Copyright Bjorn Rudberg
“But do you like it?” says the youngest assistant, seemingly oblivious to Gerald’s icy stare.
“I… er…”.
I don’t actually, but Gerald, who always chooses my clothes, does.
The other girls, Gerald’s fawning fan-club, the simperati, rush to endorse his selection.
“It’s lovely…”
“Fits you perfectly…”
“Perhaps in a different colour?” I murmur tentatively, though I know the dress just isn’t me.
“It’s just not you,” declares the young assistant.
“I think you’re right,” I say.
Gerald bundles me out of the shop; the simperati round on their colleague.
In different ways, we’ve both reached the end of the road.
I was listening to an interview on Woman’s Hour yesterday (yes I’m that kind of person) by the author of Look What You Made Me Do, a personal memoir of how she managed to get involved in coercive relationships not once, but twice. Gripping stuff, and it’s kind of stuck in my mind so I was already working on this idea when the photo popped up this morning. Good timing, Rochelle, leader and herder-in-chief of Friday Fictioneers. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
Lovely ending
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Thanks, Neil.
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End of the road really!
Sometimes, one just isn’t satisfied or can’t seem to decide. Exasperating indeed! Patience needed.
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Thanks for reading, Anita.
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Dear Sandra,
I love the ‘simperati.’ A word that says so much it just might find its way into my own vocabulary. The ending tells me she’s become her own person apart from Gerald. Wonderfully written. No surprise there.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m thinking of inventing my own language – it can’t be worse than what I read in the press these days. Thanks for reading and commenting so kindly, Rochelle.
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The ending was really something, Sandra. Powerfully written.
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Thanks Varad. 🙂
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Fabulous writing, so well constructed.
You describe a host of characters, a relationship, and a situation, all in 100 words.
Amazing.
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Thank you, CE. Glad you liked it.
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Simperati is a wonderful word. Great depiction.
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I’m hoping it will catch on. And working on the next addition to the English language. 🙂
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Such a fine line these coercive relationships, in this case it seems there’s a lot that has gone on before this incident. Subtlety done.
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Thanks, Iain.
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Oof! You’ve packed a punch into that story, Sandra. So much so, that I was glad you’d included the link to reassure me that your main character wasn’t about to be bumped off.
I’ve seen a relationship like this up close (no, I wasn’t part of it), and it’s ugly.
Great storytelling!
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Yes, I’ve observed relationships that border on this. It looks like love on the outside, but is something much more complex within.Thanks for reading.
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I can’t think of a thing to add to the comments above. I always look forward to your stories. This one is simply wonderful.
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Aww thank you. Glad you liked it.
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Let the simperati (lovely word) have old Gerald – he sounds like a controlling bighead. I could just see those idiots fawning all over him. Glad everybody got to the end of that particular road.
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The only way is up from now on, I hope. Thanks for reading.
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I could not find a definition for Simperati – but I will look again – and I was able to get the meaning from the well-written text.
and ugh – “but Gerald, who always chooses my clothes…”
I know a lot of women that would be angry to read this and they would go and rescue her…
and the “look what you made me do” sounds very interesting and love hot that fueled the firection of your fiction here….
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I couldn’t find a definition, either, prior.
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Aww, I made it up. It’s my collective noun for those who simper, a bit like ‘twitterati’ for those who tweet. I’m thinking of developing my own language anyway. Why should the young have it all their way? 😉
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:0 )
well I like how it came across here…
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A truly dysfunctional relationship. I walked away from a man who was just like this when I was in my teens. Thank goodness I didn’t fall into his trap. He turned out to be quite the basket case. Well told.
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I’ve observed similar relationship myself, quite close up. I think I was declared persona non grata by one ‘controller’.
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Count me in on the “simperati”! Love that. Well written account of a woman stuck in a controlling union. She better cut them thar strings, pronto.
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I think she’s on her way. I hope so. It’s difficult to understand such relationships but I guess both are based on some kind of need. It just depends whose ‘need’ expires first. Thanks for reading Dale.
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I have to agree with you, Sandra. Totally difficult to understand
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Enjoyed the take. Love those that stretch it enough to be interesting.
