Gordon took his dinner suit to the tailor before a cruise.
He also brought the ship’s menu. There were seven formal dinners and a pudding buffet.
The tailor pinned the trousers, then asked whether Gordon wanted a close fit or a little room.
Gordon pointed to the menu and asked for one special fitting….
Gordon’s dinner suit had spent several years at the back of the wardrobe. It came out whenever someone got married, retired or decided ordinary clothes were no longer enough.
Now he and Carol had booked a cruise.
The brochure showed elegant people on the stairs. Carol said they could aim for reasonably tidy people near the lift.
Gordon tried on the suit at home. The jacket was fine. The trousers required a short private discussion with his stomach.
He said the material had tightened in storage.
Carol gave him the tailor’s number.
At the shop, the tailor, Dev, asked when he needed it.
Three weeks. We’re going on a cruise.
Then we have time to make you comfortable.
Gordon said comfort was very important. He had studied the holiday carefully.
He placed a folded sheet beside the pins.
Dev expected a picture of a suit.
It was the ship’s menu.
Seven formal dinners, Gordon explained. I thought that might help.
Dev said he normally measured people rather than their plans.
He asked Gordon to stand naturally.
Gordon stood taller.
Naturally, Dev repeated.
Gordon let out a breath. The top button disappeared under his hands.
Carol said that was the man she’d brought in.
Dev loosened the waistband and pinned a little extra room. Gordon walked to the mirror, turned and sat on a chair.
Much better, he said.
Dev checked how the trousers sat.
A close fit for the photographs, or a little room for moving about?
Gordon looked at the menu.
The first evening had three courses. The second had four. On Thursday, there was a pudding buffet.
Carol reminded him that nobody had ordered him to eat everything.
Gordon said they had paid for the holiday and ought to participate.
Dev said he could finish the alterations next week. Gordon could return in the morning and try them on.
Would you like to test the fit standing or sitting?
After pudding.
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