PART. X -Buttered Side Down

black shadows he took off his smart straw hat, and there was in the gesture
something of the respect one would show in the presence of something
sacred. He put his arm about her ample waist with its unlovely bulges, and
pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was neither perfunctory nor eager,
but was, somehow, grateful.

Millie Whitcomb, of fancy goods and notions at Bascom’s, inspired me with her comment on my last story’s too-beautiful heroine, suggesting I write about an ugly girl instead. Millie, adorned in her lavender and gray, conjures images of elegant simplicity, contrasting sharply with the usual depiction of sales clerks. Her insight leads me to ponder realistic characters, steering clear of the clichéd transformation of plain Janes into stunning beauties by the novel’s end. Thus, I choose Pearlie Schultz as my protagonist, a truly homely heroine, encompassing all that society deems unattractive, including her excessive weight. Unlike the conventional misfits who blossom unexpectedly, Pearlie remains unaltered in appearance throughout, challenging the narrative norms.

Pearlie’s life, filled with unrequited yearnings and solitary musings in the shadow of societal beauty standards, paints a poignant picture. Her extraordinary culinary skills offer a stark contradiction to her personal life, highlighting the complex layers of human experience overlooked by superficial judgments. Her daily routine, marked by a mundane job and the pursuit of personal improvement through diet and exercise, speaks volumes of her inner struggles. Despite the lack of romantic attention, she finds solace in her family’s affection and her passion for cooking, proving that fulfillment can come from sources beyond physical attractiveness.

The encounter with Sam Miller, a traveling salesman coping with the loneliness of his profession, opens a new chapter in Pearlie’s life. Their shared sense of isolation and longing for home comforts breeds a unique companionship. Sam, engaged and deeply in love, finds in Pearlie a confidante and a reminder of the simple, yet profound pleasures of life. Pearlie’s invitation to Sam for a homemade meal becomes a transformative experience for him, renewing his appreciation for genuine human connections and the art of cooking. Their final parting under the cover of darkness, where Pearlie requests a kiss, not for romance but for the experience itself, encapsulates the essence of Pearlie’s journey. It’s a bold act of self-assertion and a poignant closure to her longing for normalcy in a world that often overlooks the beauty within the homely.