Mirror mirror

How different would things have been if Kate had known then what she knew now?

Body positive might be all the rage these days, but Kate didn’t feel all that positive when everyone else was buying glorious, sparkly little dresses for the party season and she… well, she wasn’t.

‘Try this on,’ urged her friend, Tilly. ‘The color will look great on you.’

Kate was torn. The office Christmas party was only days away. Justin would be there. Justin who had stolen her heart over the water cooler and who didn’t even know she existed.

‘It’s your chance to make him notice you,’ said Tilly, who knew exactly where Kate’s thoughts had strayed. ‘Everyone will be all dolled up. You need a dress with the wow factor to stand out.’

And there was the crunch. At 5ft 11in, Kate stood out enough. A dress that drew even more attention? No thanks.

She selected a different dress and held it up. ‘What about this one?’

‘Yeah, that would do,’ said Tilly. ‘If we were going to a church social and you were my granny. Oh! That one!’ She pointed excitedly at a display model wearing a glittery silvery sheath dress.

‘Do you even know me?’ Kate asked.

‘Come on! It was made for your height and curves.’

‘Height and curves are not always the asset you seem to think they are.’

‘Well, they could be,’ Tilly insisted. ‘If you didn’t hide them behind… that.’ She indicated Kate’s go-to outfit of leggings and a big jumper. ‘Besides, I happen to know some men like curves.’

‘Some men. But we have no evidence that Justin is one of them. We only ever see him talking to Skinny Niala and Tiny Tina.’