Straw hat

This is my straw hat, for something completely inappropriate for the time of year; a bit of escapism from the rain that was trying to drown London on the day I wrote it. I have no idea how old it is, (well, my best guess would be at least over 30 years old), but for the purposes of this story I'd like to think it's from the late 1930s.

***

Laura stands by the window, a tear of frustration rolling down her face. The coolness left in the tear’s track catches her attention for a moment; it is a gorgeous contrast to the heat filling the air. She longs for a glass of water and the sweep of a winter wind across her face.

She leans out of the window, hand to her hat, for the third time in as many minutes, even though she knows she will hear the car before she sees it.  Squinting down the road into the sun, she sees nothing but the familiar view: Mrs Keel is outside next door's talking to the cat as she fiddles with her keys; and in the distance a tractor buzzes and grumbles over newly cut wheat. Her heels knock on the boards with nervous irritability.

Unable to stand it any longer, she turns around and flings herself across her bed. Why doesn’t he come?

Her hat flies off with the force of her frustration, hitting the wall with the whisper of a crunch. Another tear escapes, and now they are flowing freely, first hot, then colder as they cool in the air. Her desperate attempt to quench them, dabbing frantically at her eyes with a handkerchief, only serves to spread new mascara over her cheeks. She picks up the hat from the floor and sobs.

It's a simple hat, useful for keeping the sun off her face in this stifling weather, but it's already one of her favourites. She’d sewn a ribbon on, thinking it was a little plain without it, and now it really was hers; the stamp of individuality well and truly there.

But the effort would be wasted if he didn’t arrive. She hadn’t spent two and six on a new hat for nothing: everything had to be exactly right (even though she already had a summer hat that would do just as well). Stupid boy; he obviously didn't care about what hat she wore, and even less about her.

Straw hat - etsy

Circle skirt - handmade by me

Blouse - charity shop

White lace tights - Forever 21