Scott
Mine:https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/heres-your-sign/
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Thanks, Scott.
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Welcome, Sandra
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I think at the end of the road there will be vacancy waiting to be filled from the simperati crowd… alas at the end of the road there is always the beginning of a new.
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It’s amazing how many women swap one controlling relationship for another. Thanks for reading.
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I love the young assistant – like a breath of fresh air – so wonderfully written 🙂
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Thank you, Anna.
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Nice story. Especially the conclusion. I guess Gerald will make due with one less fangirl
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There’ll always be another waiting to step up, I suspect. Thanks for reading.
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Very engaging! I enjoyed reading it.
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Thank you!
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An honest young assistant who puts her client first, not her employer! Delightful.
PS. Not a WH listener myself, more of a Loose Woman kinda guy!
Click to read my 100 Word Story!
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She ought to go far. I suspect she won’t.
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It sounds like Gerald has an entire harem. I think he should dress them all in Genie costumes.
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:). That’s quite some thought.
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This is so good Sandra, that manipulative power some people have over weaker souls. So true. I had a friendship that was a little like this, where I felt powerless to say no to a dominant personality. So incisive
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I never had a relationship with a man like this, (apart from one who tried to control me with his sulking episodes) but I once worked with a girl who tried in so many ways to control me. Even years after I cut the strings she was still trying to find me… 😦
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Sounds very similar to my own story. Horrible to look back and realise how much I was controlled by that one person. The entire place was under her sway – even the boss. A strong story
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Ha, “simperati” 🙂
Definitely best to call time on that relationship.
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I’d say so. Thanks for reading.
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There’s no way I could let a man dress me. I simply can’t keep the look of morbid disbelief of my face when they try.
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It’s a weird thought, isn’t it? My husband has absolutely no interest in what I wear. It’s touch and go whether he’d notice if …. no I’ll leave that thought there.
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I should think so! What a control freak he is.
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Isn’t he just?
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🙂
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A fine story, topped off with “ simperati” a great new word.
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Thanks Mike. 🙂
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So powerful, and great that it ended positively for her.
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Thanks for reading.
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Great story. I love a woman (or anyone actually) that will tell the truth irregarless of the way the majority are going.
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People like that are few and far between. And especially in clothes shops. 🙂
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So well done and thank you for the simperati – that sums it up perfectly. I see the young sales assistant and Gerald’s partner find the strength to move one, perhaps supporting and supported by each other.
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I think each have proved to be a catalyst in the other’s life. I hope so, anyway.
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Simperati – now that’s genius. I think I am one now after reading this.
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I’m sure you’re not! 🙂 And thanks for reading.
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It took me a few reads to figure out who was who and who was speaking when and I’m still not sure I have them all right. The story does touch me on some level because of the ending. I did wonder about the contrast between Gerald’s icy stare (showing disapproval?) and then the comment that he liked the dress.
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Well, Gerald’s icy stare is a reaction to the shop assistant reminding the narrator that the key issue is whether SHE likes it, and Gerald believes that if he likes it, that should be enough. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
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Oh my, I’ve come late to the party which means it’s all been said before me.
Great story sprinkled with a new fun word.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora! 🙂
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I like this. And thanks for the link.
I’m that kind of person too.
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🙂 Thanks for reading, Dawn.
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This is a really creative and wonderful take on the prompt.
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Thank you!
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Wonderfully crafted story, so much happening in so few words. Love the ‘simperati’, and your astute observation of the power dynamic going on. Good ending.
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Thank you!
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It’s easier to be quite when in a group of “Yes men/women” I like the young assistant. I didn’t get the story, until the last line. Then I had to read it again. Who ever said “The first time is the best!” is not always spot on.
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🙂 🙂 Thanks for persevering, Dan.
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I love this take. It feels as if the narrator has finally tuned in to her wake up call and will leave this controlling relationship.
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Strange that it took a younger woman to press her alarm buttons. Thanks, Sascha.
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Although I think the younger generation are sometimes savvier about how people *should* be treated in relationships. Maybe because they’ve been witness to so many bad ones.
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It seems you are making a contrast between age and authority. The youngest is the only one willing to take a stand for honesty, regardless of the cost. Well done, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading, Susan.
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