Charisma Part 1

Charisma was located at 1111 North Highland Avenue, which was about ten miles from Tiffany’s apartment. She was there in twenty minutes--or was she? She checked the address again; sure enough, it read 1111 North Highland Avenue. Had she copied it incorrectly? She frowned, remembering the numerals and words on the tag that had been attached to the brassiere. No, she’d gotten the address right, she was certain. If that were the case, though, why was she looking at the office of Silver Shield Insurance? A terrifying thought occurred to her. Maybe Charisma had gone out of business! She gulped. Please, God, don’t let that be true! she prayed. Telling herself that there was only one way to find out, she entered the insurance office.

An elderly gray-haired man wearing horn-rimmed spectacles and a three-piece suit looked up at her as she entered. Standing, he smiled, offering her his hand. She accepted it, and they shook. “I’m Martin Fenner,” he announced. “What can I do for you?”


“I’m trying to locate a company named Charisma,” Tiffany replied. “It used to be located here.”

Mr. Fenner’s smile faded as he realized he wouldn’t be selling an insurance policy to his visitor. He frowned. “Charisma?”

Tiffany nodded, hoping against hope that the elderly man could help her.

The insurance agent nodded, raising a forefinger. “Ah, yes! Charisma!”

“Can you tell me where the company moved?”

Mr. Fenner chuckled. “Charisma’s not a company,” he said.

Now, it was Tiffany who frowned. “I don’t understand,” she admitted. “I mean, I bought an article of clothing from them just this morning, and the tag had this address on it.”

“Charisma’s a lady,” Mr. Fenner announced. “A wonderful, charming lady--and a hell of a seamstress. Her shop was located here, before she moved.”