Mystique Boutique's Contest

Kristen Marie

Chapter 1

 

[Wednesday – school day]

I was one of 5 children and the only boy in the house with 4 sisters and my mother. My father worked in a different state and sometimes came home for the holidays. His job kept him away for years. I'm not really sure if that was by choice or it was just part of the job requirements. They were unusual marriage arrangements whichever the case may be.

My sisters are all older than me. We are all a year and a few months apart in age. My sisters constantly tease me for being so small for a 14 year old. They usually called me 'runt' and sometimes 'baby'; as in the baby of the family.

It was near the end of the school year and a local radio station was having a contest that a friend told me about. Hailey and I had known each other for a few years and I really had a crush on her but I'm so bashful I never took any action.

Hailey was telling me that a local radio station and some boutique had combined efforts and fist prize was 10,000.00 to the winner and 10,000.00 to the school he represented. "Wow", that's a lot of money. What is the contest?", I asked

"It's a style contest", Hailey replied.

"Oh, are you going to enter?" I asked.

"I can't, it's only for guys", she replied. "That's why the winnings are so high" she stated. But if you would enter, I'd be your trainer and I'm sure we could win. Wouldn't that be so awesome!", she said.

"I don't get it", I responded.

"It's kind of a fashion show for guys", she replied.

"Okay", I said, "But what's with the boutique involvement?"

Hailey explained to me that the guys would have to buy their stuff for the contest from the Mystique Boutique and to be eligible for the contest.

I'd never ever have a chance of qualifying let alone win", I replied.

"Oh, for 10,000.00 you wouldn't even try?" she asked.

"I don't think so, I'm just not sure the probability of winning is even remotely possible", I said.

"Awe shucks" she replied. I thought for sure you'd do this with me.

"No, sorry", I replied.

That was pretty much all that was said about the contests between Hailey and me even though the entire school was buzzing about it. A few of my friends asked me if I had heard about the contests and I told them, "with that kind of prize money the competition will be tremendous for anyone that enters."

A few days later my sister asked me about all the frenzy regarding the contest. I told her that I'd heard of it and was even asked by a girl in school if I'd enter. "Have you guys started any preparations?" my sister asked me. "NO, I told her no way, I'm not really interested in the contest."

"Oh, but you are so suitable", Hannah replied. "You are small enough and you have plenty of the attributes that would make your efforts very rewarding."

"What does that mean?" I asked her.

"It means for most of your life you've been a boy-toy for your sisters, we've dressed you up, played house with you and everything in between. It's not like you haven't been in plenty of family pictures in girlie clothes and you looked very pretty too."

"But those were just for fun" I told her. "This contest is for a lot of money, it will have a ton of contestants and I'm just not sure it's something that I want to devote any effort on."

"Yea, okay, whatever, you've been through the routine a thousand times, you could do it one more time, both for the money and for Hailey's sake", my sister told me.

"Hailey!, you've been talking to Hailey?" I asked.

"Yea, Hailey and I were getting a manicure at the same time yesterday, she told me she really thought she could help you to win. I teased her with 'if you only knew'" said Hannah.

"What did you tell her?", I asked.

"Not a thing", my sister said. "Although I could show her your pictures from the picture box, we've got quit a few of you dressed up in all kinds of dresses and skirts and some with you dressed just like all the girls at that sleepover, remember?"

"You really wouldn't do that to me would you?" I asked.

"In a New York minute, runt", she replied. I'd suggest that you talk with Hailey and see exactly what she has planned… Oh, better yet, the three of us will meet so I hear the facts correctly. I'm sure they may get significantly distorted hearing them second hand from you. Give me her number so I can set up a time."

"Oh please, don't make me do this, I won't, it's not fair" I yelled.

Hannah raised her hand as if to strike me, I ducked. "Don't tell me what I can do, I'll decide who I can talk to and who I can't. The more you cry like a baby that you can't do this and you won't, the greater the chance of me entering your name will be" she warned me. "Now give me her number then get out of my site, runt!"

I was holding back the tears because I didn't want Hannah to see I was almost ready to cry as I got a paper and pencil and wrote down Hailey's number as she requested.

"Thanks" she said as she ran up the stairs to her bedroom.

[FRIDAY PM]

That night at dinner my youngest sister, Rebecca, asked me," So I guess Hailey is coming over tonight to plan your makeover for the contest?"

"WHAT??" I replied.

My entire family was at the dinner table except for my sister Madeline.

"Oh don't worry your pretty little self over it runt, she'll be here at 7 to work things out with me." Hannah said.

"You are going to enter a contest Nick", my mother asked me.

"NO", I told her no!" I said.

"He's just teasing ya mom, he's making plans to enter the contest. It's the talk of the town. Here, I found this info on the net." Hannah handed our mother the papers.

"Oh my, 20,000.00 prize, that's very generous. I'm sure you'd do well Nick if you put in some effort" my mother encouraged.

"Don't fret over this ma, I've got things covered in the practice department. Although I'll need as much encouragement as I can get though from everyone. Hailey and myself have discussed a few things we need to do to start to get things ready for a first place ribbon and the 20 grand" my sister advised everybody.

My sisters and my mother talked about the contest as if I wasn't even sitting at the same table. The doorbell rang, as we were just finished. It was Hailey. Hannah got the door and my mother and 2 sisters started to clean the kitchen table as Hannah and Hailey headed for the den with my sister grabbing my arm to pull me in tow.

Hailey held my hand and said "hi".

I sheepishly replied with a "hi".

Hannah took charge of the conversation and whispered in my ear that she was going to enter me in the contest in the morning or everything, pictures and all that we had discussed previously would be posted on a web site and the site address would be handed out freely.

It was obvious that both Hannah and Hailey had discussed their plans earlier and that Hailey was very enthusiastic about this entire contest. Hannah started telling me exactly how things were going to be.

"We have 60 days to get you ready Nick", she said. "Here's what's gunna happen. Hailey will get 5,000.00 for her part of the training. I will get my 2,500.00 and the balance will go to you minus expenses. Got that squirt?"

"That's not fair, you are making me do this and I get the same as you?" I questioned.

"Well, yea, minus expenses" she replied. "The planning and finances are being worked out by myself and Hailey, you concentrate on being victorious, or is it Victoria, (she and Hailey laughed) and don't worry your pretty little self about anything but practice, practice, practice.

  

  

  

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