The mirror image was unflattering.
She had been trying on dresses for the last hour. They always looked better on the rack and in the fitting rooms before she bought them. She knew there was something about the mirrors in stores. Like the ones at carnivals, but warping everything to look better (maybe she should get one installed…).
It looked like jeans and a blouse were a better option. Three changes later and she was satisfied. Black skinny jeans (almost a miracle needed to get them on; not quite the parting of the Red Sea, but almost) and a billowy white shirt, untucked (why did her ass and thighs look so big? Where was that carnival mirror…) over a black tank top (she was sure it was bigger, before. Had her boobs grown? Maybe the top shrunk in the wash. That’s okay, it emphasised her cleavage more, now. She would just leave a few extra buttons open to show ’em off. Face palm: that was so slutty.)
All this crap for a blind date. And what if he looked worse than she did? What if he was some loser, no job, aimless? She shook her head. Her best friend wouldn’t match her like that. All her fears and insecurities were rising to the surface. Best push them down, keep them buried, like they usually were. “Yeah, real healthy,” she said to the empty room (hmm. It was pretty empty. Maybe she needed to get a cat? Hold on a minute – that way lay long term spinster-dom and more cats…)
Makeup applied, not overdone, but not sparingly (less whorish, more Watergate cover up. Big sigh). Her phone alarm beeped. Time to face the music, she thought. She pouted to the mirror, mouthing silently “it’s so nice to meet you”. Tilted her head. Silent pretend laugh.
She rolled her eyes and headed for the door. One last glance back. Maybe she would get a cat…
What is this flash fiction stuff? I only started it recently (and maybe my short tales are a bit too long to be called flash fiction. I don’t know). This one is a bit clichéd, but that’s okay – nobody’s perfect.
Not even with the benefit of carnival mirrors.
Laidback DM: SteveStillStanding.com 
Under 1000 words is (I’m pretty sure) considered Flash (da na saviour of the universe) fiction. Had a writing teacher once who made us write 25-words-or-less stories. She said, if anything, it would help us win competitions (she had just returned from a trip she won to the Maldives). Who says being a writer can’t pay, right?
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Lol! Thanks Alexandra, a few of my flash fictions are way under 1000 words. It’s interesting that the uni assignments for creative writing tend to be 1000. It would be nice to have more wiggle room lol 🙂
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