“It’s my first wedding,” gushes my client. “I want my gown to be really special.” Her mother nods in agreement.

Shockingly, I am no longer shocked.

I retrieve the marked tape looped around my neck and grab a sharpened pencil. But it’s just for show. I’ve already taken her measure.

Carolyn R. Russell is the author of two novels and a book of film criticism. Her essays, poetry, and short stories have been featured in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, Flash Fiction Magazine, Club Plum Literary Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, Dime Show Review, and Propertius Press. She holds an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University and has taught on the college, high school, and middle school levels. Carolyn lives on and writes from Boston’s North Shore. See more at carolynrrussell.com.