THE C - LIST
1006 Words
She went over to a file cabinet. “Let’s see... Bailey, Bennington, Bernstein...Brownie." She pulled out Jade’s file, glanced at the stack of computer cards, then put it back and shut the drawer. “Everything is in order. Is there anything else?”
“What does ‘C List’ mean?”
“Means you’re untrained. You’re not client-ready. Modeling is a highly competitive field, honey." She blew out smoke, looking at Jade. “It’s tough to get work unless you’re client-ready."
“How do I become client-ready?"
“Training of course." She handed Jade a color brochure that showed all the different classes the agency offered. When she saw the price for the whole program, her eyes bugged out. “Two thousand dol..."
“Do you think you could be a successful doctor without any training?”
“Well I...”
“A successful lawyer?”
Jade didn’t speak.
“A successful engineer? Honey, modeling is no different than any other profession."
Jade felt stupid again.
She left with the brochure.
* * *
“Two thousand dollars?” Jade’s father said, staring at the paper.
“Modeling is no different than any other profession, Dad. If you want to be a successful doctor, you have to have training. If you want to be a successful lawyer, you...”
“I know all that. But two thousand dollars...”
“You don’t think I’m pretty enough to be a model?”
“Of course you’re pretty enough."
“Then what is it?”
“It’s just that...I was hopin’ you’d choose a profession where you’d use your brains."
“It’s only a hobby, Dad. I don’t expect to do it as a career or anything." The truth was, Jade had fantasies about being a supermodel and having her picture splashed all over the cover of Vogue and flying all over the world and being filthy rich. She wasn’t keen on the idea of going to college.
Herbert scratched his head, looking at the brochure. “I don’t know...seems like this could be a scam to lure a lot of gullible young girls...”
“It’s not a scam! Why do you always have to be so suspicious?”
“Jady...” Herbert sighed. He gazed into his daughter’s big blue eyes. He couldn’t say no to her. “Is this really that important to you?”
“Yes,” she said emphatically.
When he finally agreed, Jade threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “I’ve got the best father in the whole wide world!”
* * *
For Jade, the rest of the summer was an exhilarating blur of activity. She took classes on how to walk the ramp and catwalk, on hair and skin care, on fitness and diet, and on positive mental attitude. She attended seminars covering what to do in the “green room” and backstage, how to create good portfolio poses, and the use of body language. Outside of the agency, she also signed up for aerobics classes to burn off extra fat.
Her father brought home a ten-foot length of wood and sanded it down so she could practice “walking the beam,” for catwalk training. He installed a huge mirror on her bedroom wall to help her refine movements and improve her posture.
Jade slowly transformed from the proverbial ugly duckling into a swan. She didn’t consider herself naturally beautiful, but she learned to make the best use of everything she had. She learned to buy clothes that accentuated her long legs and downplayed her small bust, and to do it on a budget that created a classy impression. She learned to smile more often, and to hold her head high when she was afraid. In general, she became much more aware of her posture and facial expressions and learned to move with much more grace and finesse.
Jade worked hard, day and night, anxious to complete all the courses as quickly as possible, so she could get her career off to a roaring start.
In mid-August, she finished the last class offered by the agency, Acting in TV Commercials. She excitedly took the certificate down the hall to Ms. Cynthia.
“All done,” Jade said.
“All done with what?”
“With the acting class,” Jade said, proudly holding up the signed certificate. “I’ve completed the entire program now."
“Congratulations,” Ms. Cynthia muttered. With her cigarette dangling from her mouth, she took the paper and turned to the file cabinets. “What’s your name again, honey?”
Jade gritted her teeth. “Brownie. Jade Brownie."
She pulled Jade’s file out, dropped the certificate in with all the others, and shut the drawer.
“We’ll call you."
* * *
Two long weeks passed. School started. Jade heard nothing from the agency. She had expected the phone to start ringing off the wall for auditions. But every night when she got home, there were no messages on the answering machine.
She finally took the bus downtown to the agency and went straight to Ms. Cynthia’s office. The woman was on the phone, as usual. Jade impatiently tapped her fingers on the counter until she hung up.
“Can I help you?” Ms. Cynthia said, lighting up a cigarette from the fire of the previous one.
“Yes." Jade mustered up her courage. “I want to know why you’re not calling me for any jobs. I’ve completed the entire training program, and...”
“What’s your name, dear?”
Jade couldn’t believe it. “Brownie!” she snapped. “Jade Brownie!”
“Don’t get snippy with me, honey. We have hundreds of girls at this agency."
“I’m sorry...I’m just a little upset. You told me that when I finished the training classes, I would be able to get modeling jobs."
“I told you no such thing."
Jade blinked once. “You said that to be client-ready, I had to have training."
“That’s right."
- Writer
