As the confused women milled around the obese young girl, she climbed the pile of dirt amassed by the gravesite and spoke, "Glynnis believed in her beauty and goodness but look where her beliefs led her." Jolene's mouth contorted unattractively.
"Beauty isn't enough. What about truth?" Jolene's voice grew louder and stronger. "I am not a pillar of light. I don't captivate the hearts of mankind."
"Marie..." Jolene saw her hairdresser in the crowd, "are you are a goddess?" Marie slowly shook her head. "Repeating a phrase does not make it so, no matter how many times you say it!" Jolene stirred up the dirt with her feet. "Glynnis did do harm. She wasn't a pretty woman...inside. She tried to murder her husband!"
Then she sat down and cried. The women ascended the mound to Jolene one by one.
Suddenly, a tearful Baxter Duremburg, the publicist, was scrambling up the dirt pile with a paper wrapped book in his arms. "You must read this!" he said, as he handed it to Jolene. Written very neatly in the corner were the words, "The Private Journals of Glynnis Duremburg KEEP OUT"
Showing posts with label Pretty Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pretty Women. Show all posts
Monday, May 21, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 4
"Her mantra went like this: Glynnis was a good girl, who fell only when she tempted the words "I do." Then, with all her whitened glory, she fell like a leaf." Henri walked steadily towards Mr. Charleswood, took his arm and pulled him from the wheelchair. Mr. Charleswood stood trembling, scanning the crowd for a sympathetic face. Jolene moved to the front and Mr. Charleswood tried to give his explanation on his own two feet.
"When I first met her, she and this man Jeeves were marketing multi-level make-overs. Imagine my surprise upon opening the door to this pair. He with his greased mop, black leather jacket and that darned toothpick hanging from his lips; she with her bottled platinum curls, tight skirt and stilletto Payless pumps. I couldn't resist. I melted, convinced that I needed a pedicure. The man examined the Tang silver chalice on the mantlepiece while she applied the cuticle remover and smoothed the roughness from my heels. I was enchanted, we were married the next day. Jeeves was the best man."
Jolene drew closer to Mr. Charleswood. His eyes wildly roamed from face to face then rested on Jolene again. Henri moved in between them and said loudly to the crowd. "This man murdered Glynnis" and whistled. Armani, the missing dog, reappeared and bounded towards Mr. Charleswood. Armani chased the once crippled man around the graveyard.
"I am the chauffeur and brother to the deceased. William hired me after marrying my awestruck sister. He gave me a job to keep me quiet. William was the real schemer. He hired himself out to numerous faith healers who then would alternately heal him from his paraplegic state. It was in his contract to keep his ability to walk a secret."
At this point, Mr. Charleswood arrived back and collapsed on the dirt pile. Armani growled from behind, slowly removed the old man's slipper and dragged it away like a bone.
"I would never have married her if she wasn't such a pretty woman. I was duped. I am innocent. Glynnis and her evil brother were planning to poison me so that they would have the millions. They couldn't wait any longer. I heard their plans. It was self defense."
Jolene drew nearer to Mr. Charleswood and looked. Her eyes reddened as she saw the despair of a victim. A desire to protect rose up within her but in a single startling moment, his eyes reflected the fall of a murderer.
Jolene held his face in her hands then the police handcuffed him and took him away. She turned to the women around her. "Oh Glynnis..."
"When I first met her, she and this man Jeeves were marketing multi-level make-overs. Imagine my surprise upon opening the door to this pair. He with his greased mop, black leather jacket and that darned toothpick hanging from his lips; she with her bottled platinum curls, tight skirt and stilletto Payless pumps. I couldn't resist. I melted, convinced that I needed a pedicure. The man examined the Tang silver chalice on the mantlepiece while she applied the cuticle remover and smoothed the roughness from my heels. I was enchanted, we were married the next day. Jeeves was the best man."
Jolene drew closer to Mr. Charleswood. His eyes wildly roamed from face to face then rested on Jolene again. Henri moved in between them and said loudly to the crowd. "This man murdered Glynnis" and whistled. Armani, the missing dog, reappeared and bounded towards Mr. Charleswood. Armani chased the once crippled man around the graveyard.
"I am the chauffeur and brother to the deceased. William hired me after marrying my awestruck sister. He gave me a job to keep me quiet. William was the real schemer. He hired himself out to numerous faith healers who then would alternately heal him from his paraplegic state. It was in his contract to keep his ability to walk a secret."
At this point, Mr. Charleswood arrived back and collapsed on the dirt pile. Armani growled from behind, slowly removed the old man's slipper and dragged it away like a bone.
