Kimmie

It really was my fault I wound up cross-dressed for a full year. The truth be known though, it was my sister’s fault I got into this situation in the first place. To add to the list of those I can blame for my predicament is my mother. She convinced me that thinking of others more than thinking of myself was the true Christian thing to do. She even mentioned that the contest didn’t specify only girls could enter so I wouldn’t be breaking any rules or fibbing on the form.

It all began at the end of summer vacation and school was once again on all of our minds. The Fox Woods mall was having their big annual end of summer and back to school sales. We were just three people among many shopping that day.

You know how it is, Saturday morning around 10:30, 11:00 the place is filled with moms and their kids looking for the coolest clothes at the cheapest prices. You meet up with former classmates; your mom meets up with her friends and your friends mothers that are her friends as well. It is a big social event as well as the year’s biggest shopping blitz other than Christmas time.

My mother hears from one of the other mothers that there is a contest at the “American Tween Fashion House” She say’s

“…And all you have to do is fill out a form and get your picture taken. If the contest judges pick your child they’ll say your name mall wide over the announcing system. You then have an hour to get to the store for the next step in the contest.”

My mom then asks.

“What are the prizes Gladys?”

“Why clothing of course Gwen. From lingerie to complete outfits to a complete wardrobe! They’re even offering complete makeovers and salon visits! Jewelry and everything else like shoes and school accessories! I’ve entered Lilly and you should enter Jennifer for sure.”

That was all my mom needed to hear and off we went. There was only one problem, my sister Jen had disappeared with a group of her friends without letting mom know and without letting her know where she’d be either! She was in deep trouble, but after a 20 minute search of the packed mall we couldn’t find her. Mom thought that maybe she’d be at the store and we headed that way.

We make it to the store and see a line of Tween girls with forms in their hands and their mothers standing in a group nearby. Mom went up to the contest registration counter and had a chat with the women there. I see my mom pointing at me and the women start chuckling and nod their heads and I could read their lips as they said, “Sure he can.” Mom returns to me carrying two forms on clipboards and says to me.

“Kimmie, you and your twin sister are the same sizes. I want you to enter the contest just in case she doesn’t answer the mall page in time.”

I balk right away and tell her there is no way I’m entering a girl’s contest to win girl’s stuff! She then uses the being a true Christian rap she’s so good at doing. She points out that there is no rule against a boy entering the contest and she had even asked the women at the contest registration booth and they said I could enter! Mom then said, “Kimmie, just think what this means. Whatever prizes you win if any, the more money we can spend on you because your sister will get the prizes saving me from spending that money on her. No one is saying you have to wear them, just that you can win them.”

Against my better judgment and even that little voice in my head warning me against doing this, I had no real choice! If I still refused and Jen didn’t show up, mom would be hard to deal with for a long while after that!

We filled out the stupid form and mom did try and have me put down ‘Kimmie’ as my nickname, but I refused and put down my preferred nickname of ‘KT’ along with my full name Kim Caitlin Townsend. Age ten years old, fifth grade at Carver Elementary School in Spring Hills. Mom had me sign the form and then she signed it and then she filled out a form for Jennifer hoping she showed up in time.

I was them made to show the women at the registration booth my form and they loved the fact that a boy was entering. I was so embarrassed and I was made to join the line of girls waiting to get their pictures taken.

As luck would have it, two of the girls near me in line were classmates of mine and my sisters. Man did I get grilled then! I explained and after a good bout of giggles the girls agreed that I was the best brother ever and I even got hugs and kisses!

The news about my being a boy must have traveled faster than a wildfire on a hot dry windy day! My progress in that line was followed by almost everybody nearby. Finally, I was the third in line and a woman made me sit in a chair and she said her job was to make everyone look presentable for their pictures. She took out my hair tie and brushed my hair after she massaged some gunk into it using her hands. She used this funny looking comb and a hand held blow dryer. I felt like an idiot, but once again there was nothing I could do about my situation.

She was happy with the results and then I was next in line when this other woman insisted on tidying up my bushy eyebrows! I had watched a girl go through this as I sat getting my hair stupefied by the other woman. My eyebrows were yanked out and then she put some cream on them that stopped the burning and made the puffiness and redness go away. The next thing she does is use this tiny curved brush with stiff black bristles to comb out my eyelashes with. She then has me close my eyes and she squeezes them with something and then brushes them with that brush again! When I blink now I can see my own eyelashes!

