POLAROIDS ✧ RICHIE TOZIER

XVI. LOVESONG

          WINNIE STARED AT HERSELF in the mirror, and couldn't help but be disappointed with the reflection that stared back her. She was wearing a knee length, lacy white collared dress and she had curled her light blonde hair. However, she felt completely stupid. Winnie hated the way she looked in dresses. She tugged at the lacy fabric and sighed before picking up Stan's present and her camera off of her dresser. Walking to her door, she paused to look at the clock on her bedside table and realized she was running late. She groaned and placed her camera around her neck as she hurried out of the house.

          Riding a bike in a dress was less than desirable, but it was Winnie's only option. She pedaled fast, avoiding even looking the direction of Richie's house as she went. Bells were ringing when she arrived and Winnie hastily kicked out the stand on her bike and rushed inside.

          Inside, the synagogue was filled with the sound of idle chat. As Winnie glanced around she realized Stan had been right, it was nothing but boring adults. She searched the crowd for Stan's face but it was to no avail. Sighing, she found a seat and fiddled with the wrapped present in her hands as she waited for the service to start.

          Winnie was thinking about how she felt bad she was the only one of Stan's friend's to show up when the doors opened and revealed a familiar face she hadn't expected to see. Richie walked in, wearing a bright blue suit and looking out of place. He and Winnie locked eyes for a brief second before the both of them quickly looked away. Winnie's heart hammered in her chest as Richie looked for a seat. He sat on the other side of the room across from Winnie and she made a mental note to kill Stan when this thing was over.

          Luckily, she didn't have much time to focus on the bespectacled boy,  as Stan soon took his place at the podium. The young boy gulped as he gripped the microphone in his hand and looked out at the crowd. As his eyes fell upon Winnie, she gave him a thumbs up, bringing a smile to his face.

          As the ceremony began, Winnie sat her neatly wrapped present next to her and picked up her polaroid camera. She snapped a picture of Stanley which printed and fell onto her lap. She let go of her camera, allowing it to rest against her chest and picked up the photo.

          Stan soon finished reading from the Torah and stepped down from the podium. Winnie stood up with her present in hand, wanting to be the first to congratulate Stan. She weaved her way through the crowd until she found her friend.

          "Oh my god, Stanley, are you growing a beard?" Winnie asked dramatically. She grabbed his face and looked closely at him, pretending to examine him. "You really are a man now." She teased, pinching his cheek

          Stan did his best to pretend to be annoyed and batted Winnie's hand away. "Did I do okay?" He asked

          "Yeah, of course. I would have been sad if I had bar mitzssed this." She joked, grinning at him.