"I would never have married her if she wasn't such a pretty woman. I was duped. I am innocent. Glynnis and her evil brother were planning to poison me so that they would have the millions. They couldn't wait any longer. I heard their plans. It was self defense."
Jolene drew nearer to Mr. Charleswood and looked. Her eyes reddened as she saw the despair of a victim. A desire to protect rose up within her but in a single startling moment, his eyes reflected the fall of a murderer.
Jolene held his face in her hands then the police handcuffed him and took him away. She turned to the women around her. "Oh Glynnis..."
Monday, March 26, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 3.7
The teary eyed mob surrounded the accused.
"Jeeves!" Mr. Charleswood shouted from under the wheelchair. "You have the audacity to show your greasy mop here!" The crowd murmured and moved in closer. One of the overwhelmed women tried to rip a piece of leather from the shoulder of Jeeves' jacket but was dissuaded by his sudden movement and snarl, "I'm the chauffeur, not the butler!"
Jolene watched the man that Mr. Charleswood called Jeeves but whose name on the front of the jacket said, "Henri." From the back, he seemed rather familiar.
Baxter Duremburg, dismayed by the lack of interest in Glynnis' paraphernalia, uprighted the wheelchair and its rider. "Really, someone should call the police," he said and disappeared back behind his booth.
"Jeeves!" Mr. Charleswood shouted from under the wheelchair. "You have the audacity to show your greasy mop here!" The crowd murmured and moved in closer. One of the overwhelmed women tried to rip a piece of leather from the shoulder of Jeeves' jacket but was dissuaded by his sudden movement and snarl, "I'm the chauffeur, not the butler!"
Jolene watched the man that Mr. Charleswood called Jeeves but whose name on the front of the jacket said, "Henri." From the back, he seemed rather familiar.
Baxter Duremburg, dismayed by the lack of interest in Glynnis' paraphernalia, uprighted the wheelchair and its rider. "Really, someone should call the police," he said and disappeared back behind his booth.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 3.6
Silently, the faithful filed past the closed coffin then proceeded to a booth where Baxter faithfully displayed copies of her books, pictures and figurines. The woman who had sat next to Jolene, was thumbing through the books, lamenting that she had not brought any cash. "We take personal cheques," Baxter smiled and held out the gold pen.
Marie bumped into Jolene, who was examining a Glynnis figurine in her clenched hands. When a tearful Marie whispered her disappointment that there was no mention of the salon, Jolene bolted towards Mr. Charleswood who was placed beside the coffin to receive the condolences. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the black haired, fat girl lurching towards him. Jolene stumbled and fell at his feet, still holding the golden Glynnis figurine, whose smiling head caught on Mr. Charleswood's slipper and pulled it off. Jolene lay unexpectedly at the naked, callused foot of Mr. Charleswood.
Quickly, to avert the growing crowd around his overturned wheelchair, he shouted, "That is him!"
His finger pointing at the astonished man from whose lips a toothpick fell.
Marie bumped into Jolene, who was examining a Glynnis figurine in her clenched hands. When a tearful Marie whispered her disappointment that there was no mention of the salon, Jolene bolted towards Mr. Charleswood who was placed beside the coffin to receive the condolences. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the black haired, fat girl lurching towards him. Jolene stumbled and fell at his feet, still holding the golden Glynnis figurine, whose smiling head caught on Mr. Charleswood's slipper and pulled it off. Jolene lay unexpectedly at the naked, callused foot of Mr. Charleswood.
Quickly, to avert the growing crowd around his overturned wheelchair, he shouted, "That is him!"
His finger pointing at the astonished man from whose lips a toothpick fell.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 3.5
Baxter Duremburg looked down at the flower laden coffin before him. "Who was Glynnis Charleswood?" he asked the transfixed audience. "She was an inspiration to women all over this great city of ours." He held a gold pen and silently traced small circles where her silent head might lie. Mournful cries of women came from the main seating area and were faintly echoed from the basement.
"She knew how to think the good thoughts. Didn't she?" his pen moved to and fro while he spoke. "When I first met Glynnis, her theory on how to be successful was only a glimmer in the blueness of her eyes. Even in those early beginnings, I was mesmerized by her control of the truth and the conviction with which she spoke her mantras."
Several of the women in the front row shrieked back in reply, "I am kind. I am loving. I am a pillar of light in this world of ugliness."
"Glynnis knew how to give what was wanted." Mr Charleswood nodded solemnly at Baxter's words and closed his eyes.
"She was well versed in what looked intelligent. She exuded confidence whenever she spoke." Baxter's pen pointed at the men and women before him. Marie's sniffling nose was up to the screen. "She made you feel that she really cared for you. She oozed sincerity."