The last straw for me was when she tries to put lipstick on my lips! I try and refuse but she says.

“You and your mommy signed the agreement form Princess. Now stop being difficult and sit still.”

I mumbled I wasn’t a princess and that has her chuckling as she says.

“Well, you could have fooled me pretty one. I think you have a better than average chance of winning this contest. As a matter of fact, there is a betting pool going on right now as to where you’ll finish in the contest.”

I was shocked and she painted my lips with this stuff that made them tingle and then painted them with this shiny red stuff and then painted them with this clear stuff! My lips felt like rubber and puffy when she was done!

Now it was my turn to pose for a picture. I had to go through a curtain and two women were inside. One was holding lights on a pole and the other held a camera and there was another camera on a tripod nearby. The one holding the camera said, “I can’t believe this is the boy everyone has been talking about! You are a boy aren’t you Princess?”

I was a bit put out with her comment and I guess the expression on my face was too good to pass up because when I started to give her my angry response she started taking my picture! I replied anyway as I said, “YES I’m a boy and I’m only doing this for my sister just in case she doesn’t get here in time!”

I was in my angry pose with my hands on my hips, Shoulders held back in a defiant manner, head held high with my eyes staring right into hers! She said, “Perfect! Now Princess, walk over here, stand in front of the green background and close your eyes. Think of something you really want to do and then open your eyes.”

I thought of strangling my sister Jen and that made me smile a wicked smile I’m sure. I opened my eyes and flash, flash, flash! Three flashes happened so fast like in a nanosecond! I was done and she was very happy for some stupid reason.

I was handed an 8  ½ by 11 inch manila colored envelope and I walked out the other side of the curtain where my mom was waiting. Her mouth dropped open and she just stared at me for a few seconds. She then beamed me a smile that I hadn’t seen in years! She then said, “Come on Kimmie, Jen showed up just as you went inside and she’s waiting in that long line. I wanted to get this stuff off of my face, but mom said that would have to wait because I needed makeup remover and she didn’t have any. Just my luck!

We walk back around to the front and for some reason mom insisted on holding my hand embarrassing me even further than I was already. She already had warned me not to rub my lips or eyes. When I tried anyway she grabbed my hand and that was that!

Jen spotted us and she had an exact duplicate response to seeing me as mom did. She just stared at me with her mouth hanging open and then said, “KT, is that you? My goodness you look beautiful!”

That made everyone nearby look right at me as mom was beaming that stupid grin of hers and then I saw a few more of our classmates staring at me with their mouths hanging open and then all hell broke loose as a few boys we know busted out laughing and started saying some pretty nasty things!

I have never seen my mom and sister get so mad so quickly and those boys were soon running as if their very lives depended on how fast they could get away from there! They ran right into two mall security guys and they were hauled back to us. Mom and a few other mothers told the security guys how nasty the boy’s were and they were hauled off to the security office. About ten minutes later we heard their names over the announcing system and asking that their parents come to the security office. We knew they were in some deep crap then!

My story was told on why I did what I did and it was for my sister and not me. I told everyone now that my sister had made it in time I would just withdraw from the contest and that’s when I found out I couldn’t withdraw if I was selected as one of the first round contestants. Just my luck!

I looked at my mom and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “More money to spend on you Kimmie if you are both selected.”

One woman hearing her call me Kimmie asked.

“What is your name Honey, Kimmie or Katy? I’ve heard both used and they are completely different from one another.”

“My name is Kim ma’am. My mom uses Kimmie, but I prefer KT. That’s K and T two initials not the girl’s name Katy.”

She chuckled and said, “KT is not much different than Katy Kim or should I say Kimmie. You’re a very pretty boy Katy and I’m willing to wager a hundred dollars that I can transform you into looking prettier than any of the girls entering this contest.”

My mom speaks up and says.

“My son doesn’t bet and we haven’t even been properly introduced whoever you are.”

The woman blushes a bit and replies.

“I’m very sorry, my name is Mrs. Jenson and I own the Perfection Salon here in the mall. I didn’t mean what I said as a bet at all Mrs. Townsend isn’t it?”

Mom introduced us and included Jennifer and now Mrs. Jenson is Harriet and my mom is Gwen. Harriet then says.

“Gwen, what I meant was that if I can’t transform Katy with a complete makeover into looking prettier than any of the other girls in the contest I’ll give him $100.00.”

