"It makes no difference...If you're a boy or a girl...
You're a superstar, yes, that's what you are, you know it,
Come on, Vogue" -- Madonna/Madonna and S.Pettibone

  

A Life Ever Changing

by Angel

#37 Strike a Pose

  

We went into the jewelry room and my aunties were there waiting for me. Their eyes were huge and they both were smiling real big when they saw me....

I could not believe the attention I was getting! Everyone there was staring and pointing at me. My aunties came over and had me twirl for them and when I was done Auntie Helen said "I just knew you were the one for this position."

My Auntie Harriet said, "Angel that gown looks like it was made with just you in mind it fits you perfectly both in style and color."

Sylvia took my hand in hers and led me to a separated section with a large mirror and red velvet colored stool placed just in front of it. I sat on the stool and she began to unfold pieces of black velvet which when opened uncovered some of the most beautiful jewelry!

Sylvia said "Angel, these are the finest my company has to offer and you, my princess, are the first to wear them." Just then I noticed two men that were off to the side and they were walking toward us with a purpose.

I said, "Sylvia, those men are coming over here and they look real mean!"

Sylvia chuckled and said, "Honey, they are supposed to look mean that is part of there job. They are special guards that will be protecting the jewelry and you."

I was very surprised and said, "For me? Why would I need bodyguards?" I started to laugh just thinking about it picturing myself dwarfed in between these two huge men.

Sylvia chuckled and added saying "Angel, these jewels are worth a great deal of money if someone wanted to take them from you, you would get hurt. That is why we have guards to prevent that from happening."

I answered "Don't you have fake jewelry? I will be very nervous wearing those."

Sylvia said "You have nothing to be nervous about Honey; you just wear these, be happy, and smile like they were your own crown jewels, okay?"

I said, "Okay," but I knew I would still be nervous; the jewelry was very beautiful and looked very expensive!

Sylvie put in a pair of wonderful diamond earrings that dangled and glimmered in the light then a choker of woven white gold with diamonds surrounding a cameo. A bracelet of the same designs without a cameo an anklet and a ring for my right hand and a pinky ring for my left. I was stunned as I looked in the mirror!

Sylvia then surprised me by having Aunt Harriet help her put a diamond encrusted tiara on my head and fix it to my hair. The image I saw was stunning! People started to crowd around and the two guards quickly prevented this which caused even more people to try and see what was going on. It was decided we best move to a private enclosed area away from the costumers that were more and more gathering around our area. Store security added to the throng now gathering and 4 of them plus the two guards formed a wedge and we went back through the store and returned to the picture taking area. There were already a few store security personnel there and they with the other 4 set up a blockade to prevent any intrusions by the crowd and costumers. Our two guards with us continued behind the curtained off area and they stayed just inside the entrance.

The photographer was snapping away oblivious to what was happening around him, but one of his assistants watched everything. She came running over to us and introduced herself as Ms. Judith View and she was the Chief Assistant to Mr. Keith Edwards, the photographer. April was there and made our introductions and handed her some papers.

Judith quickly scanned them and smiled saying "Your next, Angel, so just sit over there and relax and I will send Terri over to check you over for any last minute touch-ups and she will go over the shoot with you."

We all went over to the area pointed out to us and sat. What had to be my chair was set apart from the others next to a mirror with lights all around it and a table. I sat there and I started to giggle. This was just too much excitement for me to keep inside. I looked in the mirror and that caused me to giggle even more! What was so funny to me was the fact that here I am a boy that looks like a very pretty girl even more pretty than some of the real girls!

My giggles started the others giggling and that did get the attention of the photographer and his assistants! The assistants all looked our way and made the hush sign holding a finger over their lips.

A lady I assumed to be Terri rushed over to us and told us in a soft but firm voice to "SHUT UP!"

We did just that and I said "I'm very sorry, it won't happen again."

She smiled and nodded saying "You must be Angel, let me look at you. Oh, very nice indeed, just a little different lip color and some gloss I think. Oh, I am sorry my name is Terri and after I change your lips I will go over what we will expect of you during the shoot."

My aunts made their quick introductions and Terri started changing my lip color and then added a glossy coat over that. She then said "Angel, we want you to follow everything Mr. Edwards directs you to do as quickly as you can manage it. (All the talking was done in whispers.) A few of his assistants will be helping you with the poses you don't know or understand how to do. Once they tell you they are done hold that pose and listen closely to Mr. Edwards for any further instructions ok?"

I said "Okay" and Terri had me stand up and go with her closer to the shoot in progress.

Mr. Edwards noticed this and stopped taking pictures saying, "Who is this little Angel?"