Tears fell down Mr. Charleswood's face.
"She knew how to think the good thoughts. Didn't she?" his pen moved to and fro while he spoke. "When I first met Glynnis, her theory on how to be successful was only a glimmer in the blueness of her eyes. Even in those early beginnings, I was mesmerized by her control of the truth and the conviction with which she spoke her mantras."
Several of the women in the front row shrieked back in reply, "I am kind. I am loving. I am a pillar of light in this world of ugliness."
"Glynnis knew how to give what was wanted." Mr Charleswood nodded solemnly at Baxter's words and closed his eyes.
"She was well versed in what looked intelligent. She exuded confidence whenever she spoke." Baxter's pen pointed at the men and women before him. Marie's sniffling nose was up to the screen. "She made you feel that she really cared for you. She oozed sincerity."
Tears fell down Mr. Charleswood's face.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 3.4
Mr. Charleswood was wheeled in and the camera quickly zoomed to his pale, grim face. His eyes misted as he peered into the lens; the basement audience hushed. With the appearance of the mahogany casket, Marie automatically stood up. Someone giggled and the embarrassed hair- stylist sat down.
Jolene fidgeted to see the screen, just barely catching a glimpse of the wheeled old man sneering as he turned from the camera.
A handsome man in his mid-thirties walked slowly to the podium which stood behind the closed coffin.
A women next to Jolene commented to her companion that this was Glynnis' therapist while the other corrected her to say that he was her publicist. Jolene could only see half of the man's face as he announced to the crowd, " She was the epitomy of womanhood." His silky voice echoed over the heads in the hall.
Jolene fidgeted to see the screen, just barely catching a glimpse of the wheeled old man sneering as he turned from the camera.
A handsome man in his mid-thirties walked slowly to the podium which stood behind the closed coffin.
A women next to Jolene commented to her companion that this was Glynnis' therapist while the other corrected her to say that he was her publicist. Jolene could only see half of the man's face as he announced to the crowd, " She was the epitomy of womanhood." His silky voice echoed over the heads in the hall.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Pretty Women: Chapter 3.3
Jolene had to sit downstairs for the main auditorium was filled with the mournfully adorned wealthy.
As she squeezed past the downcast to one of the few seats available, she noticed Marie sitting near the screen where the service would be broadcast to the lower level. She was wearing a replica of a new updo like the glamorous wore on her waiting room magazines. Marie gaped at the empty screen intently as was her habit when she mixed the colors for Glynnis' level 6 with #10 highlights.
Jolene wrinkled the program in her hands, Glynnis smiled and frowned intermittently from between the creases of the pamphlet.
The last chair was taken by a tall man with a blue-striped, short-sleeved shirt. Jolene scowled for his greasy, black haired head would block her view of the service. He turned around to check the clock; a toothpick hung from his lips.
As she squeezed past the downcast to one of the few seats available, she noticed Marie sitting near the screen where the service would be broadcast to the lower level. She was wearing a replica of a new updo like the glamorous wore on her waiting room magazines. Marie gaped at the empty screen intently as was her habit when she mixed the colors for Glynnis' level 6 with #10 highlights.
Jolene wrinkled the program in her hands, Glynnis smiled and frowned intermittently from between the creases of the pamphlet.
The last chair was taken by a tall man with a blue-striped, short-sleeved shirt. Jolene scowled for his greasy, black haired head would block her view of the service. He turned around to check the clock; a toothpick hung from his lips.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Pretty Women Chapter 3.2
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three:Pretty Women Chapter 3.1
Jolene had to push the door hard to open and discovered that the basement was overflowing with clientele. Marie heard the buzzer and waved to Jolene over the coiffed heads, motioning for her to have a seat.
Marie's eyes were red as were the others.
"I couldn't believe the news," the woman in the chair sobbed. "Glynnis and I were like this," she held two fingers together and burst out hysterically. "We were always going to meet for lunch..."
Marie nodded, "She called me at my home number around eight last night to make an appointment. At this exact hour she would've been on the bed." Marie looked over to the tanning room. The goggles were mournfully placed where she would've lied. The puffed eyes followed Marie's gaze to the only vacant spot in the salon.
"You know what bothers me the most," Marie whispered. The room was silent. "That poor Mr. Charleswood had to hear the gunshot and the scream but was unable to move to get help. Can you imagine his agony as he lay there half paralyzed in his second story bedroom?"
