The Pretty Girl

The Beautiful Nightmare

Adeline Carter Jones aged 7 years old sat in front of her vanity mirror as her mother brushed her hair and hummed. "Look in the mirror and stop slouching." She tapped her shoulder with the brush.

Adeline fought the urge to express pain. Mother wouldn't like that because only inferiors can be bothers with tiny matter such as a tap with a brush. "Look at your self. Just gorgeous. You are such a pretty girl Adeline."

Brush

"Perfect lips."

Brush

"Dazzling eyes."

Brush

"You won't have to work a day in your life. All you need to do is look pretty darling. Everything will be just fine if you just look pretty." Her mother kissed her cheek but it didn't feel very loving. She seemed more proud of her seed coming out so perfect.

Her words sounding like sweet poison to fill the shallow girls brain. It was like a mantra at this point it happened every other day. Adeline was learning but sometimes she wondered what it would be like to play on the monkey bars or ride a bike. She saw some kids outside do that. Her mother argued it was far too rough and dirty for such a beautiful girl. Adeline didn't need any scrapes and scars.

Adeline couldn't do much that normal children did. But Adeline was beautiful and could walk and smile like no other child could. She became proficient at singing and fine artistic dance. She was intelligent and was fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Mandarin. Her education was far superior than those around her. Adeline was just born to be great.

"I'm perfect." She nodded in response. "You know they don't like to see upper class black girls. But you're going to excel you are going to be a star."

Adeline swallowed in nodded that was a lot of responsibility. "It's your world darling. You own it." Amelia grinned to her daughter. Adeline gave a fake one back. She wrapped her daughters hair and put a scarf. "Get rest you need at least 8 hours so you don't get bags under your eyes." Amelia called out. Adeline nodded again. "Goodnight mother."

And then she was alone. She heard laughter through her window before she could get in her bed. She knew she should just go right to bed and close her eyes but she was so curious. Adeline slipped on her pink fuzzy slippers that matched her silk pajamas before scurrying to the window.

She looked out at the scene before her and sighed. A few white kids and one little Black boy laughing as they rode in circles on their bikes.

Adeline frowned. There they went once again living their life to the fullest. While Adeline just had to watch. They looked like they had nothing at all to worry about. They didn't have to be perfect.

She saw the little black boy glance up at her and smile and wave. Adeline gasped and moved away from the window. Her cheeks heating up. She peaked back out the window and a little white boy and girl were now looking up at the window with him probably wondering who the mystery girl in the window was. Adeline stormed away from the window. She was thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed for spying on them.

"No they are dirty and unkempt. You don't need imbeciles around you. You're better than that. You're better than them." She convinced herself before blowing out her candles.

"No one is better than you Adeline Carter Jones." She whispered to herself before closing her eyes.

Adeline sat patiently as her makeup artist finished her face. It's been a long Saturday of runway walks. It was the last look of the evening and Adeline was already done with it. She needed her massage and sauna to relax. "All done." The woman stated. Adeline leaned forward and looked at her reflection and frowned. "What is this?" She scoffed.