Forever 18

It didnt take long for impulse to win out over judgment and Kathleen walked through the doorway of the second store. She was immediately assaulted by some high tempo music she didn't recognize, played at much too high a volume for any respectable boutique. Perhaps more annoyingly, the song was catchy and Kathleen found herself moving with the rhythm as she browsed.

Most of the clothing looked like the sort of things she might have found in her daughters' closets, but some of the apparel went beyond anything she'd have ever let them out of the house in.

She ran her fingers over a tank top so short she'd almost mistaken it for a sports bra. She tried to imagine what it would feel like to actually walk around in something like that, with so much of her belly simply exposed. Styles had really shifted since she was younger.

"Do you want to try it on?"

Kathleen jumped. She hadn't noticed the young woman approaching her. Turning to her, she was struck by how cool she looked. Probably in her early twenties, she wore her hair in a short, wildly energetic style, and her clothing was both tight and revealing but somehow looked really stylish. She wore a small name tag that read "Stacy."

Kathleen felt slightly jealous. Standing beside this young woman, she knew she looked comparatively plain and unappealing.

As Kathleen decided if she did in fact want to try it on, Stacy looked her up and down with a quizzical expression, making Kathleen feel even more awkward. She never should have gone into this shop in the first place. She opened her mouth to excuse herself and leave.

Stacy spoke first. "Girl, that skirt is doing nothing for you. Who dressed you, your mother? Don't worry, I got'chu."

Stacy reached past Kathleen and plucked a hanger from a rack, then turned and searched through another section, glancing back at Kathleen's body before making a selection.

She pressed the few items she'd gathered into Kathleen's arms and pointed her towards the dressing rooms. "My mom is a bit of a control freak, so I get it. Can be hard to find yourself. Go try those on."

The young woman's hand lingered on Kathleen's shoulder and she leaned in to whisper even though no one else was in the store. Her inexpensive perfume flooded Kathleen's senses. "And between you and me, nothing will boost your confidence quite like some racy lingerie. You know, a juicy little secret. I'll find you something. Your mom will hate it."

She gave Kathleen a gentle push towards the dressing rooms and chuckled.