My eyes bugged out of my head and my mom looked just as surprised as I did! It was then that my sister Jen and the rest of the girls in line started urging me to take the bet; it was a win, win situation!

I replied to them all.

“It isn’t a win, win situation at all for me! I’m a boy you know. I only did this for my sister incase she didn’t get here in time to enter the contest and now I’m stuck if I’m one of the ones selected for the next part. What are people and my friends going to think of me all dolled up like a pretty girl? They’ll laugh at me and my reputation will be ruined for life!

“What if I’m not selected and I’m standing around after getting a complete makeover? I’ll look like an idiot and I’ll deserve everything people will say about me then.”

I was bombarded with opposite views on my situation and in the end a $100.00 in my pocket was almost guaranteed. Some of the girls said no one would want a boy in a girl’s contest anyway! Against my better judgment we waited until Jen was done getting her picture taken and then we headed for Harriet’s salon.

I guess news travels fast or Harriet used her cell phone to call ahead because three women and some other people were waiting for us as we arrived! One woman had a camera and one was asking all sorts of questions as I was whisked into a dressing room and stripped to my underpants. I was soon only wearing a stupid pink vinyl smock and these paper slippers as I was led back out into the salon.

I didn’t like that woman taking my picture until my mom said it was okay and then I was too busy being worked on to even pay her any attention at all.

My hair was washed, rinsed, conditioned, rinsed again and then a hot oil hair treatment was applied. I had to sit in a chair as a woman removed the stuff on my face and lips with this white colored creamy stuff. My face was washed with this other smelly stuff and it tingled a lot! I had patches stuck on my earlobes and my hands and feet were put into bowls of warm soapy water.

My feet and toenails were worked on and I almost freaked seeing my toenails being painted a shiny reddish color and then another coat of this clear stuff painted on over the reddish stuff. My fingernails were sanded rough and trimmed real short as these pink plastic molds were secured over my fingertips. The woman then used this plastic syringe thing to fill them with this tan colored gunk.

I was walked back to the sinks where my hair was rinsed with this other stuff and then something else was massaged into my hair. I had to sit there for awhile and the woman made me stick my hands into this machine that shined a blue light on my fingers and blew hot air on them as well.

I was sitting there trying to ignore everything going on around me because whenever I looked around people were looking right at me! My sister Jen was getting a makeover as well thanks to our mom. Jen even said out loud that if I turned out looking prettier than she did I deserved the $100.00 because of the grief I was going to get from the boys. I had to agree with her on that one, but Harriet said, “No, the bet is that if he doesn’t look prettier than the other contestants then he gets the $100.00 not just because he’s going through this. If Katy places high in the contest he’ll win a lot more than a $100.00 anyway, more like a $1,000.00 or more.”

That’s when the real contest prizes were revealed and I was more worried now than with winning a bunch of girl’s stuff! I don’t want to be a model with my picture in their catalog and in advertisements! That wasn’t what I had agreed too! Harriet asked me if I had read the brochure that came with the forms, it was stapled to it and was on the back.

Mom looked blank and then Harriet said, “Oh, the brochure will be in your envelopes with your picture they selected for you to give your mommy.”

Mom opened Jen’s envelope first and smiled, showing everyone her picture and it was passed around. Mom read the brochure and turned pale for a full minute! She hemmed and hawed and then opened my envelope and her eyes grew huge! All she said was.

“OH MY GOD, Kimmie, you’re breathtaking!”

My picture was passed around and people were soon comparing my sister’s picture with mine and the woman taking all the pictures said, “She’s got the look and those eyes! My God I haven’t seen such expression and emotion in a picture like this in a few years!”

My mom then said, “Um, Kimmie, the brochure reads that the early prizes for contestants are clothes and accessories. The finalists get wardrobes that they model and they get to keep them. Um, the final three contestants go on a modeling shoot and the winner gets a modeling contract for a full year.”

I was shaking now! I was nervous and as scared as a mouse cornered by a hungry cat! I then thought to myself.

“…There is no way in hell they would pick a boy to model their fashions. I mean they would come off as fools if they tried to do that. Who in their right mind would buy clothes from a store that used a boy as a model for their fashions..?”

I giggled and said what I had been thinking out loud and all I got was silence and looks in return. I quickly added.

“Look, I can’t laugh okay? I got hit in the throat with a baseball when I was four and I’ve been stuck giggling ever since.”