"Yes. It was lucky that he had his cell phone nearby," a woman sitting beside Jolene replied. "The newspaper said that his dog, Armani, was frantic with fear when they arrived. Mr. Charleswood's bedroom door was closed and Armani was clawing and jumping at the door, trying to get in. He needed comfort from his master."
"Mrs. Charleswood ran into me a few months ago," Jolene added but no one paid any attention to the oversized girl in the corner.
Chapter Two
Chapter Three:Pretty Women Chapter 3.1
Jolene had to push the door hard to open and discovered that the basement was overflowing with clientele. Marie heard the buzzer and waved to Jolene over the coiffed heads, motioning for her to have a seat.
Marie's eyes were red as were the others.
"I couldn't believe the news," the woman in the chair sobbed. "Glynnis and I were like this," she held two fingers together and burst out hysterically. "We were always going to meet for lunch..."
Marie nodded, "She called me at my home number around eight last night to make an appointment. At this exact hour she would've been on the bed." Marie looked over to the tanning room. The goggles were mournfully placed where she would've lied. The puffed eyes followed Marie's gaze to the only vacant spot in the salon.
"You know what bothers me the most," Marie whispered. The room was silent. "That poor Mr. Charleswood had to hear the gunshot and the scream but was unable to move to get help. Can you imagine his agony as he lay there half paralyzed in his second story bedroom?"
"Yes. It was lucky that he had his cell phone nearby," a woman sitting beside Jolene replied. "The newspaper said that his dog, Armani, was frantic with fear when they arrived. Mr. Charleswood's bedroom door was closed and Armani was clawing and jumping at the door, trying to get in. He needed comfort from his master."
"Mrs. Charleswood ran into me a few months ago," Jolene added but no one paid any attention to the oversized girl in the corner.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Pretty Women: Chapter 3.1
You might want to read these preceding chapters to Pretty Women.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Jolene tripped over the newspaper that was thrown on their front step. She muttered to herself as she threw the crumpled pages into the house and hurriedly slammed the door so as not to miss the schoolbus.
Suddenly, she stopped. "Glynnis Charleswood Murdered?" The blaring headline and familiar picture from the seminar pamphlet slapped Jolene and she fumbled to re-open the locked door. "What?"
Jolene was in a daze throughout all of her classes with thoughts of the once shimmering Glynnis.
Bewildered by these memories, Jolene caught the bus home but wandered over to Marie's basement salon. She needed to talk.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Pretty Women Chapter 3.1
Jolene tripped over the newspaper that was thrown on their front step. She muttered to herself as she threw the crumpled pages into the house and hurriedly slammed the door so as not to miss the schoolbus.
Suddenly, she stopped. "Glynnis Charleswood Murdered?" The blaring headline and familiar picture from the seminar pamphlet slapped Jolene and she fumbled to re-open the locked door. "What?"
Jolene was in a daze throughout all of her classes with thoughts of the once shimmering Glynnis.
Glynnis, in her cabriolet, sidelining Jolene on her skateboard. Shouting but radiant as she stood over the bruised body.
Glynnis speaking her affirmations to hundreds of transfixed, pretty women seated in a row.
Glynnis falling from the stage after Jolene’s surprise appearance.
Glynnis, limping from the auditorium.
Glynnis dying from a gunshot to her head.
Glynnis speaking her affirmations to hundreds of transfixed, pretty women seated in a row.
Glynnis falling from the stage after Jolene’s surprise appearance.
Glynnis, limping from the auditorium.
Glynnis dying from a gunshot to her head.
Bewildered by these memories, Jolene caught the bus home but wandered over to Marie's basement salon. She needed to talk.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Pretty Women : Chapter Two
In order to better understand and appreciate the following Chapter Two of Pretty Women, it is advised that interested readers first read Chapter One.
Or if you have done so previously but have forgotten it, please re-read Chapter One.
Please feel free to critique
or otherwise.
I hope you enjoy the continuing saga of
Pretty Women.
Or if you have done so previously but have forgotten it, please re-read Chapter One.
Please feel free to critique
or otherwise.
I hope you enjoy the continuing saga of
Pretty Women.
Chapter Two
When the trees began to drop their leaves in an exposing fall dance, Glynnis knew it was time to give up her caregiving position. "I married and nurtured him for how many years now?" she asked as she screwed up her eyes in thought. "For two years, I have looked after him, affirmed his every action, his every word and what has he done in return?
"Lived!"
Glynnis gripped the steering wheel firmly and her plan began. An outfit was bought for the occasion, a white cashmere sweater and Agatha tweed pants. Unfortunately, they were concealed by a stiff white lab coat which she took from its hook in the hall. The pharmaceutical research center was quiet being closed for the evening. She managed to find her way through the locked doors.
