The MakeUp Artist Internship

Our Own Private Plane

It was a long week.   We worked on Election Day and it was long.  I greeted every voter.   I enjoyed being with my workers.   However, after the election and after we went to headquarters for some "Horse Divers", as Paul Called them, I met up with Charisse.   Tracey lost, but "she put up a good fight". When I finished, I went to headquarters, ate horse divers, and then went to meet Charisse. She was dressed way down from what I was used to. She had on a beret from her mother. "Knitted in the fifties," she quipped. She kissed me in the alley and said, "Now, let's go meet some of my friends,". I kind of felt lost as they were all activists and mostly didn't care for my dad, On Wednesday I ate my pizza and I went to dinner with Charisse. Then I went home and went to bed with her. I ended up staying the night. Again.

"So, the socialite seems to have a hold on you," Scott laughed.
"You might say that. How is your Lauren?"
"Bitchy as ever but glad her candidate won."
"Did you know that Charisse campaigned for her opponent?"
"Yeah. So, what are her friends like?"
"I have a script with them. I cannot talk about my dad."
"That sucks. I think your dad was cool when I met him. I would drink beer with him. I would hang out with him."
"Oh and yeah, she doesn't like me smoking Cigars with you."
"That is our thing, man."

I would soon find out how much she hated me smoking cigars with a Scott. She didn't like me around men, She didn't like me around women. She was possessive.

"I wish you could spend the night," she said, holding onto my waist.
"I fly out tomorrow. I am going to stay at my mom's."
"I got you a card. You can open it on the plane."
"Okay."
"And when you get back Monday we can go to dinner."
"Okay."

I stayed with my mom and we drove out on a rainy morning to go see her Johnny.

"Have a safe trip, darling," Charisse texted. She then sent me a beaver shot. I put my phone away. "When you get there, can I see yours?"
I texted back, "K".

The stewardess asks what we want to eat and we eat. Mom and I make small talk. I open my card,

"Darling, the last few weeks have been incredible. My love for you grows daily. Remember, love me and no one else." It sort of scared me. Mom dozed off and I read 2016 which was a lot of traveling across the county with Erik, eating at greasy spoons, making love in five star and roadside mom n pops, and just talking about novels. or movies. "I have been spending a lot of time at the apartment and I cannot wait to either a) move into that house or b) move into this apartment. The view is splendid at night. I would like to live in the city. It's so alive. I can feel it. Sure, I will be sad for Erik, but I will have love for the first time. I hear Johnny is getting divorced, but Johnny would never remember me.... I can see us at First Methodist, saying our vows and I will have a smart, kind, caring husband for me." However, one day it came crashing down.

Mom had gone to a family reunion and wrote about it. "I had a great time. I will be SO PROUD to bring Erik to the reunions. He is smart and can hang with my smart uncles and educated aunts.  I can show him off.  I spent the day imagining that I had introduced Erik to them and they were so impressed, but then I came home and got on social media.   He wrote on his page.  'We had the final chemo and we will see if the tumor has shrunk.   It has considerably and I am glad.'"   I am glad I was alone.  I let the tears spill down my cheeks."  I messaged Erik and said I was happy nfor him and he said, 'As much as I adore you, I do feel I need to stick with Beth.  I am so sorry.  In another life or time, I could have stayed, and I adore you.   Some day you will make someone so very happy.  I adore you, my Amy.'  I am so crushed. I felt strung along I felt used. I messaged Wendy.and she basically told me In was a bitch and this should have happened.   Some friend...;  I remembered her.   The mooch who made me watch her horrible children more than once.   Mom is human.   Erik was someone who made my mom feel beautiful and she was attracted to him.   He was fearful and wanted to pick her for a wife, and that was when the eating began....  Mom loved Erik.   She was so depressed.  I look over at her and think to myself, "You were so upset back then and mom look at you now."  I read and read.  He still spoke to her and liked her pictures on social media, and on Christmas Eve sent her yellow roses with "Thinking Of You", but the next day at lunch she got the horrible, horrible news.  Her dreams died that Christmas at noon, at the able while she was looking at her phone....

"Probably one of the worst christmases ever.   I got a full bouquet of yellow roses with 'Thinking of You' and now I opened my phone and lunch and he wrote, 'I have gotten the best news ever.  CANCER FREE!!!!   We started down a hard road and it has ended victorious.   Beth would like to thank you all and will be conscious of her health.  Merry Christmas from Erik and Beth!'   There went the apartment.  There went the house.  There went the going to dinners.  Lastly, there went feeling beautiful. I just went home and fell apart. I thought that we were in love. I thought that the starts would align. I am so sickened. I look like the shithead who waited for his wife to die."   I look at mom.  She is still asleep.  Her lips are parted.   I can see Johnny's hands caress her face and kiss those lips.   Mom, life will go on.   She will date a real dweeb and it will fuck with her head a lot, but now she was happy beyond belief.;  She would soon be entering the Raypole Zone.  

Charisse texts.   "Are you there yet?" 
"No.   Still on a plane."
"Well I am home alone.   I have decided to stay in.  It just won't be fun without you."
"Don't do that for me."
"Why?  I want to be with my girl.  When do you get home?"
"Late Sunday."
"Awww.... Phooey.   However, after work I am taking you to get some steaks.  Oh and don't forget to show me yours tonight."

    I told her I would, but I felt obligated....

    Soon the plane touched down, we go to a private hangar and Sean was there to greet us. "Johnny had a meeting, but will meet up with you at the hotel.   He got a family suite again.   When Johnny came in, he embraced my mom and that day in December was long forgotten....