Debutantes

   As the light illuminated them, the debutantes blinked nervously.  Soon, however, they were caressed by the light's warmth, and found themselves standing straighter, like they carried invisible books on their heads.  The debutantes were all dressed prettily in white, pink and red, which mixed and bobbed together. They drew more than one admiring glance as they fluttered about chattering excitedly like a colourful collection of butterflies. 
   Rose, who had always been a bit bossy, some might even say a bully, cast an appraising eye over them all.  "Girls – enough messing around!  Remember posture, poise and smile – that's it.  We're in our prime and you know what they say: if you've got it – flaunt it."  Rose's soft pink face cast a withering glance at one girl who was still fidgeting.  Once she caught Rose's glare, she stopped, rearranging herself neatly and pulling herself to her full height.
    Even Rose had to admit that there were a number of natural beauties in the group, but Rose's demanding ways drew out the best from her girls so everyone grudgingly went along with her commands.  Rose cajoled them into drinking more water, insisted on them all taking just enough sun but not overdoing it and it had to be said that she got fantastic results. There were few debutantes with as healthy a glow.
    Looking around, Rose spotted the main competition.  The sun-worshippers, as they were nicknamed, were quite attention-grabbing with their tousled yellow manes and sun kissed facades, (if you liked that type of ostentatious display Rose had been heard to remark more than once), but Rose was unwavering in her belief that they would get their comeuppance when they saw what it did over time.
    The sun worshippers' unofficial leader was Dahlia and she watched as Rose and her crowd floated towards them on a perfumed breeze.  "Rose," Dahlia said, "delightful to see you and your crowd", but the wide smile she gave didn't quite meet her eyes.  "I'm a bit surprised really that you're all here – I really thought these ‘coming out' balls were intended for the younger ladies – how many years have you been making an appearance now?"
   Rose smiled tightly. "You've such a sense of humour!  I've only been to a couple of these events. You must be thinking of my mother, my grandmother – it's all in the genes you see.  We've established our roots here for quite a while now, unlike some of the newer families that seem to have just dropped in."
    Dahlia flinched at the insult. "Well, we'll just have to see what people have to say – it must make you nervous knowing that you could get the chop at any time, especially to make way for a more colourful and lively crowd.  Maybe in your grandmother and mother's time, your kind was more popular, but time marches on and tastes do change.  In fact, I heard one of the most important men here singing our praises just a day or two ago."
   "Say what you like," Rose said. "I know that I'll still be standing at the end of the night – but where will you and all your blow-in friends be?"
   Silenced, Dahlia turned her back on Rose, but not before she had inclined her head towards Rose's right and smirked.
   Rose turned to her right to see whom Dahlia had been observing.  One of the newer girls, who should have looked youthful and fresh under Rose's direction, looked tired and her upper body drooped as if carrying her head was an arduous task.  "What have you been doing?" Rose hissed. "What have you done to yourself?  Look at your face!  It's dry and mottled – have you been listening to them?" Rose demanded as she gestured wildly to Dahlia's crowd.  The target of her attack only stared at the ground and murmured a soft reply, but Rose wasn't happy.  "I don't know why you would have listened to her instead of me.  You just wait and see," she muttered darkly.  "Just you wait and see what they do when they see the state you're in…"
   The light suddenly went out and everyone felt a chill, although they tried to remember to stand up tall and smile, just as Rose always told them.  It was time for inspection and the worst thing you could do now was wilt under the pressure. 
   A gloved hand snaked around Rose's slim waist and there was a moment of panic in Rose's eyes.  The hand caressed and then released her.  The quiet one, who had been looking tired and drawn, didn't come off as well.  The others tried to maintain their composure as her head rolled off her stalk next to them.  Then the shadow went away and they were back in the light again.
   They heard the screams of the sun worshippers as the gloved hand ruthlessly tore off heads, leaves and stalks – all brown and dry from the sun. 
   Rose turned to the group, who were wide-eyed as they watched the massacre. With a smug smile Rose said, "I told you so."
   The garden fell quiet again as they each came to the realisation that the debutante season was nearly over for another year.  

Julie Holmes