A Masquerade ball indeed. Luckily I had purchased gowns for my step mother and step sisters before we arrived at the palace. Each one had been exquisite but that doesn't spare me from hearing all their disparaging comments.

First Tori comes to me in tears. "You bought it two sizes too small. I can barely breathe."

"Those were Gwendolyn's instructions. But look, it has lacing that runs up the back. Turn around, I can loosen it for you."

"Well, now I can manage to breathe but I still won't be able to move." She looks at her reflection in my mirror and shakes her head. "No amount of dieting can make me a size six."

"You look beautiful Tori. I think the ivory color suits your personality."

At this time, Dora barges in the door, carrying her dress over her arm and her face is a storm cloud.

"Here I am, the intended bride of Prince Rupert. I'm to be introduced to all of Delta Ohr, in a pink gown. It's a masked ball, I need a mask. Something to make a big impression.

"The color of your gown looks like a flamingo," says Tori.

"Yes," says Dora. "I can go as a flamingo. No wait. I could. I want a long long neck so the flamingo's head and bill stands above everybody else. You have to make that for me, Cyndi."

Dora's eyes get big and bright. She's locked onto her idea and now she's got another one.

"Tori's dress is cream colored. She can be a graceful swan with a long curved neck. The neck of her's can't be as long as mine but my sister must stand out too."

"Oh, I d-d-don't want to stand out, Dora. You know how clumsy I am. I can barely move in this dress."

"You have to do it. The dress is slimming. It doesn't matter if you can't dance. You must compliment me. Your swan will make my flamingo look amazing."

Tori opens her mouth to make a silent protest, but Dora is too involved in her own thoughts to notice.

"Yes," Dora exclaims. "We will look so amazing, no one will look at anyone else at the ball."

* * *

Hours later, I had constructed two bird heads but they need long necks. I go into my closet and pull out my one nice dress. It's far from being a gown suitable to wear at a ball. But it does have narrow long sleeves. I cut them off and attach them to the constructed bird heads. With the addition of many more feathers and sequins I am able to attach the headdresses to the masks.

Dora tries hers on and looks into the mirror. She squeals in pleasure. Then the weight of the flamingo's head begins to collapse the long neck, like an accordion. Quickly, I find a length of narrow bamboo and connect fishing wire to the center of the flamingo's head. Tori and I stand just behind Dora. If we keep our arms outstretched and hold the pole aloft, maintaining tension on our strings, the impossible feather contraption stays buoyant.

Dora claps and jiggles with pleasure. "Now, like a real princess, I can have attendants."

"I don't want attendants," said Tori.

We compromise and make the neck of Tori's swan short and thick. Her swan's head protrudes from her forehead and squats on her head. Much like it is laying an egg. Tori simply has to remember not to turn her head from side to side and to walk very slowly.

Finally, my sisters are satisfied. Just before leaving, Tori says, "What do you plan to wear."

"Nothing. I am not going to the ball. I plan to spend the rest of the evening reading. You go on and have fun."