The Mannequin In The Shop Window — a short story for English reading and speaking

Edith worked in a department store in the city centre.

It had a good name, and it was Edith’s first job since graduating from college.

She was happy to be there. She liked the store, and she liked the people she worked with.

And she liked her job.

She was a junior window dresser, which meant she had to dress the shop window mannequins in the latest fashion items in the store.

Edith started out working in the women’s fashion department. She worked under the department manager; an older woman who took Edith under her wing.

She showed Edith how to dress the mannequins. How to make the display look special.

“We must treat the mannequins with respect,” said the manager. “Treat them as if they were human beings.”

Edith found this a little odd, but did as she was asked.

Now she had the opportunity to dress the window all by herself.

She regarded this as a big step up and took to it with great passion.

At home, Edith would plan out all the displays that she wanted to do for the following week. She would make detailed sketches of what she had in her mind’s eye.

Then at night, after the store closed, Edith got to work in the shop window.

She would often finish late in the evening, sometimes not getting home until well after midnight.

The more Edith worked with the mannequins, the more she became engaged with them.

The manager’s words started to ring somewhat true in that the mannequins, despite being made of plastic, did have an inherent human quality about them.

Edith would dress one particular mannequin and would marvel at the smoothness of her skin. Not real skin, of course, but alone at night in the shop window, with no other people outside on the darkened street, it appeared flawless and smooth.

Even the expressions on the mannequin’s faces. It was like they expressed real human emotions.

There was one particular mannequin that Edith liked to dress. She gave her a name; she called her Olivia. It seemed to suit her.

There were times when it looked as if Olivia were smiling. Not a big broad smile, but just something in the way her lips turned up a little at the corner.

Then other times when Olivia had a look of concern on her face. Like her eyebrows and brow were merging just above her perfect nose.

Edith knew all this was silly, but it helped to pass the time in the long nights as she dressed the window of the store.

Then one night she was in the window, dressing the mannequins. She saw a note written in the window.

The traces of some words were left in the condensation on the glass.

Edith could make out one or two letters, but that was all. She could not actually read the entire note.

She glanced over at Olivia and she swore she could see her smiling back at her. A little twinkle in her eye, as if this were a secret between the two of them.

The next day she told the manager. But the older woman just smiled back at her.

Edith was unsure whether she wanted to continue dressing the shop window alone at night.

But she liked working in the store. And something compelled her to do it.

She was attracted to the mannequins, and in particular to Olivia. It was like she knew her as a person.

Another evening came when she had to dress the window and Edith stayed on the shop floor as the customers gradually made their way out.

Security guards ushered the last remaining customers outside and finally, it was just Edith and the manager.

“Will you be all right this evening, Edith?” asked the manager.

Edith didn’t want to appear stupid or unable to do her job, so she replied quickly.

“Yes, of course. I like to do it. It’s fun, and the work is very interesting.”

The manager gave her a smile, put on her jacket and waved good night.

Edith was alone on the shop floor.

She went to the window and saw the outline of the mannequins under the street lighting outside.

She quickly glanced at Olivia’s face and saw that she had a dark, cloudy expression. She forced herself to not pay any notice to it and got to work dressing the window.

As Edith struggled to try to put a shirt sleeve over Olivia’s arm, she heard her breathing.

She didn’t want to look up, but she forced herself to do so.

And then Olivia turned her face to look directly at Edith.

“Hello Edith,” she said.

Edith staggered back. She could not believe her ears.

She shook her head, trying to clear the bizarre thoughts from her mind.

“Edith,” said Olivia.

Edith looked back up into Olivia’s face like she had no control over her own movements.

“You’re alive,” said Edith with a gasp.

“Of course I am,” said Olivia. “As alive as you are.”

Olivia reached out her hand to touch Edith on her arm. The touch felt warm and soft. It felt real. Like a real person.

Then Olivia stepped down from the stand that held her upright as a mannequin and embraced Edith.

The next day, the manager came to work in the morning.

Knowing that the store window had been dressed the night before, she walked past to make an appraisal. It looked wonderful.

The new girl was doing a great job. She made the mannequins in the window look like they were real people.

One mannequin in the corner had an almost sad look on her face.

The manager walked into the store and up to the women’s fashion department. The new girl had already arrived. She was such a hard worker.

“Good morning, Olivia,” said the manager. “I like the new window display. Is that a new mannequin I see there?”

Olivia smiled. “Yes, it is. I’ve called her Edith.”