As she counted the white pills into a green emptied bottle, she daydreamed of the funeral and what she would wear. The excitement of wearing a black Dries Van Noten almost made her lose count.
The security guards saw Glynnis leave the center. She looked like a successful and well dressed research assistant. When questioned by them, she listed several possible chemical reactions which she had memorized from posters in the washroom. The security guards bent down cooingly as she looked up at them with her soft, doey eyes. They unlocked the door.
"I must make make an appointment with Marie tomorrow," Glynnis thought as she looked in the rear view mirror to apply the rumbleberry lipstick to her faintly hairy lips.
As she drove home, she thought of William waiting for her to return. His 90 year old body reclined on their burgandy leather couch, his feet resting on the ottoman while their dog, Armani, licked his well worn slippers. Glynnis had told him that she would be at another one of her seminars but instead, Glynnis excitedly thought, instead she was filling his prescription, an undetectable prescription. She had heard about this toxicological breakthrough through one of her fanatical converts.
"Do I know you, Mrs. Charleswood?"
Glynnis looked up in surprise. She had been fumbling in her Vuitton handbag for the medication she planned to give to William before he went to sleep. Instead of lying on the couch as she had imagined, William stood tall before her with a loaded rifle aimed at her pretty but disproportionate head.
Glynnis grimaced in horror, her trembling hands dropped the pill container. She almost had time to begin her mantra before she fell as a leaf.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Pretty Women
Fiction
Marie did her morning meditation taking deep breaths as she looked out the window and thought of nothing but Glynnis. Her customers always came first and appreciated her friendly focus. It took hours to perfect the concentration but she learned that it guaranteed her clients' loyalty. The tips often reached 25% through her purposeful meditation. Her smile greeted Glynnis at the door.
Glynnis smiled down at the woman before her. The salon was private and specialized for the treatment she was accustomed to. She knew nothing but that she was a 45 year old beauty who was meant to be admired. Marie amused her because of her skillful attitude of a servant.
Their aesthetic ambitions were met through each other.
Marie thoughtfully mixed the colors. Glynnis was a level 6 with #10 highlights.
Today Glynnis would be receiving the full treatment, c/c, full leg waxing, brow and upper and lower lip threading and sixty minutes on the bed.
"Will you wear the safety glasses today."
Glynnis frowned as she did not like the lines they left.
"You know I am required by law to advise you to use them."
"Marie, don't you know that if you increase both the UVA and UVB to a nominal intensity, the light will travel vertically and be unable to infiltrate my horizontal exposure. There is no need for those silly goggles." Glynnis gestures added to the explanation of light travel.
Marie's own eyes dilated but she shrugged and put the goggles away.
Six hours later, after complicated instruction on color application and the fundamentals of good waxing technique, Marie and Glynnis hugged. Glynnis was pleased that Marie had learned so much and Marie was pleased by the hearty tip.
Marie swept the hair and bleached the tanning bed, dreaming of another trip to the Bahamas.
Glynnis applied fresh rumbleberry lipstick to her threaded lips as she backed her blue BMW cabriolet out of the driveway, unfortunately for Jolene who was speeding down the street on her green and black girl- skateboard at the same time.
Jolene lay stunned and speechless as Glynnis jumped out her vehicle, rumbleberry across the cheek, screaming at the young girl's total lack of skateboarding skills.
Jolene moved her limbs successfuly, felt gratitude for the helmet she had worn then slowly stood up to face the ranting woman.
"How dare you..." Jolene began a tirade of defense and accusation against the woman whom she discerned could afford it.
Glynnis agreed sympathetically, after noting that the cabriolet was unharmed and Jolene suffered only minor injuries.
Jolene wrote down her license plate while Glynnis drove away, waving.
Jolene was a fit girl of fifteen who carried her large frame well, her stomach protruding proudly over her size 36 skateboarder denims. Her black hair curled at the shoulders from under a khaki cap. The skateboarder's mind was still preoccupied with the golden bronzed image of Glynnis and her finely articulated words which she spoke to herself as she got into her convertible, " Teenagers really have to get a grasp on what courtesy is."
When Jolene arrived home, she examined her skateboard more closely, livid at the closer inspection. It was beyond repair, three wheels were missing and there was a deep crack in the middle which dissected the girl insignia neatly in half.
She turned on the computer and called up her favourite on line detective program. Quickly, she typed in the license plate number and within seconds the screen was filled with information.
Name: William and Glynnis Charleswood
Address: Briarwood Estate...
Everything was there, even their annual income. Jolene smiled smugly.
