Chapter 3: My Halloween Costume

Mom and Tara helped me prepare, along with Tara’s best girlfriend Ariel. They found me a beautiful silver-gray slinky satin gown. Underneath, I had only a tiny G-string for underwear. Honestly, I have never felt so elegant and sexy. I swept into the living room and twirled with the dress’ hem whipping around my knees. I felt my nipples bobble and slide under the soft material.

My mother burst into tears. Tara’s mouth hung open, her eyes like saucers. Ariel collapsed back into a chair, her face flushed cherry red.

“My baby’s all grown up,” sniffled Mom. Tara was still frozen. Ariel was fanning her face with her hand. “Hot!” she breathed.

“Martin, get in here!” called Mom.

“What, Lainie? Oh. Oh! Nora, come here.” His arms were outstretched. I rushed into them.

Now I was sniffling. “I guess the dress is a hit.”

“It’s not the dress, daughter, it’s the grown woman inside it. Knock ‘em dead, Nora.”

Tara finally said something. “I thought I was the pretty daughter!”

“Oh, fuck you, Tara, but thanks.”

Ariel regained her feet and came up next to my ear, whispering.

“Nora, honey, can I interest you in a hot steamy lesbian relationship? No, don’t laugh, I’m serious!”

I smiled at her, warmly. “Ariel, darling, I’ll get back to you.”

To be honest, Ariel did appeal. Being considered sexy, by a girl, was a completely new experience for me. Ariel was sweet and super-curvy, and her speaking voice was musical, it just sang in your ears.

My nom de ce soir was “Delilah.” As noted, I had been reading entirely too many trashy paperbacks. The mysterious Delilah’s backstory was being an elegant companion/escort for gentlemen of leisure, i.e., rich guys. I thought, if I’m going to be a wholly different person for tonight, I might as well go all out. It was exciting to hope for the kind of relaxed (but stimulating) interactions that Tara enjoyed when she socialized and went to parties.

For one special night I could be a target of men’s interest, maybe even desire. All because the ugly blot on my face would be hidden from view. Carson had been great for my self-confidence, but he was already used to seeing my face.

Mom lent me enough of her jewelry to make Delilah credible, and she perfected my makeup (since my mask revealed my eyes and forehead).