While Mary brushed my pistachio silk carriage dress, Mama tugged the laces of my corset as tight as they would go. She grunted and I groaned, and we sounded like the giant hogs I'd seen at the zoo-except that, rather than play in the mud and eat to my heart's content, I was forced to sit daintily in the parlor without lunch. For two hours. With my mother for company.
The narrator recalls an uncomfortable experience as Mary helps prepare her for a special event by brushing her fancy dress. At the same time, her mother is tightening her corset to the maximum, causing both of them to grunt and groan in a humorous comparison to the giant hogs at the zoo. This vivid imagery emphasizes the discomfort and awkwardness of the situation.
Instead of enjoying a carefree day, the narrator...
