We then lived in a big grandmother's house in the village. Before my birth, my parents worked in Poland, from where they brought a lot of magnificent things at that time.

My mom had a wonderful, beautiful taffeta dress in bright blue, with short sleeves and a full, gathered skirt below the knee. The dense fabric rustled and shimmered in different shades on the folds. The dress was brought from distant Poland. It seemed royal to me! I admired this dress and imagined that when I grow up, I will wear it for the holidays. In my dreams, I saw myself as a princess at the ball, the most beautiful in my mother's dress. Like Cinderella from a fairy tale that I saw on black and white TV!

The adults lived their own lives and took little interest in the dreams of the child. One day, from their conversations, I learned that my mother decided to sell "my" dress, because she was a little stout and it became tight at her waist. It was a real blow for me! And what about me? What will I wear to the ball when I grow up big? There will be no second such dress.

A couple of days later, the postman Nyura, a lonely ugly woman, came to the house to look at the dress. She, they say, goes to her sister's wedding and you need to be smart. During the fitting, I threw a terrible tantrum:

- Don't sell the dress! It's mine! I will wear it when I grow up! - I shouted through tears. The adults looked at my reaction and burst out laughing.

- So it is huge for you! - said the grandmother in surprise.

- I will definitely grow up !!! Leave the dress to me! I will go to the ball in it and meet the prince! - tried to convey to adults her childhood dream.

- By that time, the fashion will change, - my mother answered sternly, - shut up and do not bother the adults!

Nyura was spinning in my dress near the mirror, stroking her thighs, and I mentally begged her to refuse to buy. Finally the woman said:

- In a week I will get my salary and come for a dress. Save it for me.

I harbored hope - what if she changes her mind and my favorite dress will remain for me? And in this case, I will still be a princess at the ball!

But a week later Nyura came with the money, and I threw another tantrum:

- Mom, grandma, leave this dress to me! What does it cost you? I will be an obedient girl! Oh please!!!

And again the adults laughed at me and no one understood my grief.

- Do not pay attention to her, - said the grandmother, wrapping the cherished dress in a newspaper, - she is still small and bad.

After giving the money, the customer hurriedly left, carrying under her arm a package with my childhood dream forever. Huddled in the corner of the crib, I cried bitterly. She cried out of resentment at the adults who turned out to be so callous and angry. From the realization that I will never be a princess at a ball and never meet a real prince. My cherished dream was taken away from me!

Many years later, I reminded my mother of this old story. My fate was difficult. At that time, I went to psychological trainings and dealt with my children's complexes.

- Well, I was stupid! - answered my mother, - I should have left you this dress. After all, I had money then. I never thought it was that important to you.

That's the whole story. How important sometimes beautiful things are for a woman! And no matter how old she is - ninety or only four. After all, it was a beautiful dress that made Cinderella out of the messy princess!