Olivia

Olivia had been coming into Friedmann's, a major department store in the West End all her life, but she had not seen raincoats of this ilk in, it must be over forty years.

She undid a button on one of the red macs, touched the smooth rubber. It felt cold, refreshing almost, there was that familiar excitement deep inside. The mac was thin, pliable, not stiff or heavy like some rubberised rainwear can be. It would follow her form, clinging, revealing.

Olivia already owned a number of raincoats, more than most would consider necessary, even for the British climate. But it was not everyday that one saw rubberised macs in the shops, they were now normally exclusive to just a few specialist outlets.

Assistance was summoned with a wave of the hand. A smartly dressed young man, perhaps less than half Olivia's age came over eagerly, no doubt enthusiastic to make a sale.

"Yes madam, can I help you?".

"These mackintoshes, they are waterproof aren't they?"

"They are special madam, they have a rubber lining"

"Yes yes, I can see that" said Olivia impatiently, "But are they waterproof? Are the joints sealed? it's important!"

The young salesman hesitated, beyond knowing that the macs were rubber lined, Olivia had clearly exhausted his knowledge. "I will have to check for you madam".

Whilst the salesman was away, she again felt the rubber lining. It was nice, creamy, it had that rubber smell that she so adored. But which colour to have, they were all available in her size. Red perhaps, she already had two in red, navy then, beige maybe. Beige always looked smart, traditional, these were traditional macs.

The young man returned, a little breathless, "Yes madam, I'm told that they are completely waterproof".

"Good" said Olivia enthusiastically. There was a pause, she placed a caressing hand on the cotton fabric. The excited school girl feeling that always came to her in the presence of such rainwear was making her tremble.

"I rather like the beige. I'll have to try it on, I need to make sure it fits me".

"Of course, there is a mirror just over here".

"But I need to try it on properly, I want to make sure that it fits me correctly, it's important!"

"But of course it is madam, perhaps if I help you to put it on".

"No no no..." Olivia was loosing patience, "You don't understand".

In his mind the young man had to agree, he did not understand her at all. This sale was proving to be hard work, he tried not to let his exasperation show.

"Could you bring me a plastic bag?" enquired Olivia, "A large one".

Stopped in his tracks, & with a look of surprise on his face, the salesman, hesitating said, "Eh... yes, I'll..., I'll just get one from the cash desk". Of he went again, this time he was back in a few seconds, bag in hand. "Here you are madam".

"Thank you" said Olivia. She looked around her. "Now where is the changing room?" With an indication of his hand he showed Olivia the way.

The salesman hovered about, attending to this & that, keeping an eye on the entrance to the changing room. The minutes ticked bye. He was just beginning to get a little anxious, wondering what she was doing, when the woman appeared. She was glancing around, apparently looking for him. He raised a hand, she noticed & came towards him.

There was something different about her now, he observed, apart that is, from the fact that she was now wearing the mac, there was something else, but what it was he could not quite put his finger on.

"Really!" cried Olivia, "There is not even a full length mirror in that room, just some tiny affair, I couldn't see anything".

The man guided her to a full length mirror standing near bye. "Try this madam".

Olivia handed the plastic bag to the salesman & began to study her own reflection in the mirror, turning first one way, then the other, doing a twirl, running her hands down over her hips. She adjusted the belt, pulling it tighter by one hole, she pulled up the collar, plunged her hands into the creamy rubber lined pockets. She turned her back to the mirror, craned her neck as far as possible to see how the mac looked at the back, turning to face the mirror she put up the hood.

The salesman watched, he began to admire. A tinny bit intolerant she might be, but she was, he now saw, a rather beautiful lady, elegant, classical even. What's more the timeless elegance of the military style raincoat suited her down to the ground, it showed of her figure to perfection, close fitting at the top, perfect around her slim waist before flaring out over the hips. The slender curves of her body were pronounced, the thin rubberised fabric, very revealing.

Suddenly, it clicked! That's it! That's what's different. His eyes snapped down to the plastic bag that he was holding, there was the answer. There in the bag were her clothes, all of them, on the top, staring out at him, Olivia's white silk underwear. His eyes flashed back to the lady looking at herself in the mirror, he swallowed hard.

Olivia turned to face the young man, saw the look of shear surprise on his face, the mouth hanging open, there was the merest hint of a smile in her features. "I'll take it" she declared, "There's no need to wrap it, I'll wear it, just as I am".

"Thank you" she said to the salesman warmly, "You've been most helpful".

She took the bag from him, walked to the cash desk, paid, glanced back with a smile, & then left.

The salesman stood, still motionless, gazing after her, mouth still open.