Evening in Paris by Denise Chávez
"Evening in Paris" by Denise Chávez is a reflective narrative centered on the experiences of a young girl during the Christmas season. The story unfolds in a Woolworth's store, where the narrator seeks a special gift for her mother amid the bustling holiday atmosphere. Captivated by the allure of Evening in Paris perfume, she grapples with feelings of inadequacy and intimidation, especially in the presence of the polished cosmetic counter and the saleslady. The girl believes that the perfume will be a cherished gift, contrasting it with the more common presents that her mother receives from her students, many of which go unused.
As the narrative progresses, the girl’s anticipation turns to disappointment when her mother appears indifferent to the gift, highlighting themes of unfulfilled expectations and the complexities of familial relationships. The story explores concepts of identity, maturity, and the bittersweet nature of gifts, as it reflects on the passage of time and the enduring connection between mother and daughter. Ultimately, the tale leaves readers contemplating the deeper meanings behind material gifts and the emotional weight they carry within family dynamics.
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Evening in Paris by Denise Chávez
First published: 1986
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: 1960
Locale: Southern New Mexico
Principal Characters:
The narrator , a young girlHer mother , a schoolteacherHer sister
The Story
With only three shopping days left before Christmas, the narrator is in a Woolworth's store wondering what to buy her mother. She wants something special. What most appeals to her are the dark blue bottles of Evening in Paris perfume. The cosmetic counter entrances her, although she feels inadequate before its shining glass cases, with their mysterious scents and images of womanhood, and she feels awkward and intimidated by the saleslady. "What help is there for three-dollar realities?" she thinks to herself. Her voice falters as she asks for her treasure, a gift-wrapped package of Evening in Paris cologne and bath water. She considers it her best gift ever to her mother and knows that her mother will like it.
Most of the gifts under the family Christmas tree are from her mother's students. The narrator watches her open them and knows that most of the presents will go into a gift box to be given to others the next year. As the girl waits for her mother to open her special present, she reflects on the passage of seasons, on growth and change, on the special smells and foods of Christmastime, and on the things in her mother's house. Her sister is disappointed that the bright package is not for her. The sister's gift is one that their mother gave the narrator to give to her, a red wallet with a picture of Jesus on it. With eager anticipation, the narrator asks her mother to open the midnight-blue package that she has carefully wrapped in white tissue paper. Her mother says yes, but instead stoops to pick up some stray wrapping paper.
Later it occurs to the narrator that perhaps her mother thought the Evening in Paris gift set was from one of her students. It remains unopened and unused. Maybe her mother prefers her usual Tabu perfume, the narrator thinks, although her mother does use the Avon perfume that a student has given to her.
The narrator feels unfulfilled, empty, inadequate. This attitude continues to haunt her years later, after she has gone to Paris and seen its dark and sad aspects, rather than the romanticized and illusionary world of Eiffel Tower postcards. However, the Paris of magic and lights exists too, she believes.
The following Christmas, the narrator's mother gives her the wallet with Christ's picture; she has forgotten that she used it for the narrator's present to her sister the year before and that her sister put it in the general gift box for other occasions. The wallet reminds the narrator of the previous year, and she thinks her mother perhaps had as little need for perfume on the dusty school playgrounds as the narrator had of a wallet. As the story ends, she stares at the picture on the red wallet, a reproduction of a popular painting of Jesus. She muses that it is a handsome Jesus, one that anyone could love, with his long brown curls and beard, and his deep-set eyes staring out.