How was this a clothing store?
“Hi! I’m Kev,” he said. “Would you like some tea?”
Katrina anxiously looked away, but Shizuka accepted gracefully.
“Thank you, Kev. This is my violin student. She has her first competition coming up, and I want her looking beautiful for the judges.”
He focused on Katrina immediately. “Yes, I see … Maybe soft and flowy. She/her?” Kev looked in Katrina’s direction for approval.
Katrina nodded.
“They/them, by the way. Any color preferences?”
Had he just checked her pronouns? And they/them? Did he—no—did they just say they/them?
“Saturated, and not too busy,” Miss Satomi said easily. “Oh, and no sequins near the neck—they’ll scratch the instrument and might snag. It’s her first public recital, so I want her to be comfortable. But striking. She deserves to look special on the stage.”
“Absolutely. Something strapless, maybe?”
“That might work.”
Strapless? Katrina looked over at her, then at Kev. They weren’t laughing.
“Let’s try a few things,” Kev said. “Come with me and see what you think.”
Shizuka followed them.
“Yes, yes. I have a few things in mind. Tell me more about your student?”
Katrina watched them disappear. Is this what it was to go shopping—and have people help you? She felt happy. She felt dizzy. She felt almost like a real human being.
A few minutes later, they returned.
“Here, try this. I think green would be good with your hair,” Kev said. “Green can sometimes wash out Asians, but your skin has such a great glow. And the fabric is bias cut. We might need a belt or sash to bring out your hips, but the bias cut will really show off those legs.”
Katrina blushed. Legs? Show off?
Katrina took the dress, went into the changing room, and closed the door. Her heart was beating quickly, and not in a good way. Changing rooms were never good places. She pulled the fabric over herself. Good, so far, so good. It had cleared her shoulders.
But then she reached for the zipper. Shit. The zipper was around the back. Desperately, she tried to twist it forward. Crap! Now the zipper bit into her skin. She began to perspire. What was she doing?
This was not good. These dresses were cut for women’s bodies … not like her, but the ones who were beautiful. The real ones, who weren’t born the way she was.
She had to get it off—maybe if she pulled it over her head? But what if she ripped it?
“Do you need help?” Kev asked.
“No, I’m fine!” Did her voice drop?
She began to breathe heavily. It sounded like boy breathing, didn’t it?
Someone came in.
“No!”
“It’s me,” Miss Satomi said. “You’re stuck. Let me help you.”
“Miss Satomi, the dress is for real girls. I—I just need to get this off.”
“Shh! Stop struggling.”
Katrina stilled herself, then felt the dress slip over her body.
“Okay, turn around.”
Katrina gasped as the zipper easily glided between her shoulder blades.
“Oh shit…”
She looked in the mirror. The dress fit!
“Raise your arms. Can you move?”
Katrina nodded. The dress fit! It fit! The bias-cut fabric seemed to shimmer and flow. The fabric was so slinky and gorgeous that for a split second she forgot she was looking at herself.
She lived in a world of loose skirts and tops, of baggy tops draped over her shoulders. Anything cheap, but more importantly … anything to hide the proportions of her frame. To think that she would ever fit a dress—a real legit fashionable dress …
“What do you think?”
“Oh shit … oh shit…”
“Is everything okay in there?” Kev asked softly.
“Yes, we’re fine,” Shizuka said.
Shizuka gave Katrina a handkerchief and stroked her student’s hair.
“What am I going to do with you?” she murmured.
Shizuka helped Katrina out of the dress, which was not difficult at all. She was about to put on her street clothes when there was gentle knocking on the door.
Kev opened the door slightly and gave them another dress.
“This one should look amazing, as well. I love how deep the blue is. Oh, and there are two other possibilities I want you to see. They are beautiful and just came in from Macau.”
An hour later, Miss Satomi purchased the two gowns they agreed were best and thanked Kev for their help.