Entry for the cramp 1/24/2019 |
Snatching up my 10G phone “with facial recognition,” I took another full length selfie, My one indulgence besides this phone. I heard a voice whisper Go downtown now. Stop at the new mall and buy an prettier phone case. I went. Another whisper.Your phone is a pretty pink. You should look pretty, too. I treated myself, browsing a clothing store. well outside my income. The professional dresser stared. “You’re the one. With that face, color and skin tone.” I was told “You have a stylist waiting for you at this salon. Then come back.” The voice said, Do it. I went, returning with a pixie haircut. The dresser handed me a wardrobe: black pants, collared blouses, a few skirts. One scarf. One at a time, I tried them on, unsure where this would end. A facial was arranged. A tmakeup artist arrived. I imagined beauty pageants as the black pumps and jewelry were examined, approved, then whisked away. Then I donned a bathrobe. “Don’t look,” they commanded. I swayed, overcome by the power of lipstick and Chanel number 5. Hands slid over my skin, dressing and perfecting me. I was led to a room and told again, “Don’t look.” I posed, eyes closed, for profile pictures, then filmed as I turned slowly. I had no idea what I Looked like or who I was. Full-length, I finally saw myself. I was coarse, a child of servants, a young daydreamer. I was a woman in love, and a princess. I was Audrey Hepburn. |