Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
●-●-●-●
Myra Bhatt had never been to California. It was all new territory to her. It was way different than her hometown in North Carolina where all of her family lived. She had flown there for auditions for a once in a lifetime role in a Michael Jackson music video.
She knew the chances of her getting the role was slim to none. There were much prettier women than her at the auditions. Still she kept a piece of her hoping that she would receive the call saying that she had got the part.
She had a room in a rather cheap motel room because a job at a hair salon didn't exactly pay top dollar. The wallpaper was a floral design she found hideous, the bed made her back ache, and the pillows were flatter than her chest in middle school.
She had constantly paced around the shag carpeted floor. She watched her phone for it to ring. She desperately waited for the news of the audition.
As she watched the day pass by without a phone call, Myra decided to step outside. She needed the fresh air and wanted to explore the strange state. She slipped on her pair of tennis shoes and pocketed her phone and room key before she left.
The heat hit Myra like a soccer ball to the stomach. She was glad she had chosen a pair of shorts or she would have melted in her shoes. Already sweating, Myra began to wonder whether or not she should go in and apply an extra layer of deodorant.
She hurried down the stone staircase, her hand skimming the unsafe looking handrail. It shook with each step she took, worrying her it would fall off. Luckily it didn't as she made it down safely.
She wiped the sweat from her face as she looked at which direction to go. Both would lead her to some new place. With a shrug, Myra decided to turn right and head down the sidewalk.
Myra didn't see much as she began her walk. She mainly saw the stray jogger or someone walking their dog. She did stop to pet a couple of them. One of them was named Elvis, which Myra found cute. The other was named Pumpkin Pie and was named by the woman's five year old daughter.
Myra had always loved dogs. Since she could never get a cat due to her allergies, dogs were her choice. Her first dog was a Chihuahua named Bella and Myra had her when she was five. Sadly Bella got hit by a car after she managed to escape from the house.
When Myra's little sister was born, Anaya, they got a new dog. He was a golden retriever named Phoenix after the city her now divorced parents got married in. Phoenix lived with their Mom and Anaya and was starting to age. Still he was very active.
Myra continued to walk until she stopped at an intersection. She didn't have the right of way so she waited for cars to pass through the green light. The light switched yellow, then to red. I'm the other side of the street the walking symbol appeared, signalling she had the right of way.
She hurried across, unsure of when the light was due to change. She stopped for a second by some of the lush trees. Bright red umbrellas were perched on top of tables outside of stores.
Behind her the lights changed. The cars stopped at the intersection went on their way. As she was about to continue on her way, her phone rang. She pulled it out to reveal an unknown number.
"Hello?" She answered the call.
"Hi, are you Myra Bhatt? My name is John Landis from the music video," he introduced himself over the phone.
"Yes I am," Myra confirmed, her heart skipping multiple beats.
"We had narrowed it down to two girls, you and Ola Ray. We let Michael decide and he wanted you to play the role," John Landis told her.
Myra was so surprised she nearly choked on air. "He wanted me?" Myra asked, wanting to be sure she had just heard him correctly.
"Yes, you. We need you to come down to the set tomorrow so you can get fit for your outfit. Is that okay?" John asked, running over the details.
"Yeah, I can do that," answered Myra as professionally as she could.
"Ok, well we will all see you tomorrow," John confirmed before they both hung up the phone.
Myra rushed back to her hotel. As soon as she shut the door she called her family back in North Carolina. Her mother answered the phone.
"Myra? How are you?" Her mother, Samaira, asked in a soft voice.
"What is it?" Samaira asked.
"You know the audition for the music video I went to?" asked Myra and her mother made a noise of confirmation, "Well, I just heard back from them and I got the part!"
"I'm so proud of you Myra!" Samaira said in a voice almost like a scream.
"What's going on?" Her father, Arjun, asked gruffly to her mother.
"Myra will be in the Michael Jackson music video!" Samaira repeated to her father.
"She will?" The light voice of her little sister Anaya was heard as well as feet coming down the stairs.
She listened to her family's overlapping talk. The dog even joined in with a loud howling after which they all stopped talking.
"I have to go to set tomorrow to get fitted. I'm so excited!" Myra explained, practically bouncing out of her shoes.
"You have to keep us updated on everything. Especially whem it shows on the television!" Samaira forced her daughter to agree.
"I will," she promised.
"We're very proud of you Myra, but we have to go. Anaya has an eye doctor appointment," her mother informed.
"Okay. I'll talk to you all later. Bye," she wrapped up the phone call.
Myra laid on the bed after that. Her legs dangling over the edge and a smile wide across her face. Her dream was finally coming true.
