Find a Critique Partner
Michelle Schaefer
By Michelle Schaefer
Jun 13, 2009, 11:18

“What was Katie thinking?” wondered Brianna as she flung another article of clothing onto her queen-sized poster bed.  Turning to look at the pile, she frowned, realizing that she had completely covered her soft blue and chocolate brown comforter to where the only visible sign that it existed was the portion hanging down the sides of her bed.  Walking past the foot of her bed to her dresser she picked up the party invitation and re-read it for the umpteenth time.

                        Rubik’s Cube Cocktail Challenge

                        Come join in the fun!

                        Come mixed up and be ready to

                        Solve your own puzzle.  Wear one

                        Article of clothing for each color

                        Of the Rubik’s cube.  Underclothes

                        Must be black and sexy!  Trade through

                        The night until you are all one color!

Be the first puzzle solved and win a prize!

This had to be the zaniest idea Katie had to-date, mused Bri.  She had no idea what she was about to get into at this party.  Sending actual invitations was completely out of character for Katie.  Who really dressed like this? Who on earth would she trade with through the night?   Viewing herself in the mirror on her closet door, she laughed.  Never would she have chosen such a ridiculous combination on a normal day.  Something told her there wasn’t a thing normal about this pending party.  She scrutinized her appearance.  She was wearing a red flowing wrap around skirt.  Her plan was to end up in red so she wouldn’t need to trade that out.  Rounding out her outfit she had chosen a yellow cotton tank, blue sandals, a long, green wrap arranged at her waist like a belt, an orange bangle bracelet, and a white bandana to hold back her long wavy black hair.  It was Indian Summer in Phoenix and she just couldn’t justify layer upon layer in the still one hundred plus temperatures of September. 

Checking her simple makeup for the last time, she scrutinized the faint shadows under her light blue eyes.  She certainly was tired.  It had been a rough week at work and she was glad to have a reason to get out from under all the business proposals she had been subjected with this week.  Eyeing her reflection, she laughed, if her colleagues could only see her now.  She felt like Barbie’s friend dressed by a six-year old.  The only difference is that Barbie and her friends never seemed to wear underwear or bras and Brianna’s black lacy undergarments were like inkspots seeping through her thin cotton skirt and tank.  This wouldn’t bother her if she felt less garish.  But it was what it was.  The image reflecting back at her was definitely the polar opposite of her navy or black dress slacks, coordinating blouses and sensible heels.  She adjusted the wrap-cum-belt around her mid-section to cover the inkspot that was her ass and winked at the face smiling back at her.  Ready or not, she thought.

Grabbing her car keys and purse, Brianna headed out to her too sensible Toyota Corolla and got in to buckle up and take to the road.  “Okay, sister.  You are about to embark on a rollercoaster ride tonight,” she smiled to herself as she started her engine, turned the volume up on the Will Hoge CD playing from where it left off the day before, and steered her car out into the alleyway next to her condo. (excerpt from short story)