Jolene started the long walk to Briarwood Estates, but her limp slowed her down so she rested at a bus stop bench. She saw Marie outside her house watering the geraniums and waved. Jolene was a regular at Marie's basement salon. Marie walked over, teasing, "Skateboard broke?" Then her mouth opened wide in alarm as she drew nearer and saw Jolene's blackening eye, bruised cheek and the broken skateboard on her lap. "What happened to you?"
Marie sat down as Jolene told her the tale.
"That sounds like Glynnis. She must've just left from her appointment. " her teeth clenched and her eyes glazed over. "I'll go get the car, I don't have another appointment for an hour."
They drove to the estate. Briarwood was immense and beautiful. A fountain with water flowing from the lips of Athena graced the front yard. The house was Romanesque with solid brick walls and a tower.
"Don't worry, I'll come with you," Marie comforted her shaking cohort.
They waited at the portico. Finally the door was opened by a old man, no less than ninety with coal black hair in a wheelchair.
Jolene held up her skateboard explaining the tale of a Mrs. Charleswood who ran into her this afternoon. "This cost me $62.50 out of my own money..." her voice quivered.
"Come in, come in."
William Charleswood ushered the pair into his home. His darling had perpetrated another indescretion, no doubt. The fat one went on about her skateboard; he smiled and consoled her by writing a cheque for $100.00. She seemed placated and he patiently led them to the door.
"He seemed nice," Marie was shocked at meeting Glynnis' husband.
Jolene didn't respond. She was riffling through a pamphlet.
"What is that?"
"Oh, just something I picked up on the way out. Look at this!" she held up the cover which featured a joyous, glossy Glynnis. Under her chin was written, " Come and experience her wisdom."
"She is giving a talk tonight! We have to go."
"Not me. I hear enough from that woman besides she is my favorite client and I don't want to cause trouble."
Jolene smiled at Marie's lack of impartiality with her clients, that came with the full treatments.
"Okay, I will go alone!"
That night, Jolene, still hurting but not limping nearly as bad, caught the bus to the hotel where Glynnis was appearing. She arrived just in time to catch her emerging from a gold cadillac. After she disappeared into the hotel, Jolene walked up to the driver who had just parked the car. He was nonchalantly picking his teeth, resting his leg on the bumper.
"Are you Glynnis Charleswood's chauffeur?"
He came out of his reverie and nodded. "This ought to be good," he smiled to himself.
"Would you mind if I ask if Mr. Charleswood took away her driving privileges?"
"Ah, now it is beginning to make sense," he thought as he noticed her black and blue face. "No, Mr. Charleswood took her car to the autobody for a paint job. There was green paint on the fender."
"Ah, now I understand the nice Mr. Charleswood," Jolene thought as she thanked him.
Jolene limped confidently into the lobby.She saw a sign with Glynnis smiling and pointing to the designated conference room. When someone was about to question her, she held up the wrinkled pamphlet and was let through.
The room was filled with women. Jolene found a seat in the second row and looked around. These were not ordinary women. These sat straightly in their padded chairs, muscles taut, hair styled , skin tanned, outfits designed. Suddenly Jolene felt conspicuous and slouched down in her seat.
Music and a spotlight announced the stunning, the glorious, the effervescent Glynnis. Her smile warmed even Jolene's sarcasm but then she spoke.
"You are the epitomy of womanhood. Give yourself a hand." Thunderous applause. Then,"You are the pillar of light in this world of ugliness. Your beauty captivates the hearts of mankind. You are more than just pretty women that encourage and enlighten the world. You are goddesses."
and "Repeat the words that affirm your beauty, your lifestyle, your choices...I am kind. I am loving...
My words are positive. My speech is articulate. I can do no harm..."
Jolene felt sick for the next two hours. When the floor was finally opened for questions, Jolene was the first one at the mike. "I am not a pretty woman, but I am a pretty good girl." Everyone looked at her surprised for not only was she not beautiful but she was also bruised and puffy. Her stomach protruded proudly over her jeans.
Glynnis stared at her. Suddenly recognition overcame her and she fell from the stage. Jolene rushed to her crumpled form and whispered in her ear, "I hope you will understand Mrs. Charleswood."
Glynnis shook her hand loose from Jolene and struggled to her feet alone. Jolene watched her as she left the room,limping because one of her stileto heels had broken off.
Glynnis fumbled with the dressing room lock.
"That was so inspiring!" someone came from behind her with a program. She signed it, nodding and quickly retreating into the room.
She stared at the woman that shrank back from her in the full length mirror with bruised cheek, reddened eyes, dishevelled hair, shaking shoulders. Glynnis felt a desire to to collapse before the reflected image but the words came automatically, "I am in control. I am not weak. I speak truth." Her knees strengthened as she reached for a brush.
