Winner

REDQUEEN

 

Her mother began dressing her in pink, scarlet red, burgundy, maroon from age ten to the present. By the time she was sixteen she had been nicknamed Redqueen as one word. Friends, relatives thought she would bitch about it, hate it, but boy, were we all wrong. She took to it like flies to molasses. Laurie, deceased and buried, loved being different, outstanding to her peers. Grimaces, hound dog looks appeared when someone lowered her class to Laurie or even Queenie.

 

We all got used to her odd ways, gave her birthday gifts wrapped in red paper, sometimes garish red lipsticks, not so garish pinks. All eyes went to her burgundy skirt and sweater with a pink blouse. She looked like a lovely rose that just came into bloom.  In summer she was seen in the park wearing fire engine red shorts with a white blouse that had big red polka dots. Her head was always held high, queen-like.

 

At the library I heard her turn down a date with a really great looking stud who had mousy brown hair, and accept Chas's offer. His being called 'Carrot top' was of no consequences as she felt his hair was red, parted on the right and was most becoming.

 

There were times Redqueen had to bend a little, like graduation day at Vermont Sharkey High when gowns and mortarboards were bright blue.
She wore the required outfit but underneath was a neat deep pink dress that had two rows of burgundy cloth buttons on the blouse. As soon as the ceremonies were over and her class picture taken, off came the blue 'uniform'. She was the first to turn hers in and get her $10 deposit back. 

 

Breston Junior College was waiting for Redqueen. The school colors happened to be red and white but truly was not the reason she chose it. What she had confided in me was she liked the freedom promised there, all religions, all colors, all nationalities were welcome. Her credits were no problem, the cost was not too heavy for her parents, she could live on campus or commute. She chose to live on campus, set up her room with a new friend, a dark skinned guy named Obie. His head was shaved almost bald. Dread locks hung over both ears, similar to what Orthodox Jewish boys over 13 years of age wore. Redqueen's parents didn't talk much about their daughter's arrangement, but news went around fast. It was told that Obie and Redqueen shared the same quarters on friendly terms for two years and remained just friends.

 

One evening after their studies were taken care of, they decided to relax, have a beer, play cards, watch a bit of t.v. Redqueen put on her red flannel night gown, covered it with a soft, down-like robe and sat down on the side of her bed, a small folding table in front of her. Shuffling, shuffling, the sound became music. She dealt Obie his eleven cards, she got ten. He played a very safe six of clubs first. Redqueen slapped down a 7 of clubs and took the pair. Having in her hand the ten and jack of diamonds she tried to get his queen out.

 

 Instead, he slammed down his king of clubs and yelled too loud, 'King of Clubs slams the Redqueen,' laughed gently and pushed her back on her bed.