For my sixth Button Flash–250 words in one hour–I’m having a go at a little fan fiction.  This is a first for me!  Thanks to Judy B. for the sparkly button.

Flapper Girl

Will brushed off his tux before entering the ballroom.  Despite the laughter, the cigarette smoke, and the music, he maintained an aura of calm as he glided among the guests.

Nobody could tell he had his eye on her the whole time.

She was beautiful, but that wasn’t what had snared him.  It wasn’t her voice, full of golden charm.  It wasn’t her clothes, either, although the sparkling buttons on her dress helped him keep track of where she was.

He was sure it had nothing to do with money.

Nothing at all.

He watched her carefully, the innocent fluidity of her movements, the nape of her neck.

She was purity embodied.  A gem from the Heartland shining amidst the decadence.

He tried to imagine what it would have been like to have grown up somewhere besides the city, a place with open spaces, fresh air, bird song.

He was getting closer . . . . .

“We’ll take these, Sport!”  A loud voice accompanied the tap on Will’s shoulder.

The man took two glasses from Will’s tray, handed one to another man and one to her before taking the last himself.

She smiled, but didn’t notice Will.  The champagne sparkled as she held her glass aloft.  “Nick, Jay . . . .”

“Daisy,” they said in unison.  They all drank.  Her wedding band shone even more brazenly than the buttons on her dress.

For a full minute Will didn’t notice the tray was empty.  He retreated into the pantry, pulling the door closed.

~~~

Do you have a button with a story waiting to be told?  Email an image of it to ej@elizabethjennings.com and I’ll do the rest.  Click here for details and for your own summer reading, don’t forget to check out my book, The Button Collector.