Kate - The Eyes of The Swans - A to Z Blogging Challenge

Blogging from A to Z Challenge
April 2015
This month I will be participating in the “Blogging from A-Z Challenge”

What is it?

I will be Blogging everyday beginning on April First with a topic themed on something with the letterA, then on April second another topic with the letter B as the theme, and so on until I finish on April thirtieth with the theme based on the letter Z.   The theme of the day is the letter scheduled for that day.

My theme will be short fictional (well mostly fictional) stories about women.  Each woman’s name will begin with the appropriate letter of the alphabet for that day.
All of the women will have the common life experience of a loss of some type.
I invite you, Dear reader, to comment on how you interpret the loss.

Kate

She felt out of place walking up and down the aisles of the market.  Her Jimmy Choo riding boots kicked up loose gravel, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. 
The discreet labels of her designer jeans were not visible, unlike those found on the gauche fakes and imitations which were piled high on the tables of the vendors. 
She disdainfully remarked to her bridge club friends how all of the flea market dealers had a certain look about them.   
“They look as worn and dirty as the old wares they offer,” she would say.   
Her pace was not leisurely.  She looked left then right, giving each of the tables a quick once over.  
Frankly,  she had little interest in much of the merchandise displayed on those tables, but  as she purposely headed for aisle 14, she gave the items a quick once over, making sure she did not miss the opportunity of a treasured find. 
On the first Saturday of each month, Kate drove the 100 plus miles from Greenwich, Ct. to the New Jersey market.
She came to see Zelda.  The old woman had a refined, select treasure trove of eclectic, fascinating rarities.
Zelda was discriminating in choosing her customers. 
Kate often wondered why Zelda approved of her.   
She was sure that it was because of Kate’s obvious wealth and status.  Also, she had sold Zelda some beautiful vases from her aunt’s estate. 
 Zelda probably wanted to make sure Kate kept her in mind for any other items Kate might be willing to sell.
Kate was running late this day.   She swore at her car when it wouldn’t start.  
Not arriving on time to Zelda’s booth meant Kate would have to push her way through the others who were sure to be surrounding Zelda’s table.  
But this day, as soon as Zelda spotted Kate, she waved the others away.  
“I have something special for you, my dear,” said Zelda.
“Come here, come behind the table and look,” she said.
Zelda was pointing to a shroud.   
She pulled off the cloth to reveal a large oval shaped beveled mirror.  
It was ornately designed in walnut.  Adorning the top of the piece was a pair of carved swan’s heads. Their graceful necks were lowered in a bow,  each of their beaks slightly touching the other.  
As Kate approached the mirror, Zelda quickly covered it back up.
“May I examine it more closely?”  asked Kate. 
“I must tell you, two others are interested in buying this,” said Zelda.
“But I tell them no.  No, I know who must have this, I say to them.”
“You must give this mirror a polish.  Pay close attention to the eyes of the swans, said Zelda.”
Kate knew better than to argue with Zelda.  Besides, she trusted her.  Zelda had provided her with some of Kate’s best pieces.  
Kate’s friends from the Club were always so complimentary, praising Kate for her exquisite taste.  
Kate was sure that they must also know that she didn’t have cheap things.  
Not like what her mother and father had in their home.  
There was always plastic on the sofas and chairs.   Dollar store and garage sale chachkas were displayed on bookshelves and table tops in every corner of the living room. 
They embarrassed her.  She wasn’t even ashamed to admit that.  She was in a much better place in her life now. 
But she couldn’t think about that now.  
Kate was hosting the next dinner party.   She wanted something new to impress her Club friends. 
It was this mirror.  She had to have it.  
“Remember these swans see clearly,” Zelda said, as if cautioning Kate. 
When she arrived home, she saw that Jake, the handyman was working around the yard.
“I need you to hang a mirror for me, Jake,” said Kate.  
“I want it above the table in the foyer.”  
“Right away, Jake,” said Kate.
Kate was advised by her new friend, Barb that she had to be authoritative when she spoke to the help.  
After Jake hung the mirror, Kate dismissed him.  “You can finish up outside, Jake.”  
Kate was admiring the mirror.  She stepped in front of it.  Looking up at the swans’ eyes, she recalled what Zelda told her.
She reached up to polish the wood, and paid close attention to the eyes of the swans.  
When she finished she stepped back to look at her reflection. 
Horrified at what she saw, she gasped and then looked away.