The MakeUp Artist Internship

Amy Warren, Intern (1993)

    I graduated on a cool, May evening from Belle Voi Beauty Academy,   It was me, my mom, and my dad.  I had just found out my internship was in California, and my conservative Republican parents were not thrilled.   "It will cost too much," my dad said.  My Grandma, his mother said, "Think of all she can learn.   I will go with her and she will be fine."  She winked, as grandma let me do what I want and with a wink and a smile we were off to California.   She knew a lady out in California and she and I roomed with her.   When we got to California she even told me, "You will meet the love of your life here."  

     I had just broken up with my college boyfriend, as I went to college AND cosmetology school.  Graduated with an accounting degree AND a cosmetology degree.  I went to school at the commuter campus by day and cosmetology school on nights and weekends.  I had no life and here I was.  I had just dumped Amir. Actually he was to marry someone else anyway.    I was heading into a strange land where pretty girls ruled and girls like me did their makeup.  For the first few days I went to the set and then went home.   However, Elise Invifed me out.   She was a bit worldly and so pretty.   EVERYONE was pretty but me.   They had actors' attention.  I would go home after going out to eat with them and cry.   One night, grandma heard me crying in my room and asked me why I was crying.  

     "I'm so ugly, grandma," I sobbed.
"Why do you say thar?"
"When the cast goes out, no one talks to me.  No one even looks at me.  No one invites me."  I was bawling.  
"You're just shy.   You will meet someone soon and he will be amazing.  I just know it.  You ARE beautiful."  
"Yeah, right."
"And if you do, I will look the other way."  She winked. 

     Elise picked me up every day.  Maybe I needed to ask her.  

     Elsie drove a LeBaron convertible, a silver one. She honked at seven one day, and I got in the car,   She was from Chicago.  She felt obligated to take me to the set.  She lived two blocks over in some weird apartments. 

     "I am missing the summer by the lake," she said.
"Yeah."
"You sure don't talk much."
"I just don't have a lot to say.   Everyone is so pretty and interesting and I am a bore."
"You are so pretty.   Maybe you need to dress up a little more.  Wear some tighter jeans, wear more makeup.  Johnny eyes you. How about we go to the mall tonight?"
"Johnny?"
"He was in 21 Jump Street."
"You're lying."
"I can say something if you want."
"It's okay."
"You'd be cute."

     It was a joke. It had to be.  My sorority sisters set me up with weirdos.   In middle school, I was shoved into popular boys saying I wanted them and they ran away.   I was not going to meet Johnny.   I guess he had just broke up with Winona.  "They broke up in June.   You broke up before you left.  It's perfect.   Hey, on Friday, come to my house," she tells me.   "Call your Grandma and say we will be out late."  Once we get to the set, I do.  I take care of a big name celebrity's skin.   "I love the yellow and black dress," she says.   "It is very pretty."  I thank her.   Little did I know, Elise said something to Johnny because he told me, "It really is a great dress.   Very flattering on you."  I smile.   I thank him and I look into his deep, brown eyes.   To be honest, I have always had a crush.   I guess he was going on Friday, unbeknownst to me.  He was really kind and gentle and for a moment, I saw his hand on my girly parts, gently stroking me.  

It is a long day but we get done early, so we go to the mall and we get me a tight pair of jeans, a better bra and some tops that are a little tighter. I get home around nine. Grandma waits up. She always does just because she's grandma. She says, "You're beaming. I said, "Johnny said, 'Hi'." She looked at me and said, "That's not all that he is going to do."

    Maybe Grandma is losing it....