I then tried to force a laugh and I sounded like a sick breathless horse. They continued to just look at me as I sighed and the blue light went out and the warm air stopped blowing on my fingers.

Harriet was wearing rubber gloves as she massaged this other stuff in my hair and the other woman named Kelly removed the molds from my fingers and started sanding them with a little power sander.

When she had them shaped, smooth and buffed shiny my hair was rinsed and then towel dried. My nails were then painted the same color as my toenails and that clear shiny coat put on making them look wet and shiny. I just groaned seeing my nails were now a good  ½ an inch longer than they ever were before! Shaped very girly and that red color, GEEZE!

Harriet snipped at my hair with scissors and then she did something weird to it with a blow dryer and then making a sort of partially braided ponytail and then those patches were removed from my earlobes.

Two women stood one on each side of me and I felt pressure on my earlobes as I heard a pop and felt more pressure. Then I heard another pop and more pressure! I had just been pierced four times in my earlobes! Two in each earlobe!

I was informed that I now had keepers in my earlobes and I could wear any earrings I wanted right away. Like I wanted earrings in my ears!

Now it was makeup time and my face was wet with stuff and then powdered. I watched as she did that thing to my eyelashes again but this time after the curling thingy she used a clear liquid on the little curved bristle brush and now my eyelashes feel like they are made of plastic!

My face was made up with powders and creams as was my eyes. They used a pencil around my eyes and then powders. My lips were painted with that tingle stuff again and then painted with the reddish colored stuff. The final coat turned my lips looking wet and shiny and feeling like swollen rubber lips! I couldn’t help but lick them every once in awhile I mean they feel so smooth and weird!

For the final face stuff I was taken in a back room so no one could see me and Kelly even covered up the mirror so I couldn’t see my reflection. When she was finished and held a mirror up close to my face I almost passed out! This is what I saw!

I couldn’t move! I just stared at that reflection I didn’t know as my mind tried to consider that reflection as being mine! I sort of heard Kelly tell me to stay right where I was and not to touch my face for any reason. I was alone now.

I licked my lips because they felt so strange and different and that vision before me made me think “…Oh my goodness, you shouldn’t do that pretty girl! You’ll drive us boys wild if you keep doing that...”

Then I thought.

“…OH MY GOD, that’s me! How can that be me…”

I was still sitting there staring into those eyes in that reflection when I felt myself being helped to stand and then the cape was removed and I was being dressed. It felt weird what I was being dressed in, but I was lost in thought trying to cope with seeing that vision. What I was dressed in was a girly blouse and skirt set, pantyhose and heels, but I truly wasn’t aware of any of it until I saw myself again in the mirrors of the main salon and the faces of shocked to silence people and then the photographer woman snapping away like a mad woman possessed!

My sister Jen looked very pretty and when I snapped out of my dream I told her so. She was just staring at me just as the others when my comment seemed to loosen everyone’s tongues at the same time!

My sister Jen was getting a last minute touch up when I saw her. She looked at me and slowly gave me a smile and recognition as she said, “Sorry Katy, but you aren’t getting that $100.00. You’re prettier than I am and I agree with Lana ‘the woman photographer’ you’ve got “IT” that look about you no one else has!”

I just shook my head as Harriet says.

“Okay, I think I’ll treat the three of you to some sustenance and we’ll wait for the names to be announced. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

The slightly padded bra I could feel now and looking down at my silly blouse and too girly shorts I tried to back away and asked where my real clothes were. Mom just took my hand and sis took my other as they walked me out of the salon and out in into the main mall! I had a purses strap slipped over my shoulder and my sis put my well manicured hand on the purse as my mom still held my other hand leading us deeper among the throngs.

The shoes I was wearing were a bit difficult to manage at first, but I mimicked my sister as she walked in her black pair the same style as mine were. I found it a bit easier if I swung my hips to move my legs wearing these heels. I also found I had a better balance by placing one foot directly in front of the other, a little more than my sister was doing. She was placing her toe down first and her heel down second. I found that if I concentrated on placing both down at the same time my feet didn’t hurt as much and it was easier to keep a steady constant rhythm. A rhythm that was easier on my legs and allowed me to walk a bit more smoothly and gracefully than my sister’s bouncy way she walked.

I wasn’t aware when I was now walking hand in hand with my sis how I was moving or even what I was doing. I could hear Harriet and my mom whispering behind us, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Katy walks in heels like she was born in them Gwen. Just look at her movements, graceful, purposeful and confident. That tiny waist and her posture sure screams look at me I am Katy watch me move and look into my eyes if you dare.

