2. Chapter Two #3
So fucking slow. I’d tendered my resignation from the feed mill so now I was picking up some parttime hours at the corner store.
Working with Ivy was cool, her parents were super supportive of my ambition, so overall it was a move up.
Each day that passed was marked off with a fat blue marker at home by the twins who were now done with school.
Both had passed with honor roll merits into fifth grade.
They were popular girls, so unlike me at that age, and spent most of their time with friends swimming or riding bikes or have sleepovers which always ended with me making a dress for someone.
I didn’t mind. It gave me something to think about besides the damned audition.
August crept in like a monster. The air was thick with humidity, the days long, and our second floor apartment was akin to a bake oven.
One day I’d live in a house with central air and a pool.
Not a community one like the girls had to pay to get into – and somedays couldn’t afford - but an inground one big enough for the twins plus all their giddy friends.
We still had about ten days for the announcement online of the winners so when I checked the mail that had fallen through the slot on a sweltering hot Wednesday I fell down in front of the fan in the living room, tired from a morning shift at the corner store, just as my phone began to vibrate.
The twins were off swimming at a friend’s house.
Mom was sleeping off another double shift, and Ivy was off getting her eyes examined.
She’d lost one of her contacts the other day.
I tossed aside the junk mail from window companies – as if we’d buy new windows for this dreary place – as I checked the incoming call.
Call. Not text so not Ivy or the twins. It was a number I wasn’t familiar with but something told me to answer when I would normally not.
“Hello,” I said, reading over a flyer from the local grocery store where a sale on ground beef was taking place.
“Kinder Graham,” a soft feminine voice with a heavy French accent asked. Something in my lower belly – probably the slice of breakfast pizza I’d had at the store – flipped over like a guppy outside its bowl.
“Yes,” I wheezed, sitting up as the fan ruffled the sticky hair off my brow.
“Bonjour. My name is Paloma Renoir. I’m one of the executive producers of étoiles de Style and I am very happy to tell you that you are one of the sixteen designers who have been chosen for the premiere season of our new show.”
My mind went totally blank for a second.
Maybe ten. Then I shot up off the sofa with a shout that brought my mother stumbling from her bedroom in shorts and a tank top, black hair stuck to her cheeks, as I began to weep in joy.
The woman – Paloma – was talking about contracts and NDA’s that would be delivered to me via messenger within the hour.
“They picked me!” I shouted as I climbed over the sofa to engulf my mother in a hug. She began to cry. I cried harder. Poor Paloma finally fell silent while we wept and coughed and sniffled. When I was under control I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. That was probably super rude.”
“No, it was delightful. You are not to tell anyone you have been chosen. That will be covered in the contracts that shall arrive soon. Secrecy is very important above all else. We will reveal the winners on August first online but until then you are to be quiet as a church mouse.”
“I won’t tell anyone. Just my family.” Ivy would kill me if I didn’t let her in too. “Can I tell my best friend? She’ll sign the NDA I’m sure.”
A long weary sigh flowed into my ears all the way from Paris. Paris!! My heart was thundering in my chest.
“Give me her full name. No one else, Kinder.”
“I promise. No one else. Just the family. Thank you. I love you! This is…this is a dream come true.”
Mom hugged me close.
Paloma softly laughed. “I’m sure I will grow to love you too.
For now we need you to ready yourself for the trip.
Ensure your passport is not expired. We will be paying for airfare, food, and lodging.
All of this is covered in the contracts.
Please reach out to me at this number if you have any questions.
We have already added you to contacts for email and text.
We’ll be in touch soon with more information but for now enjoy the rush of knowing that your name and face are about to become internationally known. ”
Paloma hung up first. I think I was gushing about Claude or speckled warblers. I truly did not know or had much control at that moment.
“My boy is going to Paris,” Mom whispered before I pulled her to me for another firm hug.
I could feel a subtle hum in the atmosphere as the cosmos realigned.
Something huge had been set in motion. Sixteen new stars were being born simultaneously.
Holding Mom close I prayed my path through the heavens ended with a soft landing in a new future.