Free Road to Casablanca by Leah Leonard

when combined with the setting.
    She lay on her back for a few minutes, resting her aching body on the soft bed as she looked up toward the top of the canopy which seemed to protect her, calm her somehow.
    The curtains were cracked so she could see only a line of the blazing sun outside and wanted to see more of the scenery just outside her door.   The far wall of her room was completely covered in glass and the balcony on the other side.   Cindy opened the curtains completely to light her room then stepped outside, where she stared over an exotic garden with an intricate trail of gravel pathways.
    Each path seemed to end near or around a fountain and another sign pointed the way to a restaurant and a spa and bathhouse where Cindy assumed she would be going soon.
    The phone rang, startling her from her thoughts.
    “Hello?”
    “Cindy, Erick.”
    “Yes, I thought so.   You happen to be the only person I know here.”
    He laughed and Cindy was glad he seemed to appreciate her sense of humor.
    “I wanted to let you know where the restaurant and the spa are…”
    “Actually, I think I just saw the signs downstairs.”
    “Oh, good.   And has the tailor been there yet?”
    “No.”
      “Well they should be there any minute.”
    At that moment, someone knocked at the door.
    “I think I just heard them knock, unless that’s just you trying to get into my room again.”
    “No, I wish, but it’s not me.”
    They knocked again, louder.
    “I suppose if I am going to have something to wear tonight I need to get going.”
    “See you at noon.   If you need help finding anything, just ask someone.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Madame?   Are you there?”
    The knocking continued as Cindy rushed toward the door.
    “Coming….”
    A beautiful older lady with jet black hair stood in the doorway pulling a cart of cloth behind her and bowing as she entered the room.
    “Hello, Miss Cindy.   I am here for your fitting.”
    Cindy stared at all the magnificent silks and the obviously hand-woven containers filled with pins and hemming implements.
    “Hello; come in.”
    “First, we’re going to pick your colors, and then I will show you the style I recommend and I will have it all by the end of the day, okay?”
    “Okay…”
    “Now I need you to take off your clothes, only bras and panties allowed.”
    Cindy slowly unbuttoned her jeans and cringed as she threw them on the ground. Then her blouse made its way to the canopy bed and Cindy considered covering herself with the drapes.
    “Now stand over here by the mirror.”
    The woman took several swatches of cloth and held them up to Cindy’s creamy white skin.   After seeing the flawless brown complexions of everyone here, she felt like she hadn’t seen the light of day in years.
    With lightning speed, the woman sifted and sorted through the fabric until there was a small pile on the chair.   She never asked Cindy’s opinion, but moved the cart back and held each selection up longer and appeared to be considering something as she stared at her in the mirror.
    “We go with this one, and this one, and this one.   I would like to make a dress that would go over the shoulder here, and wrap around there…”
    Her modesty nearly gone, Cindy listened and soon realized the woman knew what she was doing and offered her suggestions.
    “I always look good in a halter top.”
    “A what?”
    Cindy realized that culturally, the woman may not understand the term.   She moved the fabric around her neck, over her shoulder. The tailor nodded, seemingly pleased.
    “Oh yes, okay.   This will look wonderful.”
    Soon, she packed up the cart and was on her way.
    Cindy recalled that the last time she’d bought any dress like this must have been her high school prom, but then the dress was ready-made, purchased off the rack.   This was going to be quite a treat.
    It was nearly 11:30 when the woman left. Cindy rested for a few minutes before showering and slipping into her new dress, sandals