“Gwen, you’re going to have to get her to stop licking her lips with the tip of her tongue like that or all hell is going to break out when the boys notice her. Look at the movement of her bottom Gwen, God she has it all! Just face it Gwen, you’re looking at the next American Tween Fashion model and I’ll bet you a grand she’s the one that wins it all.”

Mom just shook her head and said, “Both of my children are very beautiful, but you’re right Harriet. Kimmie has just blown me away as to how he has taken to this so naturally and so perfectly. I know he is a pretty child, but I never would have imagined he would look as beautiful and natural as a young girl. I’m frightened for him Harriet, what is this going to do to him psychologically?”

Harriet smiled and replied.

“Gwen, look at her? There is no him there at all. What you are seeing is the perfection of young womanhood in the flesh and with an air of such confidence I’d dare anyone to challenge her on it. They’d lose, and lose big, Gwen. That’s not a little boy we are watching Gwen, that right there is a young woman confident and sure in her identity. Did you see her expression once she was outside the salon? She went from being a scared cross-dressed little boy into being a very confident young woman within a few minutes.

“She started mimicking Jennifer’s walk and then refined it into what we are seeing now. That isn’t something a scared frightened little boy would do is it Gwen?”

“No Harriet, you’re right, my little boy has blossomed into a very confident young woman in the space of a few hours and now she has taken over and you’re right again Harriet, look at those boys and even the men when they notice her!”

“Oh God Gwen, look at that boy gasp! She must have licked her lips again.”

That’s when they caught up to us, slowed us down as my mom whispered to me to stop licking my lips and Jen started giggling and couldn’t stop! Thank goodness Harriet steered us into a restaurant and Jennifer turned around and waved to three boys I hadn’t noticed that were following us. Since I was holding her hand I was turned around and I couldn’t help it as I licked my lips with the tip of my tongue again. One boy smiled and waved back to Jen and the other two boys just gasped and one even grasped his crotch and looked as if he was in pain! They were looking right at me!

Jen started giggling like mad as my mom grabbed my arm and whisked me inside the restaurant saying to me.

“Katy, stop licking your lips you’re going to cause an accident.”

Jen turned to us and said, “She already did mom. Did you see that poor boy grab his crotch. He was in real pain!”

I broke in speaking in a harsh sounding whisper as Jen and Harriet started giggling, GEEZE!

“Stop teasing me; this is hard enough as it is without you guys making stuff up!”

Even mom started chuckling as she shook her head looking at me with an expression of disbelief. I just sighed as we walked up to a man standing at a podium. He greeted us saying.

“Oh my four visions of beauty to grace our humble restaurant. Hello again Harriet, and who are these enchanting beauties you’ve brought with you?”

“Hello Gerald, this is Mrs. Gwen Townsend the mother of these two beautiful girls that are contestants in the American Tween modeling contest. I’m sure you’ll recognize them, as I have, to be two of the finalist. This is Jennifer the twin sister of Katy. Katy is my pick to win it all and I’ve sponsored them both.”

Gerald smiled a huge smile and said, “Yes, Princesses both and both so beautiful, I must say you have that enchanting beauty that drives the male species mad. One bit of warning though Princess Katy, if you lick your lips one more time like that I will have to hide you in the kitchen. I can’t have the men and boys choking on their food or gasping for breath now can I? People would think we are poisoning our clientele.”

They all broke out in laughter and giggles as I turned beet red as I replied.

“I can’t help it Gerald, they’ve turned my lips into shiny puffy bits of rubber and they are driving me to distraction.”

He chuckled and replied.

“Well if it can’t be helped then I guess. I’ll just have to live with the lawsuits from the men and boys injuring themselves in my humble little corner of the universe. Follow me please your highnesses.”

That got us giggling and we followed him getting far too much attention. He sat us at a table that had a reserved card on it right in the middle of the restaurant! If he wanted to hide me away, this wasn’t the table to do that!

He pulled out our chairs, Jennifer’s first, my mom and then Harriet’s. He pulled mine out last and I was very nervous as I forced myself to keep my smile on my face and try and ignore which seemed like everyone staring at us and me being seated last.

