Unsigned Books

A Modern-Day Fairy Tale

It changed a lot of things. Maybe not everything, but at least enough. New Year’s resolutions had always been a tradition. Part of that tradition was that they were never actually meant to really change your life. It was just something you said you’d change and that would be it. Everybody would ask you after your resolutions, you’d just blurt out the first bullshit that sprang to mind, and that was the talk of the eve. That one year changed a lot of things, indeed. At least it changed everything for Brenda. 

She was late, which was so unlike her. Her alarm did not go off, which was so unlike the alarm clock. Brenda hadn’t a moment to lose as she had to get to work. Why she ever decided to work at the coffee shop in the first place, she could not remember. What is the reason for a coffee shop to open at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day anyway? No time for anything besides getting dressed and running to work all the way. She’d freshen herself up in the toilet and put on some make-up to at least give her some sort of presentable look.  

On her way to work, she bumped into tons of people that seemed to be in a hurry that early already. What on Earth! David passed her, but she must have been in too much of her hurry for him to notice her. She hadn’t seen him for months anyway. Except, of course, for that one awkward moment that he spotted her on a date while she had told him she was emotionally unavailable at that time. That must have hurt his feelings. She decided to delete his number later that day. For some reason she felt there was no more room for him in her life.  

Brenda stormed through the door and saw her colleagues giving her a disapproving look. Or was it something else. No time to notice much of anything. At least she was there and only half an hour late. It was a first, so she was sure she would be forgiven. She must have also looked like something the cat dragged in, and that must not have gone unnoticed either. Dylan stopped her the moment she wanted to walk into the office at the back. 

“Sorry, missy, where do you think you are going?” 

In a sarcastic voice she answered, “Good morning, Brenda. My don’t you look lovely today. Happy New by the by. Have you done something to your hair? It looks different. Good morning Dylan. Happy New Year to you, too. Now, please get out of my way, I am late already, and Bob is going to kill me.” 

He did not budge and gave her a funny look. “I have no idea who you are and how you know my name or even Bob’s, but knowing them, does not give you permission to go into the office. It is not for customers. If you want to use the toilet, they are on the right.” 

It took her moment to take in this information. She knew she drank too much on New Year’s Eve and she had a rough night, but she could not have looked that terrible that even her colleague did not recognise her. “Very funny, Dylan. I know I look like shit, I must smell like shit and I am definitely hungover and maybe even still a little tipsy, but I am late as it is. Gimme a minute to put on some make-up and freshen up and I will be with you in a jiffy.” 

Dylan still did not move. And looked her up and down a bit. “I have no idea who you are or even who you think you are, but you can either use the customer’s stall or leave. What will it be?” 

“Dylan,” she said with a sigh, “I have no idea what has come over you, but please move your ass and let me get to work.” 

“Get to work? Is that the way to apply for a job these days? You just barge into any old coffee shop, tell them you work there and that’s it? I don’t think so, hon. Get lost!” 

She was getting quite angry and tried to push him out of the way. “Dylan, this is not funny anymore. Move it, d*ckh**d.” 

“That’s it. I am calling the cops.”  

“What do you mean!? It is me, Brenda. I work here. Hello!?” 

He gave her perplexed stare. “I have worked with Brenda for quite some time, and you, missy, are not her. Pull the other one. Did Brenda make you do this? Is this one of her stupid pranks?” Dylan pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled Brenda’s number. The phone in Brenda’s purse rang. “That’s weird.” 

Brenda grabbed her phone out of her purse and answered it. While staring Dylan into the face she said, “Hi Dylan, it is Brenda. I know I am late, but some *rs*h*l* is blocking my way.” 

“Confounded!” He had no other words for what was happening. “Did Brenda give you her phone, too? You really went overboard this time.” 

“I am Brenda!” He let her push him out of the way and she walked into the office while he followed her. In the office he noticed that this strange woman who called herself Brenda knew exactly where everything was. This confused him. “Listen, if you really are Brenda, or think you are, you might want to sit down for a minute.” 

Brenda was now also confused for she realised neither of them was pulling a prank. She did as he suggested and sat down on a chair. “Do you perhaps have a mirror in that purse of yours?” Dylan asked in a slightly friendlier tone than before.  

“What kind of a woman would I be if I didn’t.” Sarcasm was usually not one of her traits, but this was the second sarcastic thing she had uttered. It was very unlike her. Rummaging through her purse, she found the mirror and held up in front of her face. She turned pale and in shock she screamed. “What the h*ll happened to my face?” 

“Yes, I was just about to ask you the same thing. And where has all the sarcasm and cursing come from all of a sudden?” Brenda was usually a very timid and well-behaved woman. Not exactly pretty or ugly, just an unremarkable girl with stringy, ash-blonde hair and one crooked tooth that she did not think was worth the braces. In the mirror she noticed she now had the looks of a penthouse centrefold and a smile that could weaken any men’s heart in a flash. She also appeared to have gained the attitude of an 18th-century Covent Garden girl.  

“So, you have finally decided to get your face and teeth done? And who is your new hair-dresser? I need his address asap.” Dylan spoke flabbergasted.  

She sunk down in the chair and dropped the mirror to the floor. This came rather unexpected. Yes, she was quite drunk last night, but she did not remember visiting a plastic surgeon. In any cases, there would never be one as good as this. A totally new face and no scars. Didn’t her boobs feel firmer this morning as well? She was too much in a hurry to really notice anything, but now, as she was sitting there, she noticed her clothes were a bit loose and her body did not quite feel the same.  

“I have no idea what happened, Dylan. But, please, believe when I say I am really Brenda.” She took out her ID and opened it. The picture inside looked like her the way she was now, the name, date of birth and all hadn’t changed. “See, it is still me, just not me. If you know what I mean.” 

Dylan grabbed the ID from her slim hands and glanced at it. “Well, this definitely says you are Brenda, just not the Brenda I know. I think I know what you mean.” 

“Well, ain’t this a bloody surprise. Happy New Year to me. I don’t know what to say.” 

“Would you like a cup of tea?” 

“Don’t you have anything stronger? I could use a double whiskey and I am longing for a cigarette. Which is weird, for I have always hated both of them.” She sat staring at him and he stared back at her. Then they laughed.  

“How did you do this? What is your secret?” He asked her jokingly, knowing she would not have an answer to it.   

Then it kind of dawned on her. But it couldn’t have been. “Impossible,” she murmered. “Dylan?” She asked rather doubtful. “Did you by any chance call me last night?” 

“Yes, I did, but you were too drunk to make any sense.” 

“Did you ask me after my New Year’s Resolution, like last year?” He looked at her, and it kind of dawned on him, too. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.” 

“Do you remember what I said?” 

“Yes, I do remember. You don’t think … ?” 

“I have no other way of explaining this.” And she moved her arms up and down as if presenting her new looks to him. “What was it I said to you?” 

“You said, ‘Oh, you know, new year, new me.” 

“Indeed, I did.” 

“Well, that wasn’t a lie then.” 

“Nope. Well f*ck.” 

Writing Prompt by: writingpromtpal 

Happy New Year

“Set your story on New Year’s Day”