Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Shelley's birthday

Shelley Jones picked up her lipstick and deftly applied it to her pouted lips.

She admired her reflection in the bathroom mirror and then she delved into her makeup bag for some eye-shadow. Her search resulted in two applicators, one was light blue and the other was dark blue.

She applied both to her eyelids and smiled at her reflection in the large mirror. She still looked a stunner at 89.

Then Shelley found some foundation and dabbed at her cheeks and she smiled again at her handiwork.

More searching of the makeup bag resulted in finding some mascara. Shelley applied black eye liner to her eyes and she was conscious for the first time of her hand shaking slightly.

Ten minutes later she was finished and looked a million dollars.

She heard the lock on her front door open and she knew she was being picked up for the Party.

It was her party. She was turning 89 and she felt nineteen. How the years had flown; how the husbands had flown too, there'd been three of them along the way.

She backed out of the bathroom and moved into the lounge to welcome her visitor.

It was Tom. He was her favourite.

He was dark skinned and spoke the Queens English. He was so refined compared to the other nurses.

His smile turned to a friendly frown.

He looked at the bright red lipstick smeared across her cheeks and chin and she'd managed to get some on the collar of her white blouse.

Her eyes were circled with black mascara and her forehead had smears of blue.

"Oh Shelley, " he said in his deep voice.

He took the handles of her wheelchair and pushed her back into her bathroom.

"Shall we start again?" he asked gently.