MOTHER’S PRETTY DRESS

Mother finished frying the chicken for the picnic and set it on the back of the stove. Then she started to get ready, washing her face and combing her hair. Daddy had already helped Jenny get dressed. She was sitting primly on a chair, so she wouldn’t get dirty. Margaret had been ready for hours, it seemed.

“Are you going to wear your new dress?” Jenny asked Mother.

“Oh, I thought maybe I would.”

Mother had gotten a new summer dress at Penney’s. She said it was made of voile. It was soft and thin, a pale cool green color with a delicate floral pattern. Jenny loved the ruffles. There was one across the shoulders and one at the bottom of the skirt. When Mother went somewhere in the winter, she always wore her plain black silk
dress under her black coat, but she had several different summer dresses of happy bright colors. with ruffles and little bows and frothy skirts.

“Hurry and put on your new dress,” Jenny begged.

Mother put on a tint of rouge and combed a special wave into her hair. She carefully slipped the dress over her head.

“Hey, pretty lady,” Daddy said, as they all walked out to the car. He carried the picnic basket.

All the way over to the picnic, Jenny kept looking at Mother. Mother was smiling and her eyes were sparkling. The green dress had a wonderful summery look. There was a big crowd already at the picnic. As Mother unpacked the food, and put it on the long wooden table, Jenny felt a surge of happiness because she and Daddy were sure that Mother was the prettiest lady at the picnic.