on the second day of the new year stephen called around and was amusingly guilty when he told us of his evening at the dinner dance , made it sound so much like prince charmings ball that gran and mother listened enraptured , as attentive as children being told a fairy tale ; they asked him what the women wore , what food there was , i could see them keep looking at me and wishing i was a part of that world of black ties and flowing gowns .