The Lawsuit

Catalina Plúa M.
Composition I
Prof. Fionnuala Griffin
March 1, 2011
The Lawsuit
It was a small office on a red brick building, downtown. A wide gray hat covered her face. Once
in, no scattered papers on the secretary’s desk. For some reason the old woman doesn’t get,
the secretary is not there. She sits. Not a single pile of endless folders on the little table near
the couch, it looksway better than the last time. Just a little bonsai and some magazines. The air
was scented with lavender but cigarette scent was still lingering there. Luckily for her, the
Chanel Nº5 she wore prevailed in her nostrils. She is Gloria. Gloria Stark. A 93 year old woman
waiting for her lawyer Thomas Wilkinson. Her face covered in ivory foundation could not hide
the red burning face she showed.The day was rainy but she decided to wear her oval black
sunglasses. A woman like her could not just display her feelings to anyone.
“I see you are here Gloria,” Thomas mumbled.
“It is evident Tom, I called to say I was going to be here on time,” she said.
She took of the hat and left it on the couch. The black hair that once covered her head was now
as white as snow. Hairstyle, flawless. Onceinside the office the scent of lavender lost its
strength to become somehow pure cigarette.
“I can tell you keep smoking Tom,” she said while she sniffed the office like a hunting dog.
“Some things never change Gloria, like the reason that brought you here. May I ask… another
divorce?” Tom raised his left eyebrow as if waiting for confirmation.
“Not exactly, I want to sue some people, it’s abig case,” Gloria suggested.
Tom kept his fingers busy with a Palmer blue pen. He seemed not convinced by her response.
During the past he had known Gloria to be a wonderful woman in wait for love to come to her
life. However it always came in the “wrong package” as she used to refer to her ex husbands. 8
divorces. 0 arrangements. No children. The hat and the sunglasses had always been theportrait
of these events. No wonder he was not surprised with her visit.
She took off the glasses and there was something different that day. Swollen lids. Here green
olive eyes were shiny. No mascara just the vague idea that tears had been there not long ago.
“Who do you want to sue? How come you say it is a big case?” Tom dared asking, he knew
today she would not take no for an answer.
“Iwant to sue Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snowhite,” Gloria said. She took a deep breath
and continued, “they all…” a snif, “gave me unreal expectations about love...”
“What?!” Tom said. “You want me to help you sue these princesses? This is it Gloria! You have
lost it!”
Gloria remained calmed. Some tears came out. As the gentleman he was, Tom handed her the
usual bluish handkerchief.“Happily ever after…what the heck does that mean?” Gloria questioned. “I grew all my life
waiting for prince charming.”
“I think you mean 8 prospects of prince charming,” Tom said. “You tend to dismiss them just
after a few months and then…”
“Then what?” Gloria interrupted.
She knew she was a demanding woman. She enjoyed perfumes and a fancy lifestyle. Her house
was not modesty’s shelter. Gloriaowned a Wedding Planner company. Ironic? Yes. But she had
worked all her life planning weddings all over the world. Fiji beach style bride and groom. Little
house in the prairie theme for the wedding. Spring ceremonies at central park during the
perfect sunset. She planned them all. Her working team was men and women that had to
answer simple questions when interviewed: Do you believe in loveat first sight? And will it bring
you true love?
“Gloria, I have known you forever and as a friend I suggest you drop this idea,” Tom said.
“I just want to know which criteria they used to pick prince charming, what am I doing wrong?”
Gloria said. By now all the glamour she had on traduced itself to the desire of a desperate
woman eager to find an answer.
“I am truly sorry Gloria, but I...