take place 20 years ago.))
The sun hung in the cloudless sky shining its rays through bubblegum pink taffeta curtains creating a pale glow on white walls of the pristine room. It had the air of being a well-preserved museum of a young girl's dreams. Each teddy bear, baby doll, and small ceramic tea set was in its place and in perfect condition. Various pictures of ponies, butterflies, and the usual things that struck a child's fancy arranged to a tee. The white canopy bed was already made, lavender bedding pulled so tightly not a single crease could be found with plush feather pillows placed together like a puzzle.
The main focus of the room was a child sized vanity and mirror. It was antique white with swirls of gold here and there. Multicolored bottles of perfume in varying sizes sat on the tabletop, a heavy silver hairbrush with soft tan bristles lay beside them. Seated on the bench before it was what, at first glance, appeared to be a life sized doll as fragile and flawless as the others lined along the shelves. Closer inspection would reveal that it was in fact the living and breathing owner of this delicate haven.
She was no older then five, but the way she was dressed would have given you no indication of that. She wore a lavishly ruffled ivory dress with various layers of tulle and embellishments of jewels adorning it. Blonde curls were piled atop her head and held in place with no less than a full can of hair spray while wide green eyes stared at her own reflection from between long fake black lashes. Large dollops of rouge stood out fiercely on her naturally colorless cheeks along with tiny-pursed lips painted a rosy red. She sat rigid with posture most adults could only dream of. Tiny hands covered by laced gloves folded gently in her lap and legs crossed at her ankles just above glossy white dress flats.
Perhaps the miss was playing pretend" Today she was imagining herself to be a princess from a far off land awaiting her prince charming. As fun as that would seem to most young ladies the look upon her face made it quite clear that she was not pleased and that this was indeed no game. Her lovely little features were contorted in a sullen gaze cast straight ahead. What girl wouldn't want such a lovely dress and her hair done for her so"
"Ally May!"
A woman's voice boomed causing the child to jump in her seat. Footsteps could be heard thumping up the wooden staircase and along the hallway before the bedroom door was tossed open. The slender blonde woman stepped in, her gaze falling upon her daughter who stared back.
"Ally May, why are you jus' sittin' there?" The words carried with a heavy southern accent and cruel tone. "We're goin' to be late an' you know I hate that, you lazy lil' thing." The woman shook her head in disgust before taking a deep breathe. On it's exhale she stood straight, the glare fading from her eyes and a grin revealing pearly whites consumed her previously harsh expression like a mask. Executed so flawlessly you could only assume she wore it often.
"Come along, Ally May." Her volume coordinating with her newly softened appearance. "An' stop lookin' so upset. Frowning gives you wrinkles an' no one crowns a pageant queen with wrinkles." With that last bit of brilliance dropped the woman turned abruptly and shut the door. Foot falls moving away as she called back. "Don't keep me waiting, young lady."
The bedroom fell silent once again; the child left staring blankly at the spot where her mother had passed through like a tornado of insults and fury. After a long while she turned her attention to the mirror, studying the doleful double held within its frame. A gloved hand reached up to poke and prod at her own cheeks, inspecting for the wrinkles her mother had warned her about.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she slid off the vanity bench to stand, hands now working to smooth her dress before folding in front of her. She inhaled sharply before a doll like expression stretched across her visage. A beaming smile and wide eyes full of wonder. She wore that mask like a pro, just like her mother. A final glance in the mirror, she was so convincing for a moment she even fooled herself into thinking she was happy. The porcelain smile kept in place as she sashayed out of the bedroom to be swept away by her mother to yet another beauty pageant that Ally May had grown to loathe so much.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/SugarlNlSpikes/AllyBaby.jpg
The sun hung in the cloudless sky shining its rays through bubblegum pink taffeta curtains creating a pale glow on white walls of the pristine room. It had the air of being a well-preserved museum of a young girl's dreams. Each teddy bear, baby doll, and small ceramic tea set was in its place and in perfect condition. Various pictures of ponies, butterflies, and the usual things that struck a child's fancy arranged to a tee. The white canopy bed was already made, lavender bedding pulled so tightly not a single crease could be found with plush feather pillows placed together like a puzzle.
The main focus of the room was a child sized vanity and mirror. It was antique white with swirls of gold here and there. Multicolored bottles of perfume in varying sizes sat on the tabletop, a heavy silver hairbrush with soft tan bristles lay beside them. Seated on the bench before it was what, at first glance, appeared to be a life sized doll as fragile and flawless as the others lined along the shelves. Closer inspection would reveal that it was in fact the living and breathing owner of this delicate haven.
She was no older then five, but the way she was dressed would have given you no indication of that. She wore a lavishly ruffled ivory dress with various layers of tulle and embellishments of jewels adorning it. Blonde curls were piled atop her head and held in place with no less than a full can of hair spray while wide green eyes stared at her own reflection from between long fake black lashes. Large dollops of rouge stood out fiercely on her naturally colorless cheeks along with tiny-pursed lips painted a rosy red. She sat rigid with posture most adults could only dream of. Tiny hands covered by laced gloves folded gently in her lap and legs crossed at her ankles just above glossy white dress flats.
Perhaps the miss was playing pretend" Today she was imagining herself to be a princess from a far off land awaiting her prince charming. As fun as that would seem to most young ladies the look upon her face made it quite clear that she was not pleased and that this was indeed no game. Her lovely little features were contorted in a sullen gaze cast straight ahead. What girl wouldn't want such a lovely dress and her hair done for her so"
"Ally May!"
A woman's voice boomed causing the child to jump in her seat. Footsteps could be heard thumping up the wooden staircase and along the hallway before the bedroom door was tossed open. The slender blonde woman stepped in, her gaze falling upon her daughter who stared back.
"Ally May, why are you jus' sittin' there?" The words carried with a heavy southern accent and cruel tone. "We're goin' to be late an' you know I hate that, you lazy lil' thing." The woman shook her head in disgust before taking a deep breathe. On it's exhale she stood straight, the glare fading from her eyes and a grin revealing pearly whites consumed her previously harsh expression like a mask. Executed so flawlessly you could only assume she wore it often.
"Come along, Ally May." Her volume coordinating with her newly softened appearance. "An' stop lookin' so upset. Frowning gives you wrinkles an' no one crowns a pageant queen with wrinkles." With that last bit of brilliance dropped the woman turned abruptly and shut the door. Foot falls moving away as she called back. "Don't keep me waiting, young lady."
The bedroom fell silent once again; the child left staring blankly at the spot where her mother had passed through like a tornado of insults and fury. After a long while she turned her attention to the mirror, studying the doleful double held within its frame. A gloved hand reached up to poke and prod at her own cheeks, inspecting for the wrinkles her mother had warned her about.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she slid off the vanity bench to stand, hands now working to smooth her dress before folding in front of her. She inhaled sharply before a doll like expression stretched across her visage. A beaming smile and wide eyes full of wonder. She wore that mask like a pro, just like her mother. A final glance in the mirror, she was so convincing for a moment she even fooled herself into thinking she was happy. The porcelain smile kept in place as she sashayed out of the bedroom to be swept away by her mother to yet another beauty pageant that Ally May had grown to loathe so much.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/SugarlNlSpikes/AllyBaby.jpg