November

I was attending a Masquerade Ball for charity on Halloween. It was being held at the posh old Ryder house on Chaltham campus, Cambridge. I was wearing the old green satin gown with a matching sash around my waist, from which a long brooch dangled. It had been a relic from a cousins wedding. I was also sporting the costume necklace that we had found among my Grandmother’s estate. It was pretty, with glittery rhinestone emeralds in a bib, with smaller emeralds surrounding a petite diamond pendant that sparkled like the real thing.

So anyway, there I was, all dressed up, yearning to have a great time, and of course no male seemed to notice me, and I was too shy to ask someone to dance. I remember standing at the bar, being jealous that my friend gone off with a dreamy, handsome bloke in , of course, a prince charming outfit. As I was wallowing in my self pity, someone stepped onto the hem of my long gown. Turning around I tripped into a tall man in a Zorro like costume. He was ever so apologetic as he caught my fall, and begged me for a dance, as if I’d refuse. We ended up dancing three dances, he was really light on his feet and had these intense, ice blue eyes staring from his mask I remember tingling all over at the touch of his hand moving along my bare back. It was wonderful, and I felt like I had climbed onto cloud nine. I could have danced with him all evening, but unfortunately he had to leave. Then, with the cutest look of embarrassment, he offered to have me walk with him through the garden to the car lot. I accepted cheerfully without a seconds hesitation.

The walk through the deserted moonlit Garden was almost perfect, but leave it to klutzy me to mess it up. We had found a break in the hedge leading to the car park, and with a hand to my waist, he led me through first. I was so intent on watching him, I walked right into a low hanging cobweb spanning the opening. So much for elegance and grace. Like a gentleman, he helped me get free of the sticky web, Then he actually kissed my hand, but I couldn’t feel it because of my gloves. He walked away into the lot, and I watched him drive off. It was after he had pulled out that I realized I had not even asked him for his number, and he had given me only a first name. so much for clear headed thinking.

I was still on me cloud as I drove home that evening, so much so that when I noticed my bare throat in the mirror, I really did not get upset. I pulled over and checked myself and the car in vain (attracting a couple of whistlers from the campus park for all my effort) but no necklace. I called campus security, but no one had turned in a necklace. I do kinda of miss it, although I don’t thing it was of any value other than a sentimental memento( both for my Grandmother and for the evening). I do feel pretty sure it will turn up in it’s own good time.
But, if anyone who has plowed through my saga thinks they may have found it, please let me know.