Cotillion This/Cotillion that (Engine #9)

Over time the best days of my life have been the dress up days. There are not as many now as there were then but they were wonderful days. Days of togetherness and anticipation. Sometimes were weren't all even going to the dances just maybe helping one or the other get ready. We were unpaid beauty consultants for each other. Because no one knows what you look like except you best friends. And your mom and especially your old man. Your dad definitely knows what colors you look best in a nd also how your hair should go. He knows what your profiles looks like and what length and volume look best on you. Your mom on the other hand know your figure, your proportions over time. Through thick and thin and thick and thinner and thinest an d thinner still and way too thin and a little bit bigger and bigger until you are just the right size again.
Your girlfriends and classmates are different. They know about the colors you look best in. Most importantly they know who you love and who you're after. And even more important than both those things: YOUR GIRLFRIENDS KNOW WHO'S AFTER YOU!
Your best girlfriends know ONE KEY THING: THEY KNOW WHEN THERE IS A MATCH. It may be a love match it may be a lust match it maybe a sexy dueling stranger. Mostly they know what you look like when you're happy and also they they know the degrees of botherdness in your eyes. The wrinkles surrounding your smile. The crinkle of your upturned nose. The hints of fear or delight in your big brown eyes.
They know what kinds of guys you like. It's always pretty much the same guy: Tall Dark and Handsome. Red smokin hot. He smokes he drinks he eats red meat. He's a little "off" as are we. As are we all. He can dance but he can't sing. Or maybe he can sing but can't dance. He drives a mustang usually. Or a motorcycle. He's loud and ornery and always broke or always flush with cash. Depending how far out on the edge you like em. I prefer way out there but lunatics aren't for every one. I use that term with the utmost respect and affection of course. (It takes one to know one) It takes one to love one. So anyway we've been dressing up for high school dances and college formal and weddings and the best night of all New Years Eve for decades now. And honestly, its always the same girls, always the sames dress always the same guy with subtle variations on the theme called: "I will NOT be denied". This is especially key when you are playing for keeps. And you know what ? Me and Ash always are.