Mia couldn't shake off the feeling of unease as she lay in bed,tossing and turning about like a writhing mass of snails.Her sister's face popped up everytime she closed her eyes and she was soon deprived of sleep.It seemed too bad that she knew something was wrong with her junior sister,but the girl refused to disclose any information.
As she got out of bed and headed to the bathroom,the creaky floorboards beneath her feet seemed to groan in protest.She splashed water on her face,the coolness soothing her dry skin. She analyzed her square shaped face and starry blue eyes in the mirror and growled at her own reflection.
"It's too tough to meet people's expectations.Oh good Lord!" She struck her forehead with her palms at the mere realization that she was now worn out.
Apparently, everyone saw her to be the face of the Sanchez family, together with her second sister,Indigo who was now staying with their aunt in Johannesburg.Their aunt was in search for a beautiful face for her commercials and wanted on one of her brother's kids to star in it.When she had first arrived, Abigail informed her about the offer and she refused to participate because she loved her work.
It was due to her mother's constant pressure that she was compelled to work harder and achieve more than her realizations.It was an advantageous opportunity,since that would provide her the opportunity to stand up to her mother and do as she pleased.
Her mind wandered back to the day their aunt Armani had visited.Out of all the sibling in the Sanchez household,Harper was the only one who was interested in her commercials and acting gigs.She was more of an introvert and hardly spoke to anyone..always seeking to 'not be in the crowd.'
"Ah, Abigail! Long time no see." Armani embraced Abigail forcefully,pulling the air out of her.It was as if she had not seen the lady for decades.
"I heard about your two beautiful daughters.I wish to have my niece,Mia to open my fashion gig.You know of modeling right??She could be the Face of My Fashion show." She smiled with glee.
"I think she will be a great addition,but she refuses to participate.She loves her work and I can't convince her." Abigail had replied, turning a deaf ear to Armani's comment about she having only two beautiful daughters and not three.
The fifteen-year-old Harper had heard their conversation from the kitchen and decided to try her luck and change the others perspective on her.She was always in Mia's or Indigo's shadows.It felt like she didn't even exist.
"Auntie Armani,I would love to be a great addition to your project.I have the looks and the talent.I think I can involve myself in your commercials and later go in for movies."Harper stated, incredulously.She was certain that her auntie was convinced and she,too was useful in her own way.
Armani immediately dropped her glass on the rough patched table,her eyes visualizing the young girl for a quick second and prepared herself for a a loud, boisterous cackle that had made the floorboards shake and the flowers quiver.People around got the impression of an unexpected earthquake happening,but it was only a woman's laughter. She probably had no etiquette.
"Oh my goodness! Your maid's daughter is really funny.I like her already." She exclaimed,before turning to Harper."I am also certain you are also useful in other ways,like going for a food campaign or joining in for an ad basically on the effects of junk food.That would be necessary."
Harper's face fell,her eyes cast downward in shame.Not only had she been rejected,but also mistaken for a maid's daughter. It took quite a year before Abigail cleared her air, although Harper knew her mother did not mean any word.
"Well,this is my third daughter Harper."
"Oh I see?" Armani's interest was piqued yet that was not changing her shallow minded opinion."Where did her beauty go? I thought we had no bow legged individual in our family,why does she have them? And oh,why is one eye brown and the other blue? Are you sure she is your daughter? Oh what a sight!"
Harper could not take it any longer and her auntie's comment crumbled her soul.It felt like a ton of bricks had hit her so hard in the ribs that she couldn't think of crying.
"Why are her sisters the only beautiful ones in your eyes? But to say,had she only be close to having Mia's nice face and everything..I mean look at her forehead.I would have included her in it."
Abigail looked elsewhere,ashamed at her daughter's appearance."So is it about looks?" Harper asked with her voice trembling.
"Of course sweetheart! It is about the looks.I just can't have hideous ladies opening my shows and joining my movies.The audience loves it when the person has a speck of otherworldly beauty.Beauty sells.Ya know what I mean?"
No sooner had she said that than Mia and Indigo return from their trip to the mall.They had wanted to invite Harper to join but they were aware she would be overwhelmed among several others.
"Oh my ducklings!"Armani exclaimed and rose to meet them halfway.She swept them in a loving embrace that made Harper's heart ache the more.
"I hope you are not going to talk about the same project?" Indigo inquired."My reply is still not changing.I would love to be a footballer."
"And I,an editor!" Mia added.
"A footballer? What are you? A man in woman's clothing? Footballer is meant for--"
"Men,I know.That is what we are made to believe.Everything is for men.Can't I just breathe?" Indigo said and burst out of the room but still she was forced into an agreement by Abigail,who said she wouldn't sponsor her education further and later she was whisked away into Johannesburg and now is made a great model in the history of the beauties.
Mia's mind reflected back to everything that had happened in her life.Most people thought she had passed the interview of The G&N Web because she was pretty.And yes, could they be blamed for wondering?
About thousands of people had attended the interview and there were many people with talents surpassing hers yet she was immediately accepted into the company without further questions.
"What's your name?" The interviewer had asked.
"Mia Sanchez."
"Why do you want to work here?"
"I have always wanted to be an editor and ---"
"You've been hired already." The interviewer had interjected after typing out her name into her newly gifted laptop.She was even surprised by it and the next comment made her think others were right.
"You do have the looks!"
But through her thoughts,she was troubled with the fact whether it was her looks that had gotten her the job or she had the talent and slowly she drifted off to sleep.