While Jolene waited at the bus stop, she meditated on a girl's belly button that decorated the bus shelter, chuckling at her own superimposed refection.
The bus bounced and lurched intermittently, Jolene held fast to the strap and to the thoughts of the day. "She is powerful. All those women applauded her every word. You would think that she knew something. When I offered her my hand, she walked off without a word. If she really knew anything, she would have spoken it then."
"Who am I to talk? What do I know?"
"I do know I'm a good skateboarder. I've broken two wrists and an ankle to get here. There is one thing with boarding, you can't lie to yourself; the falls speak for
you."
copyright 2005
Marie did her morning meditation taking deep breaths as she looked out the window and thought of nothing but Glynnis. Her customers always came first and appreciated her friendly focus. It took hours to perfect the concentration but she learned that it guaranteed her clients' loyalty. The tips often reached 25% through her purposeful meditation. Her smile greeted Glynnis at the door.
Glynnis smiled down at the woman before her. The salon was private and specialized for the treatment she was accustomed to. She knew nothing but that she was a 45 year old beauty who was meant to be admired. Marie amused her because of her skillful attitude of a servant.
Their aesthetic ambitions were met through each other.
Marie thoughtfully mixed the colors. Glynnis was a level 6 with #10 highlights.
Today Glynnis would be receiving the full treatment, c/c, full leg waxing, brow and upper and lower lip threading and sixty minutes on the bed.
"Will you wear the safety glasses today."
Glynnis frowned as she did not like the lines they left.
"You know I am required by law to advise you to use them."
"Marie, don't you know that if you increase both the UVA and UVB to a nominal intensity, the light will travel vertically and be unable to infiltrate my horizontal exposure. There is no need for those silly goggles." Glynnis gestures added to the explanation of light travel.
Marie's own eyes dilated but she shrugged and put the goggles away.
Six hours later, after complicated instruction on color application and the fundamentals of good waxing technique, Marie and Glynnis hugged. Glynnis was pleased that Marie had learned so much and Marie was pleased by the hearty tip.
Marie swept the hair and bleached the tanning bed, dreaming of another trip to the Bahamas.
Glynnis applied fresh rumbleberry lipstick to her threaded lips as she backed her blue BMW cabriolet out of the driveway, unfortunately for Jolene who was speeding down the street on her green and black girl- skateboard at the same time.
Jolene lay stunned and speechless as Glynnis jumped out her vehicle, rumbleberry across the cheek, screaming at the young girl's total lack of skateboarding skills.
Jolene moved her limbs successfuly, felt gratitude for the helmet she had worn then slowly stood up to face the ranting woman.
"How dare you..." Jolene began a tirade of defense and accusation against the woman whom she discerned could afford it.
Glynnis agreed sympathetically, after noting that the cabriolet was unharmed and Jolene suffered only minor injuries.
Jolene wrote down her license plate while Glynnis drove away, waving.
Jolene was a fit girl of fifteen who carried her large frame well, her stomach protruding proudly over her size 36 skateboarder denims. Her black hair curled at the shoulders from under a khaki cap. The skateboarder's mind was still preoccupied with the golden bronzed image of Glynnis and her finely articulated words which she spoke to herself as she got into her convertible, " Teenagers really have to get a grasp on what courtesy is."
When Jolene arrived home, she examined her skateboard more closely, livid at the closer inspection. It was beyond repair, three wheels were missing and there was a deep crack in the middle which dissected the girl insignia neatly in half.
She turned on the computer and called up her favourite on line detective program. Quickly, she typed in the license plate number and within seconds the screen was filled with information.
Name: William and Glynnis Charleswood
Address: Briarwood Estate...
Everything was there, even their annual income. Jolene smiled smugly.
Jolene started the long walk to Briarwood Estates, but her limp slowed her down so she rested at a bus stop bench. She saw Marie outside her house watering the geraniums and waved. Jolene was a regular at Marie's basement salon. Marie walked over, teasing, "Skateboard broke?" Then her mouth opened wide in alarm as she drew nearer and saw Jolene's blackening eye, bruised cheek and the broken skateboard on her lap. "What happened to you?"
Marie sat down as Jolene told her the tale.
"That sounds like Glynnis. She must've just left from her appointment. " her teeth clenched and her eyes glazed over. "I'll go get the car, I don't have another appointment for an hour."
They drove to the estate. Briarwood was immense and beautiful. A fountain with water flowing from the lips of Athena graced the front yard. The house was Romanesque with solid brick walls and a tower.
