Drowse - First Season - Finished

Chapter 21 - The choice of Helena/March-April 1973

March

POV Helena

On March 3, I attended the beauty contest, held at the North London Polytechnic, where Roger is a graduate of Biology. There were sixty girls participating in the contest, including Alicia. All our friends were present in the great auditorium at night. I've already decided between Rog or Brian, but it's still a little early to talk to one of them. I need to be a little more sure of my feelings.

Of the sixty candidates, I went to the semifinal, with Alicia, between the fifteen. Then there was another preliminary and there were only ten candidates. Alicia and I were apprehensive. After the swimsuit parade, they called out four candidates, including Alicia had already been chosen.

"And the fifth finalist is Helena Lins Mirtey," said the night's narrator.

My friends applauded me. I was among the five finalists. Finally there was the parade of dresses. When Alicia was coming back from her parade and asked me to enter the dress, Alicia stepped on my dress, unwittingly and almost fell. She looked at me with an enigmatic look. Did it really go unintentionally? What matters is that I do not fall. I kept smiling at everyone and then I went back to my place. Then they announced the fifth, the fourth and the third place. Alicia and I were between the two finalists. The narrator called us to the center of the stage. And then he said:

- Who was in second place was Alicia XXX. Helena Lins Mirtey you won the contest.

I took my hand to my mouth. I honestly thought Alicia would win the contest. Alicia has a Miss Portion. She is blonde, green-eyed, lean, but to my surprise it was me. Then they handed Alicia a ship of white roses, and the organizer came to me and wrote a check for the money I earned, plus a mini crown and a small trophy. I already lost how many mini trophies I have, of these beauty pageants. I have been in first place many times, as I have been second, third, even in fifth I have stayed. At the end I paraded the trophy in hand and looked at the audience and realized that Rog and Bri took pictures of me while our friends sent me kisses and I also sent kisses to them, in the style of Miss, although not yet one.

Then I was taken into the dressing room with the other girls and they all greeted me. Alicia greeted me and said,

"Helena, I'm sorry, for having stepped on your dress, it was unintentionally. I'm so glad you were the winner of the beauty pageant. You really are the most beautiful.

"Excuse me, my friend," he said, smiling at her. "Honestly, I thought you were going to win Alicia." You have Miss's bearing, you're much prettier than me.

"Do not underestimate her beauty, Helena," Alicia said, smiling hard. "You're a beautiful Brazilian. It draws everyone's attention. Celebrate your victory. You made some money.

I smiled at Alice. She was right. But, I did not feel so sincere when she said she had stepped on my dress inadvertently. Very strange.

After a while, we went to meet our friends, who greeted us. Bri and Rog hugged me hard, kissed my cheek, and turned me in the air.

"The two most beautiful contestants are here, our dear friends, Alicia and Helena. Freddie smiled at us. "You were wonderful on the stage. Congratulations.

Alicia and I were grateful when Clare said,

"Alicia, you almost knocked Helena down, stepped on her dress.

"I've already apologized to Helena, it was my carelessness," Alicia said, looking at everyone.

My friends were silent for a while, until Rog said smilingly,

"Let's all go to the pizzeria, now, eat and drink and celebrate the victory of the two beautiful girls of the night.

We all went to the pizzeria. Alicia and I commented on the backstage of the contest. I realized that Alicia was a little sad. It is not easy being the second placed in a beauty pageant. It's best to stay in fifth, fourth, third. Now second is very difficult. I looked at my friend and said,