Swagger

"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not be alarmed, this is only temporary."

Sally looked up from the cards. Her 21st birthday had been a mixed blessing so far. The dress her Mom had gifted her hadn't been ghastly (she actually liked it) and it fitted her and she could wear it and feel quite normal. Her Mom had had tears of joy watching her no-longer-a-child daughter wear her gift on a date - yes - a birthday date - with - Kabir. The hottest guy on campus, KABIR was to be her date on her birthday.

He took her to the casino. His swashbuckling swagger gave way to slumped shoulders as they lost at Blackjack, his guesses sometimes being this close but not quite.

And now this announcement.

Was it a raid? But this place was legal and everyone here was surely of age ...

All exits, and the toilets, too, were being sealed.

"Kabir?" she asked.

"I'll find out ..."

But before he could finish, the loudspeaker was on again.

"We've sealed all entries and exits for a reason. It's a contest. Just for those who are on the premises now."

Sally heaved a sigh of relief.

"We're going to hand out prizes to the first person or pair to respond to respond to the following criteria ..."

A curly haired young woman took the mic and yelled - 'Anyone having an old -fashioned postage stamp in their wallet or purse?"

Two grey haired women rushed forward and were declared joint winners. They received coupons from the casino as prizes and went smugly back to play some more.

"A pair - a pair with MATCHING clothes!"

Sally felt a hard pinch on her shoulder. She turned.

Was it a mirror?

She was looking at her dress, the one her Mom had gifted her and she had put on.

"Sally! I saw this one at the mall, too, and bought it, and now we win!"

"Aunt Joanna?"

Her Mom and her Mom's sister always did have the same taste, and now here she was, held in a vice-like grip, running to the announcer.

Kabir's swagger was back. It's not often one can order the most expensive dishes and drinks on offer. But hey, when one's girlfriend and her aunt win coupons ... !