When Emily is getting ready for prom, she wants to go all out with her look, from the perfect outfit to the ideal hairstyle and makeup. But things take a turn when her troublesome stepmother, Carla, gets involved and cancels Emily’s hair appointment. However, just when it seems all is lost, a surprise limousine arrives outside her house… but who could have arranged it?
You won’t believe what happened to me! Buckle up, because this is one wild ride.
But Carla? Now that’s another story entirely.
It all started seven years ago when my mom passed away after getting really sick. Not too long after, my dad started dating Carla, and within a year, they were married.
“Your father doesn’t waste any time, does he?” my aunt had commented during the wedding. “And who is Carla anyway? She’s nothing compared to your mom!”
At first, Carla seemed fine. She tried to be nice and get on my good side. But over time, the passive-aggressive comments started to pile up. I remember one time she was staring at me with this strange look in her eyes.
“You look too much like your mother, Emily,” she said. “It actually pains me to look at you. No wonder your father gives Mason more attention. He’s closer to Mason right now, isn’t he?”
I sighed, trying my best to ignore her words and not let them get to me.
My dad? He never noticed anything. It’s like he was completely oblivious to the way Carla treated me, and she loved that. It was like her secret weapon, taunting me when he wasn’t looking.
Anyway, fast forward to prom season. Like every other girl, I was dreaming of the perfect night. I had been saving up my babysitting money for months to buy this gorgeous violet dress.
I kept wishing my mom was still around to help me with everything. It wasn’t the same without her.
That’s why I picked a violet dress—it was my mom’s favorite color.
I was so excited for prom. I just had this feeling that it was going to be magical, the kind of night you never forget. To make things even more special, I booked an appointment at a high-end salon. My friends were going there too, and we were all so excited.
Everything seemed to be falling into place.
Until, of course, Carla had to ruin it.
The day of prom finally arrived, and I headed to the salon, all excited to get my hair done. But when I got there, the receptionist gave me this confused look.
“Emily? Are you sure?” she asked, glancing at her computer screen. “Zelda told me that you canceled?”
“I didn’t!” I exclaimed, completely panicked. “Why would I? Prom is this evening!”
“Calm down, honey,” the receptionist tried to calm me down. “I’ll get Zelda.”
I waited anxiously while she went to get the hairdresser. Finally, they came back, and the hairdresser looked uncomfortable.
“I got a call earlier today saying that you wanted to cancel your appointment, Emily. I assumed that it was your Mom?”
My heart sank. Canceled? How? I hadn’t canceled anything! And what “mom” were they talking about?
That’s when I spotted her.
Carla
She was sitting there, getting her hair done, of course. She glanced over at me with this smug smile on her face, like she was enjoying every second of it. Carla had canceled my appointment on purpose.
“Is there any way that you could still schedule me in?” I asked, trying to hold back my frustration.
But the hairdresser just shook her head sadly.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “When your appointment was canceled, a woman called in and booked her own. All of our slots are taken. I’m sorry, honey.”
I was in complete shock. Carla had pretended to be me—or my mom—to cancel my appointment and take my spot. Just to ruin my day.
It was absolutely sick.
Feeling completely defeated, I ran out of the salon. I could barely hold it together. My dream of the perfect prom night was falling apart right in front of me.
By the time I got home, I locked myself in my room and cried my eyes out.
I tried to do my own hair, sitting at my dressing table, but nothing seemed to work. I felt foolish for even mentioning my plans to Carla in the first place.
My beautiful violet dress was hanging nearby, but I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to go anymore.
I looked at my makeup and wondered if it was even worth putting on. I was so upset, and it just didn’t feel like anything good was going to come from this night.
That’s when I heard a loud honking outside. At first, I ignored it, thinking it was just a random car driving by.
But the honking didn’t stop.
Wiping my tears, I dragged myself to the window, expecting to see something happening on the street. But when I looked out, I was stunned.
There, parked right in front of our house, was a sleek, black limousine.
I thought it had to be some sort of mistake. There was no way that limo was for me. My friends and I had talked about getting one, but their parents said no.
But I couldn’t stop myself from rushing downstairs to see what was going on.
As I stood by the front door, the driver stepped out of the limo and walked up to the porch, where my dad was standing, looking just as confused as I was.
“I’m here for Miss Emily, sir,” the driver said, holding out a card.
“Miss Emily”? Was this real?
“She’s right here,” my dad said, handing the card to me.
I opened it, my hands shaking. Inside, written in neat handwriting, was a message:
To my beautiful sister, Emily. I know things haven’t been easy lately, but you deserve the best night ever. Enjoy the limo, and don’t worry about a thing. I’ve been saving all my birthday and Christmas money for this.
Have an amazing night, sis.
Love, Mason.
Mason? My little brother did this for me?
Before I knew it, I was crying again, but this time it was from pure joy. I ran upstairs and found Mason grinning like he had just pulled off the most epic surprise ever.
“I heard Mom on the phone this morning,” he shrugged. “I knew that it wasn’t fair at all.”
Apparently, he overheard Carla canceling my hair appointment and decided to take matters into his own hands.
“But did you really use your money?” I asked, still feeling guilty about him spending his money.
“Not really,” he laughed. “See, Mom has been saving up money to buy some fancy diamond necklace. She’s been showing Dad the necklace, hoping that he would get it for her. But he said no.”
Good job, Dad, I thought to myself.
“Anyway, after I heard her phone call, she left home. So, I took some of the money from her stash, and went to Mr. Johnson next door. He owns the limo company, remember?”
But that wasn’t all Mason had up his sleeve.
“There’s more, Em,” he said. “Mrs. Evans, from across the road? Her daughter is a stylist at the mall. She’s coming here to do your hair and makeup soon.”
Just as he said that, the doorbell rang.
“That should be her!” Mason said, grinning even wider. “Go wash your face, I’ll send her up.”
I did as he said, washing my face and getting ready for what was about to come.
In about 20 minutes, I went from crying in my room to looking like a princess. If only my mom could have been there to take pictures and fuss over me. I missed her more than ever in that moment.
But thanks to Mason, my prom night wasn’t ruined after all.
When Carla finally pulled into the driveway, I was already outside, stepping into the limo like a celebrity. She was so shocked, she just stood there, her mouth hanging open.
I wish I had taken a picture of her face. I would have hung it up as a reminder that she couldn’t ruin everything!
“Richard? Did you do this?” she shrieked to my dad as the driver closed the limo door.
Moments later, I was whisked away in the limo.
Prom was everything I dreamed it would be. When I arrived at the venue in the limo, heads turned. I felt like I was glowing, and for the first time in a long while, I knew my mom was there with me in spirit.
The night was magical—full of dancing, laughing, and just enjoying being with my friends. I forgot all about the drama at home.
As for Carla, I hope she learned her lesson. You can’t mess with someone’s happiness and get away with it… especially when you’ve got an awesome little brother who will swoop in and save the day!
What would you have done in my situation?