Mildred didn’t have much money, living solely on her pension, but she wanted to buy a dress for her granddaughter Clara’s prom. At a fancy boutique, the saleswoman, Beatrice, greeted her but couldn’t hide her judgment—Mildred didn’t look like the usual customer. Beatrice tried to brush her off, but someone soon stepped in to help.
“Grandma, I don’t care about prom! Honestly, I just want to stay home and watch movies with Mom,” Clara said over the phone.
Mildred had called to talk about Clara’s upcoming graduation from Strawberry Crest High School in Tampa, Florida—and the prom was just around the corner. But she was surprised when her granddaughter insisted she didn’t want to go. Clara said the event wasn’t important, but Mildred knew better.
Her daughter, Agnes, worked a low-paying job, and Mildred survived on her pension alone. They simply couldn’t afford a nice dress for Clara’s prom. The 18-year-old felt embarrassed by this.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go? You know, I went to prom with your grandpa. He asked me out of nowhere, and we got married a few months later. We loved each other until the day he passed, and I still miss him every day. Prom can really change your life,” Mildred said cheerfully, trying to convince her.
“I know, Grandma. But I still don’t want to go. Also, I don’t have a date, so what’s the point? I have to study now—I still have a few finals left. Talk to you later!” Clara said, hanging up too quickly for Mildred’s comfort.
That night, Mildred made a decision. She had been saving part of her pension each month for her funeral expenses so Agnes wouldn’t have to worry about those costs. But now something else felt more important.
She wanted to buy a dress for Clara. Her granddaughter deserved it. Clara was a bright, hardworking kid who had nothing to do with their financial struggles. Mildred was determined to convince her to go to prom—in a beautiful dress.
The next day, she went to the mall and found a stunning boutique filled with gorgeous gowns. She stepped inside, eyes wide at all the sparkle. “What would Clara like?” she whispered to herself, running her hand over the nearest dress.
“Hello! My name’s Beatrice. How may I help you today… um?” the saleswoman approached, stumbling over her words. She looked Mildred up and down with a twisted smile.
“Hi! I’m looking for a dress for my granddaughter. Her prom is coming up,” Mildred explained, smiling warmly despite the woman’s odd behavior.
“I’m sorry, but this isn’t a rental shop. You have to buy these dresses outright,” Beatrice said, folding her hands.
Mildred nodded. “I know that. Could you show me some of your most popular dresses?”
“Well, those are quite expensive. Actually, this whole store might be out of your budget. Maybe you should try Target?” Beatrice suggested, and Mildred finally understood her dismissive attitude. The woman didn’t think Mildred could afford anything here and didn’t want her shopping in the boutique.
Mildred felt hurt but stayed silent to avoid a scene. She wandered the store as Beatrice followed closely behind.
“I’m just looking around, okay?” Mildred said, hoping the woman would leave her be.
“Look, you’ll find nice things at Target for your budget. This place is just too much for you,” Beatrice continued, crossing her arms. “Also, we have cameras everywhere—you won’t be able to steal anything with that old bag of yours.”
Finally, Mildred turned to face the rude saleswoman, eyes wide. Beatrice smirked, daring her to say something back. But Mildred wasn’t one for arguments. She rushed out of the store, tears streaming down her face, humiliated.
Just outside the mall, she dropped her bag and broke down. As she cried, a gentle hand touched her shoulder.
“Ma’am, are you okay? Can I help you?” a kind male voice asked. Mildred looked up to see a young police officer helping her steady herself. He bent down, picked up her purse, and smiled warmly.
“Thank you, officer,” she said, clutching her bag and trying to calm down.
“Well, I’m still an apprentice. Only 20 years old, but I’ll be a real officer soon,” he joked. “What happened?”
“It’s a bit silly…” Mildred began, but something about his kindness made her open up. By the time she finished, he was frowning.
“That’s awful! How could a saleswoman treat you like that?” he said.
“What’s your name, young man?”
“Leonard Walsh,” he said, glancing toward the mall entrance. “My mentor’s here for coffee, but we have time to pick out a dress. Let’s go!”
Mildred hesitated, but Leonard gently pulled her toward the boutique. Beatrice spotted them immediately.
“I told you to leave… Oh, officer, what’s going on?” Beatrice asked, her tone shifting the moment she saw Leonard.
“We’re here for a dress, and we’re not leaving without one,” Leonard said firmly. He also complained to the manager while Mildred browsed.
After a few minutes, Mildred chose a beautiful dress for Clara’s prom. Leonard insisted on paying half, despite her protests. Luckily, the store gave them a discount after Leonard’s complaint. They overheard the manager reprimanding Beatrice as they left.
Leonard walked Mildred out and said goodbye. But Mildred wasn’t ready to let the kind young man go just yet.
“Leonard, do you have any plans this weekend?” she asked with a sly smile. Leonard laughed.