Magical Moments

Making A Life

                 

I had always pictured myself having the perfect life. Two loving parents, one annoying brother, great grades, and friends who would stay with me through thick and thin. Boy was I out in left field with that thought. And it all started when my mom was diagnosed with stage four-lung cancer.

            I came home from school one day to hear my dad screaming and throwing glass objects at the wall. If I concentrated, I could hear the faint whimper of tears coming from the other room. I walk towards the noise and come face to face with the source. My five-year-old brother is bawling over my mothers picture frame. In that moment my life shatters.

            Two years have blown by; in the blink of an eye I am starting my senior year. I am one of the younger students in my class, only turning seventeen a few months ago. Since my mothers passing, my father has become an introverted drunk, and it is up to me to care for my seven-year-old brother. Making sure my brother is safe, food is on the table, and the bills are paid are a few of my duties.

            Glancing into the girls bathroom mirror, I se my pale complexion, light green eyes, and long brown hair glaring back at me. I pinch my cheeks slightly to get more blood flow to them, and I head back to class while staring at my shoes. The teacher stares at me when I enter the room, but I don't say anything as I go back to my seat to read my book, as class continues in the normal dreary fashion the next thing I hear, the bell rings signaling the end of the day.

            I leave to go pick up my brother from school; the hot Melbourne sun shines down on my shoulders, drenching me in sweat. I approach the school and see my younger sibling sprint out of the building, across the grass and into my open arms.

            "How was school bud?" A huge smile spreads across his face as he goes on and on about the new things he learned, and the friends he made on his first day. A smile stretches across my face and I lengthen my steps slightly so that we are able to make it home on time.

            We arrive at our little apartment in the shady part of town within ten minuets. I unlock the door and quietly push it open, hoping and praying that he isn't awake. I am in luck; I hear loud snores coming from the front bedroom signaling that he's asleep. I put my finger up to my lip in a 'sush' motion and together we walk past the sleeping oaf and into the kitchen.

            My brother drops his backpack onto the floor and climbs up the barstool and takes a seat; looking at me expectantly. I pull out all the necessary ingredients to make Mac & Cheese. We finish eating and cleaning up dinner before I walk my brother to our shared bedroom so he can lie down. He tugs the covers up to him chin and I give him a kiss on the nose before I leave, closing and locking the deadbolt behind me.

            I pass my still snoring father's room on my way through the front door. Quietly I pull the door closed. With a silent thud, I am out.

            My feet clump down the stairs as I begin the long walk towards work. I longingly look at the cars on either side of the road, but I quickly shut that idea down in its tracks. A car isn't in my plan right now; college isn't even in that plan, feeding and taking care of my brother that is my one and only plan.

            The street lamps click on all at the same time, making me realize how quickly the sun light has bled from the sky, leaving nothing but a blanket of darkness that shrouds my sight. I lengthen my stride. Half a block away and I can already feel the heavy bass thumping in my chest. The Hills: Gentlemen's Club came into sight as I rounded the last turn. I make my way around the back door of the building, and walk through the door that is propped open for the dancers.

            Not a look is given to me as I make my way to my dressing room. 'Candi', my stage name, is painted on the outside of the door with glow in the dark stars stuck randomly to it. Inside the walls are a hot pink with a dark purple sponging on top. If you look down the wall you see racks of skimpy outfits hanging neatly in a row. The opposite wall has my make-up covered vanity sitting in the middle.

            I sit down at my vanity to begin the transformation process. No longer am I Theana, the shy high schooler, now I am Candi, the stripper. With that thought I begin applying my makeup. Moisturizer and foundation cover any imperfections on my face, while my eyeliner and mascara accentuate my eyes. Blush and lipstick give me some color to my pale complexion. Looking into the mirror, I see a stranger.

            Standing up, I strut over to my clothes rack and glance over my options. There is a small shimmery sliver number with a plunging neckline that covers my butt for the most part, or there is a cowgirl getup with booty denim shorts with holes in the front paired with a plaid red shirt tied right beneath my breasts.    

            I remove my school clothes and put on a push-up leopard print bra and matching thong. I decide on the shimmery dress with a pair of black six inch stilettos. Teetering on one heel, I swing my arms back and forth to put on the other shoe. Using my curling wand waves are added to my waist length brown hair.

            I leave my dressing room and head towards the stage hearing, "Now gentlemen, you know the rules you can look, but you cannot touch! Here is your favorite dancer, Candi!" With that entrance the lights dim and smokes starts to billow out of the floor.

            Cherry Pie by Warrant starts playing; seductively I strut towards the dance pole while glancing over the lusty eyed males with my own alluring gaze. Lightly, I caress the shiny golden pole and look over my shoulder, shaking my butt in the process. I start my dance and receive cat calls from the audience. I prance towards the men up front, and get on my hand and knees, crawling towards them as they stuff bills into my top.

            I carefully stand on my black heels, stripping off my tiny dress and I give the men one more look. My butt gets a slap from a man with aquamarine eyes as a hundred dollar bill is tucked into my thong. The ending chords of the song play; I blow the men a final kiss, wait for my remaining cash, and prance off stage.

All of my earnings from the night are stuffed into a bag. I wash off all the makeup and pull on my clothes I had on earlier. I leave the club and begin my journey back to my apartment.

I unlock the door and enter silently; the same is done to my bedroom door. I put my bag in the corner and get undressed before I crawl into bed. I am asleep before my head even hits the pillow.

I wake up in the morning by feeling my brother get up. I peel open my eyes and sit up in bed, stretching my arms up and over my head. I mender over to my open closet and pull out a pair of baggy sweats and black long sleeved shirt.my brother is pulling on his converse before he stands and leaves, heading to the kitchen.

I follow behind and see my drunken father in the recliner with a bottle of fireball in his hand. Sighing I walk into the kitchen to toast a pop tart for my brother and I.

I drop my brother off at his school before I go my own way. 'Same stuff, different day' goes through my head as the horrible school comes into view. I heave the doors open and go straight to my locker so that I am not late to first period, again.

"I saw you last night." A random voice startles me.

"Huh?" was my smart reply before I look up and see a familiar pair of aquamarine eyes looking down at me. This was the man who gave me the hundred! My green eyes widen in shock with realization of what is happening.

My double life is crashing down on me. Candi. Theana. I don't even know who I am anymore. This random stranger has torn apart my fragile life and I don't know what to do.

Ilook up into at his beautiful eyes and whisper, "I'm screwed" before the worldgoes dark. I can feel a pair of arms around my waist, then nothing.