Terri said "Mr. Edwards, I would like to present Miss Angel O'Hare."

This started him laughing which started me laughing and soon a bunch of people were all laughing! Mr. Edwards said "An Angel named Angel." He laughed again which started the whole laughter thing over again. I smiled, still giggling and offered my hand to shake but instead he brought it to his lips as he bowed and kissed my fingers! Oh GEEZ!

A lady coughed loudly and we all looked at her and she nodded in the direction of the young girl Mr. Edwards was photographing when we had come in. Mr. Edwards looked at her and said "Oh, we're through, thank you." Some of his assistants whisked them both away with the lady looking real mad!

The introductions were made by April and Mr. Edwards told us all to call him Keith as he took my hand and led me to the set. He told me to relax and started taking pictures right away! I wasn't even ready and he had not even given me any direction or his assistants either. I started to relax and smiled, it was then he started giving me direction by having me turn one way and then another. He had me turn my head certain ways sit, stand, bow, and a host of other positions! A few his assistants helped me with some and then he paused thinking deeply.

He said to me, "Princess, I want you to think real deeply, just like you're daydreaming with your eyes open, ok?"

I said, "I will try, Mr. Edwards."

He said, "Keith, and do more than try, just do it." I tried to do what he asked but I guess I wasn't doing it right because he looked like he was not happy.

Just then Sylvia said, "Mr. Edwards, just ask her to sing." He looked at Sylvia like she was crazy but then Auntie Helen and Auntie Harriet agreed with her and Sylvia went on to say "Angel, goes into a special place when she sings and I think that is the look you are wanting."

Keith looked at me and said, "Sing for us, Princess, and go to that special place of yours."

I said "Okay Keith, what song do you want me to sing?"

Auntie Helen answered my question "sing the one you sang Mrs. Wentworth Honey."

I took a deep breath and went within and began to sing. When I was done singing I came back again and looked around. Flashes and more flashes! The flashes stopped and everybody started clapping, Keith looked very happy as he shouted, "That's a wrap everyone!" He came over to me picked me up in a bear hug and twirled me around in circles laughing. I started to giggle and that started everyone else laughing. When he stopped he said to me "Angel, my darling princess, this was a perfect shoot and I can say without a doubt you will be the one. Your look is just what I have been trying to find and capture for a long time. That and you sing beautifully!" He hugged me again as he turned me over to Terri who led me back to April and the others.

I was hugged and kissed and told how wonderful I was even though I really couldn't remember anything while I sang. My aunts were all very happy which made me very happy as we were led back out into the store. WOW! What a crowd! Most of the people there clapped when I came out but some were taking their daughters away and they looked at me like they could just shoot me right there! I looked around and saw that all the girls that were waiting when I went in were now leaving. Oh GEEZ! Those girls would not get a chance for the modeling job and that made me feel real bad. Well, they could still get their pictures taken though! That made me wonder why they were leaving so I asked April.

She said "Those girls who are here just for the modeling job are the ones leaving Angel. The girls who still want their pictures taken will stay and get just that, okay?" That made me feel much better so I smiled and our guards and store security escorted us back to the jewelry area where Sylvia removed those beautiful items I had worn. It was back to the wardrobe area then and soon I was back in the outfit I had arrived in.

It was over! Thank goodness for that! The ladies in the wardrobe area and others as well kept coming in while I was trying to change congratulating me and complementing me on my singing. GEEZ! Can't I even change in peace? I would soon find out that when you are modeling privacy is not to be had!

I wanted to do some shopping and we soon found that to be impossible. Just too many people were trying to get to us, so Auntie Helen led us to the office section and April told me we would wait until the store was closed and then I could shop in peace. That was an hour away! I was really tired even after all the excitement it left me kind of drained and I knew I would not want to wait for an hour, I would fall asleep first!

Auntie Helen must have realized this because she whispered in April's ear and April said, "What a great idea, why didn't I think of that!" April went to a phone and made several calls, soon after that a knock on the door was heard and in walked several ladies all holding different items. COOL! I picked several items from the choices and asked my aunties if they thought my mommy would like them. They all agreed and Auntie Helen picked a couple of more items and told the ladies to wrap all the purchases.

We talked a little while about the shoot which caused us to laugh and giggle about certain parts of it. The phone rang and we were told by April that all was ready. We all went out together as some of the store security officers carried our bags to the limo.

Once again we were on our way back to Auntie Helen's house. I curled up on the seat and laid my head on Auntie Helen's lap and closed my eyes. A short while later they must have thought I was sleeping because they started talking and I knew the topic was not meant for me to hear! They were saying...

  

  

  

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