Ra’anana Community Kollel
Disguised
Elana Horwitz
“Successful” was the word Tiffany would choose to describe herself in her coveted position as president of Wonder Website Design. Of course, “a cut above” also had a nice ring to it. Dashing in her computer display designs, daring in her innovation, in the kingdom of her well-known company, Tiffany reigned.
“No compromises” was the secret to her authority. “You call this a layout?” she roared at one of her male subordinates on a typical Monday morning that March. “This isn’t a layout. This is a mess!” The chastised, awed fellow tiptoed out of the president’s office feeling as if not only his project, but also every facet of his being, was irrevocably messed up.
Crossing the spacious, ivory and gold tiled corridor he nodded morosely to Jane, who was mopping the floor. “Tough day?’ she sympathized with a smile. “Hang in there! With your talent, things are sure to perk up.” Intent on scrubbing a grungy spot in the corner, she sensed, rather than saw, the worker’s scowling face morph into one of hopeful determination.
“Talent,” Jane thought jealously. “Some people - they’re going places. Me - I’m going nowhere. Nice as I can be, I remain forever on the lowest rung of the ladder. But I’ll show them…yeah, I’ll show them all tonight at the Purim party. For once this Plain Jane will rule!
And rule she did. No fanciful flair was forgotten, no petty detail omitted, from the elegant queen costume that disguised her that night. Finally, Jane the cleaning girl was appreciated. She had worth. No one wore a disguise as completely convincing…that was, until Tiffany made her dramatic entrance.
The company president hardly was recognizable in an outlandish getup of a western bandit. Parading haughtily around the hamentashen platters, Tiffany performed perfectly as robber of everyone’s possessions and dignity. She was a person worthy of being scorned, being belittled.
What marvelous costumes these two women wore! The illusions created were marked in their effects.
Yet, several company workers wondered. They wondered how well either of these women had managed to disguise herself after all. And just who was fooled. And what their disguises cost them.
