Free Chocolate Girls with Golden Hair by Carrie Carr

song
that she would continually play in her head as a reminder of the
dream that she had created.
    Up the escalator, Bianca strolled. She
made her way to the DKNY department and tried on every outfit that
caught her eye: dresses, suits, blouses, long skirts, short skirts
and pants. There would be no more polk-a-dot dresses. No more
turtleneck sweaters. No more polyester and no bland colors. But,
there would continue to be red. Lots and lots of red.
    Bianca sought adventure and excitement,
and the clothes in her closet would not do her justice. Engrossed
in esteem, a particular double-breasted designer pantsuit captured
her attention. She would do the world a favor by sporting it out
the door for everyone to see, the public having waited long
enough.
    Her shopping spree would not be
complete without the purchase of several pairs of shoes and some
leather boots to match her new $400 ivory coat. The coat would not
only keep her warm during a typical Chicago winter, but more
importantly, it looked good on her, and from where she stood,
looking good meant everything.
    After she maxed out both of her credit
cards to five thousand dollars each, she needed to write a check
for her new earrings and makeup. She exited the store looking like
two million dollars, much too good to wait for a bus. This
invigorating experience elevated her to the top of the hemisphere,
and she was completely in control for the first time in a long
time.
    Twenty minutes later, Bianca reached
her apartment after she hailed a taxi from the Loop. She dropped
her shopping bags to the living room floor and couldn't wait to
talk to Sandy and show off her new look. She knew that her sister
would be so proud of her. For all of fifteen minutes, Bianca stood
in front of the hall mirror calling out to Sandy, but Sandy was
nowhere to be found.
    Where was she?
    Bianca decided to try again to contact
her sister, but for now, she would focus on her new look. Most of
what Bianca purchased would be delivered because she could only
carry so much with her. After having adored herself for several
minutes in the hall mirror, she hurried to the bathroom to try on
her new earrings. She posed in her new outfits, modeling everything
that she brought home with her. She visualized her friends at work
falling over themselves when they saw her. As she fiddled with her
hair, a stream of arrogance flourished through her. She absolutely
could not enjoy enough of what she saw. It was her new blonde hair,
her new clothes and, most of all, her new attitude that she just
could not get enough of.
    After she tore herself away from the
mirror, she listened to the messages on her voicemail, most of
which were birthday wishes.
    She was thirty years old and a new
woman.
    This was definitely a defining moment,
and she needed a drink. As she sipped her wine, one sip at a time,
an image of Mr. Rod Bigg came to her. If only he could see her now,
speak to her now; she would have a few choice words for him. She
was engulfed in resentment for the way that he spoke to her on that
unfortunate evening. As she replayed Rod's offensive words in her
head, a wonderful idea came to mind. She would make another visit
to Excalibur and hopefully meet him a second time. After all, it
was still her birthday, and the day was still fresh and
new.
    That evening, Bianca failed at her
attempt to run into Rod at Excalibur. After downing a few drinks,
she made her way back home.
    Hope was not lost though.
    Eventually, she would run into him and
tell him what she should have told him when she met him the first
time.
     
     
    Thirty minutes late, definitely not the
norm for her, but necessary to make a grand entrance, Bianca
strolled into her office the next morning. With her Coach bag on
her shoulder, she received stares and ogles from everyone in her
path.
    After she hung up her coat, down the
corridor she strutted. She wore a kick-ass attitude and an olive
green pantsuit to match, which appeared to have been tailored for
her