A waitress appeared instantly pouring the ice water as Gerald handed us each a menu. He quickly vanished after introducing us to our waitress Lucy. He spoke a bit loudly as he said, “Lucy, this is my good friend Harriet, the mother of these beautiful fashion models Gwen, and this is Jennifer and Katy. Please see to it that they get the best service we offer.”

The people surrounding us kept stealing glances and a few of the boy’s, well all of the boys and some of the men out and out stared at us, GEEZE!

I said to Lucy.

“I’m not a model Lucy, Gerald was just pulling your leg and teasing me. My sister Jen is the model.”

Jen choked on the water she was sipping and Lucy laughed and said, “Yeah right Katy. Who’s pulling whose leg now? You scream fashion model, girl. No one watching you glide to this table would have any doubts in the world you’re anything but!”

Jen giggled and said, “Lucy, she’s always trying to pass me off as the model in the family. Believe it or not, she’s very shy and embarrassed about her beauty.”

Harriett then spoke up and said, “The American Tween Fashion shop will be announcing the top ten choices for their next top fashion model for their catalog and advertising campaign for the new season any minute now Lucy. I’m willing to bet any patron here a hundred dollars that these two lovely young women will be chosen. Just listen for the names Jennifer and Katy Townsend. I’m willing to bet anyone here five hundred dollars that Katy Townsend will be selected as the next super model for American Tween Fashions.”

Jen and I turned beet red as I said, “Jen will win it all, Harriet, and please stop teasing me! Can we eat now or are you going to tease us all afternoon?”

I wasn’t hungry at all because of all the attention I was getting and my tummy was in knots. I just ordered a light salad with the house dressing on the side and an Earl Gray tea, black, no sugar and no cream.

Jennifer, I guess, was starving as were mom and Harriet. They started with salads and then ordered full meals I couldn’t even think of eating right then! I sipped on my ice water as we waited for our salads and drinks.

A little girl walks up to our table and the mother introduces herself and her little girl of about six years old I’d guess.

“Hello, I’m Fran Taylor and this is my daughter Cassie. She wants to be a model and would like to get your autograph Katy.

“Now before you try and refuse I must say that you gave yourself away the second you walked in here and especially after what you just ordered for a meal, salad and black tea? Only a model would order such a meal. Please don’t disappoint my daughter and sign her autograph book.”

The little girl looked at me with her huge pleading eyes I couldn’t refuse. I signed her book addressing it to her by name as Harriet whispered in my ear.

“Choose a vowel in your name and make that vowel in a heart shape Katy.”

You know by reading this story what vowel I chose because there is only one of them in my name. She also told me to dot my little I with a little heart as well. I was glad I was going by Katy and not Kimmie!

It was embarrassing to have several other people walk up to our table and I was glad a few of the boys and girls wanted Jennifer’s autograph as well. She was beaming as she signed her name.

When our drinks and salads arrived Gerald made sure no one else disturbed us while we were eating and then it happened. The announcements of the top ten selections of the contest were being announced.

Gerald had the volume turned up so everyone could hear them easily enough. The first five names were not us and we did recognize one of them as being a classmate of ours. The sixth name wasn’t one of us either, but the seventh name was Jennifer’s! I couldn’t help it and squealed as I hugged her and congratulated her. Mom was beaming and Harriet said in a too loud voice.

“They always save the best for last.”

I gave her a look that made her chuckle as the eighth and ninth names were announced, they weren’t mine! I started to relax as there was a pause and then…

“Miss Katy Townsend is our last selection. You young ladies have one hour to report to the contest booth in the center court of the mall. Congratulations and hurry to the center court!”

Jennifer squealed even louder than I had when she was selected! A few people applauded her as well and now we had a cheering section! Cassie ran up to me and gave me a big hug saying.

“I knew they’d pick you Katy! They do save the best for last!”

I was redder than a freshly waxed fire truck! Gerald made a big show of making our meals on the house and made us pose with him for a picture and made us promise to come back and autograph it for him. We promised and then it was others that wanted pictures with us. Our meals were just half consumed and soon forgotten, I wasn’t the least bit hungry anyway. We had to waive as the patrons applauded us as we made our way out of the restaurant and towards the center court of the mall.

Several of them followed us as we walked on and we picked up more the closer we got to the center court. We made it and the other eight girls were there already. Their photographer blurted out.

“There she is and her sister Jennifer!”

All eyes turned towards us as we made the last few yards to the booth and signed in. The photographer said, “My God Katy, who did your hair and makeup?”

I replied.

