Mitzi's "Just SO" Luncheon

I had two of these in the bag I've been working from. I began to wonder where they came from and why they were tied in a faded blue ribbon.

Two linen napkins perfectly washed, folded and ironed after the last time Mitzi had Charlene over for lunch. Mitzi had everything, as she always did, just SO, as her mama and grand mama before her had, all nice Baptist ladies and members of the Junior League. The white table cloth and white "nice but not too nice" dishes, and the cheerful newest Vera spring napkin design Mitzi had purchased the last time she went to the Bon Marche. Mitzi even used the Waterford vase she received as a wedding present with a bouquet of late blooming lilacs in purple and almost pink. Charlene was the other social doyenne of their little town, and she was also married to the preacher, so she outranked Mitzi, no matter how many new napkins or new hostess gowns Mitzi bought. Speaking of hostess gowns, Mitzi's was TO DIE! White eyelet off the shoulder peasant top, empire waist and an A-line maxi skirt with the same pinks and purples of the napkins. Luncheon was tiny chicken salad sandwiches, aspic with tiny shrimp, and a meringue with fresh peaches. Mitzi made them all herself, with help from the Junior League Cookbook, revised edition.

Lunch was lovely, until Charlene started to turn purple and wave her arms around: the international signal for "help me, I cannot fucking breathe!", and Mitzi simply traced her fingernail along the voluptuous curve of the pink and orange flower on her napkin. She saw nothing unusual, she even attempted the heimlich maneuver. That's what she told the cops, anyway.

To this day, everyone but Mitzi thinks Charlene died choking on a missed chicken bone in the salad sandwiches, while Mitzi tried hard and bravely to save Charlene's life.

The napkins sat, tied with a ribbon in a special place in Mitzi's lingerie drawer, keeper of a woman's secrets. Dianna, Mitzi's daughter couldn't understand why they were so important, going through her mothers' life's leftovers after Mitzi passed quietly into That Good Night. She priced them at 10 cents each.

Linen napkin. Pink gerber daisies, fancy purple flowers, and other floral motifs run across a white back ground in purple, hot pink, and orange. Vera signed in orange, no ladybug. Edges serged in hot pink. 12" Square.