"Don't worry, I'll come with you," Marie comforted her shaking cohort.
They waited at the portico. Finally the door was opened by a old man, no less than ninety with coal black hair in a wheelchair.
Jolene held up her skateboard explaining the tale of a Mrs. Charleswood who ran into her this afternoon. "This cost me $62.50 out of my own money..." her voice quivered.
"Come in, come in."
William Charleswood ushered the pair into his home. His darling had perpetrated another indescretion, no doubt. The fat one went on about her skateboard; he smiled and consoled her by writing a cheque for $100.00. She seemed placated and he patiently led them to the door.
"He seemed nice," Marie was shocked at meeting Glynnis' husband.
Jolene didn't respond. She was riffling through a pamphlet.
"What is that?"
"Oh, just something I picked up on the way out. Look at this!" she held up the cover which featured a joyous, glossy Glynnis. Under her chin was written, " Come and experience her wisdom."
"She is giving a talk tonight! We have to go."
"Not me. I hear enough from that woman besides she is my favorite client and I don't want to cause trouble."
Jolene smiled at Marie's lack of impartiality with her clients, that came with the full treatments.
"Okay, I will go alone!"
That night, Jolene, still hurting but not limping nearly as bad, caught the bus to the hotel where Glynnis was appearing. She arrived just in time to catch her emerging from a gold cadillac. After she disappeared into the hotel, Jolene walked up to the driver who had just parked the car. He was nonchalantly picking his teeth, resting his leg on the bumper.
"Are you Glynnis Charleswood's chauffeur?"
He came out of his reverie and nodded. "This ought to be good," he smiled to himself.
"Would you mind if I ask if Mr. Charleswood took away her driving privileges?"
"Ah, now it is beginning to make sense," he thought as he noticed her black and blue face. "No, Mr. Charleswood took her car to the autobody for a paint job. There was green paint on the fender."
"Ah, now I understand the nice Mr. Charleswood," Jolene thought as she thanked him.
Jolene limped confidently into the lobby.She saw a sign with Glynnis smiling and pointing to the designated conference room. When someone was about to question her, she held up the wrinkled pamphlet and was let through.
The room was filled with women. Jolene found a seat in the second row and looked around. These were not ordinary women. These sat straightly in their padded chairs, muscles taut, hair styled , skin tanned, outfits designed. Suddenly Jolene felt conspicuous and slouched down in her seat.
Music and a spotlight announced the stunning, the glorious, the effervescent Glynnis. Her smile warmed even Jolene's sarcasm but then she spoke.
"You are the epitomy of womanhood. Give yourself a hand." Thunderous applause. Then,"You are the pillar of light in this world of ugliness. Your beauty captivates the hearts of mankind. You are more than just pretty women that encourage and enlighten the world. You are goddesses."
and "Repeat the words that affirm your beauty, your lifestyle, your choices...I am kind. I am loving...
My words are positive. My speech is articulate. I can do no harm..."
Jolene felt sick for the next two hours. When the floor was finally opened for questions, Jolene was the first one at the mike. "I am not a pretty woman, but I am a pretty good girl." Everyone looked at her surprised for not only was she not beautiful but she was also bruised and puffy. Her stomach protruded proudly over her jeans.
Glynnis stared at her. Suddenly recognition overcame her and she fell from the stage. Jolene rushed to her crumpled form and whispered in her ear, "I hope you will understand Mrs. Charleswood."
Glynnis shook her hand loose from Jolene and struggled to her feet alone. Jolene watched her as she left the room,limping because one of her stileto heels had broken off.
Glynnis fumbled with the dressing room lock.
"That was so inspiring!" someone came from behind her with a program. She signed it, nodding and quickly retreating into the room.
She stared at the woman that shrank back from her in the full length mirror with bruised cheek, reddened eyes, dishevelled hair, shaking shoulders. Glynnis felt a desire to to collapse before the reflected image but the words came automatically, "I am in control. I am not weak. I speak truth." Her knees strengthened as she reached for a brush.
While Jolene waited at the bus stop, she meditated on a girl's belly button that decorated the bus shelter, chuckling at her own superimposed refection.
The bus bounced and lurched intermittently, Jolene held fast to the strap and to the thoughts of the day. "She is powerful. All those women applauded her every word. You would think that she knew something. When I offered her my hand, she walked off without a word. If she really knew anything, she would have spoken it then."
"Who am I to talk? What do I know?"
"I do know I'm a good skateboarder. I've broken two wrists and an ankle to get here. There is one thing with boarding, you can't lie to yourself; the falls speak for
you."
copyright 2005
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