“Mrs. Harriet Jensen did my hair the owner of Perfection Salon here in the mall. The women there did the rest. She and her employees did my sister too.”

Harriet then said, “That’s because I’m their sponsor.”

We heard a collective groan and I wondered why. We were all ushered into the store that was near the center court just on one corner actually. There we were changed into different outfits and we posed for pictures again. I was last and I couldn’t believe the outfit I was dressed in, GEEZE! I felt like a weirdo wearing a hat and everything! Anyway, once the pictures were taken we had a handsome boy dressed in a tuxedo and all spiffy looking and smelling very nice escort us one by one to the back of a stage behind a curtained off area. The stage had a runway and we were expected to walk down the runway, pause at the end, do a complete turn and walk back and wait next on a mark with our number on it. I was number ten.

Music was playing and one of the fashion ladies would read off a description of what we were wearing as we walked the runway. First we would take stage center and pause, then walk to stage left and pause and then to stage right and pause. We’d return to center stage and then walk the runway. We were introduced by name as we walked out from behind the curtain.

Jen and I were getting dirty looks from the girls, but we just smiled and kept smiling trying to be nice, but only our classmate was friendly towards us. Jen went as number seven and she got a lot of applause and cheering. Before I knew it, it was my turn and I decided to just go for it. My reputation was ruined now anyway so I might as well try to at least get something out of all this.

I got the tap on my shoulder and the woman told me to break a leg, GEEZE! I didn’t even want to twist my ankle in these heels. I walked out and this is what everyone saw when they looked up at me.

I felt silly looking like this, but then I smiled and did the walk and remembered how the photographer had me pose. I did a different pose at each end of the stage saving the last and best pose for when I was at the end of the runway. I wasn’t even aware that at each pose I wet my lips with the tip of my tongue as I smiled and concentrated on not screwing up the pose.

When I faced them again after reaching center stage of my final walk I was shocked by the reaction of the crowd. They went Nutso Crazy! I mean even after the mothers of the girls made sure everyone knew I was a boy and not a girl! The place went Nutso Crazy anyway! I was shocked and then I was backstage again safe and with my sister Jen.

I saw my mom and Harriet in the crowd watching. They were sitting in the chairs set up for the families of the contestants and had a clear view of the runway and stage. Harriet was beaming as I struck the best and sassiest pose at the end of the runway. My mom had a hand to her mouth and I could swear she was crying. It was over too quickly for me to be sure though and as I turned for my walk back to center stage I gave that look back over my shoulder just as the photographer had me do back at the store. She made me do it three times!

Anyway I must have licked my lips again because a boy hollered out. “MARRY ME!” and a lot of people laughed. I made it back to center stage, did my turn, struck my last pose and waved to those on my left, right and straight ahead. That’s when the place went Nutso Crazy as the woman said, “Our last contestant, ladies and gentlemen Katy Lynn Townsend! Let’s bring out all of the girls and give them a hand as we wait for the judges for our top three finalists!”

I had just made it back stage where Jen grabbed me and was jumping up and down. She was so excited when Dianna Briggs our classmate joined us and she too was jumping up and down as she said, “Katy, you blew everyone away girlfriend! Why didn’t you ever tell me you were a model?”

Before I could answer her we were called back on stage as our names were called and everyone was applauded as they appeared. They really liked Dianna and Jen the best out of the nine that went before I did. Then it was my turn again and when I walked out all hell broke loose again. Flashes were going off from every direction as we waited and some of the people in the crowd were hollering stuff, some stuff aimed at me wasn’t so nice either. I was called a ‘Tart,’ a ‘Hussy’ and even a ‘Nancy Boy!’

I didn’t care though because they were only a few and most of the people were very nice.

Jen was the first to be picked as a finalist. She was given a bouquet of flowers and she did her walk as people applauded and shouted their approval. Dianna Biggs who is I think the prettiest girl in the world was picked as the second selection and she did her walk with her flowers to wild applause and shouts.

Then there was a very long pause. The crowd even became antsy and started hollering for the third selection to be announced. I think I knew why it was taking so long. The powers that be were trying to decide if it would be an advertising nightmare if they picked me! Finally they announced the last selection, ME!

I don’t know why I cried, but I did as I walked the longest walk of my life clutching the flowers to my chest with one hand while I smiled a huge smile and waved with my other hand.

My life would never be the same after that moment!

Huggles Kimmie Townsend
Angel