(23) Dressing Down

Home at last! The warmth of my house’s indoor heating hits me like a comforting embrace. Dropping my bag and navy J Crew pea coat next to the kitchen door I let out a large sigh. The week before Christmas vacation has been traditionally impossible and I am amazed my teacher’s are willing to correct as many exams as I have been given in just a few days. I have just gotten back from working on a huge English project with Charlotte.

Opening the refrigerator door, I stop and pause to listen to what sounds like a heated argument from my parents. As trite as it sounds, I really can’t remember them ever having a serious argument aside from little disagreements over people, places and things. Even more puzzling than why they are arguing is why they both are home when they are supposed to be at our neighbor’s Christmas party. They are past fashionably late. I decide to remain quiet, pour myself a nice big glass of orange juice, and try and figure out what all the fuss is about coming from the den.

“Honey, we can’t continue to live like this!”

“Like what, Trip, what are you talking about?”

“You can’t spend almost thousand bucks on a Vera Wang dress just to wear one time at an office Christmas party! Especially not this Christmas. What….uh…what about last year’s dress?”

I almost choke on my juice! Now I know something is really up. My mother has purchased a new christmasy dress every year to attend the annual holiday party since before I can remember! This is unreal, my parents arguing over money? I listen intently.

“Last year’s dress? Last year’s dress! Are you feeling all right Tripper? Why on earth would I wear something that everyone at this party has already seen? Do you want me to make a fool out of myself?”

…“Look, dear, at this point we’re not even sure if there’s going be a party this year, All right? Ever since market has tanked, it’s just not good form to throw a big splashy party in the face of all this uncertainty. It’ll all pass but for now we’ve got to do a little belt tightening at the office and here too.” I stare at the floor. Silence issues from the den. My father begins to talk with a more soothing tone. “Look, darling let’s just have an enjoyable time tonight ok? We’re already late. Grab the bottle of wine that Swenson gave me and we’ll bring it for the Allen’s, let’s get there.”

I realize my mother is about to enter the kitchen and I know both of them have no idea that I am home and furthermore probably aren’t ecstatic that some one is listening to a serious argument about our family’s financial state. Bolting into the
dining room and up the back of the house’s steps to the hall, I disappear out of sight.

My heart is pounding as I lean my face against the railing and watch my mother snatch the wrapped up wine off the counter top. My face is flushed and I can hardly breathe. I think about the news and the discussions in my history class regarding the plunge in the market and how no one is looking for ways to spend their money in buying stocks during such a dip in the economy. I never thought though that something like this could happen to my father! Sure startups like pets.com have been blown away and tiny pointless internet dotcoms have bellied up but my Dad’s company has been around for years and they’re like famous… I can’t believe it. One thing is for sure, if my dad’s company does end up going down the toilet my life won’t ever be the same. I decide to not let anyone know, maybe my dad’s jumping to conclusions. Maybe I am, I mean going cheap on the party this year is a far cry from party’s over everybody go home, he just has to be careful, prudent as he calls it in his CEO language….Still I can’t help but wonder what the new year is going to bring.