Today People

by Barbara G. Tarn

  "Are you done here?" Marsha asked with a mischievous smile from the set door. "Charlie says I should prepare you. Switch on the answering machine and come on over."

  Tanya had forgotten her own portfolio shoot. Feeling like a martyr, she entered the set.

  "Charlie, are you sure that..."

  "You're not ready yet? Hurry up, and remember the ad for the help. We can afford it."

  Tanya ignored his blunt manners. She knew he was trying to help her overcome her fears. She allowed Marsha to work on her face and hair, and went back to the set, her vision blurred without her glasses. Charlie was a blond head without a face, but his known and beloved voice guided her easily. Tanya decided to play the game of the previous day, and pretend to be a top model already, following Charlie's instructions.

  "Okay, that's enough, thank you," he said at last.

  "May I wash my face?" she asked, eager to get rid of the mask of make-up.

  He chuckled. "As you wish," he said.

  Tanya rushed to clean up, preparing the ad for the help in her head.

  "Tanya, remind Carol that either this afternoon she's on time or she better not come at all," Charlie said as she passed trough the set to go back to her desk.

  She was very happy to make that call, but Carol wasn't home. With a sigh, Tanya jotted down her ad, and placed another call.

  ***

  "Hello, Tanya."

  Carol was early and Tanya checked her watch in disbelief. Carol smiled triumphantly as she stared at the secretary.

  "You're early," Tanya said. "But Charlie is ready if you want..."

  "In a moment," Carol interrupted, standing in front of her desk like a beauty goddess. "Tanya, who was that girl who replaced me?"

  Tanya hid a secret smile. Carol hadn't recognized her. Her mask was perfect.

  "Forget her, Carol, she doesn't want to be a model," she shrugged.

  "But Charlie likes her," Carol insisted. "I don't want to be replaced."

  "Considering your behavior, I doubt you'll last much longer, either as a model or as a lover," she said, averting her eyes.

  "What do you know?" Carol glared at her and she shrugged again. She knew them both. She knew Charlie. And she hated Carol's haughtiness. Carol wasn't right for Charlie.

  I don't want to end up like her, Charlie! I'll wear make-up and be your model, but outside of that set room you'll have to accept me as I am!

  "Tell me who that girl is!" Carol demanded, seeing no answer to her previous question coming.

  "Why do you fear her so much?" Tanya replied, sarcastic. "You know I'm right?"

  "You're wrong and plain dumb, you stupid cow!" Carol spat, then stomped into the set.

  And you're so smart, uh? Tanya frowned. Single mother always late, the most unprofessional of all the models that passed through this studio, and she calls me dumb! I sure hope Charlie fires her because I'm sick of her!

  Johnny entered and greeted her with a smile.

  "Carol is already here," she told him, still upset.

  "My my! What happened?" he wondered. "I better go in, then!"

  She laughed against her will and he winked.

  He went into the set room, but came back immediately. "I think I'd rather wait for Charlie's call," he said. "They seem to be fighting pretty hard in there."

  "Glad the door is soundproof for Charlie's convenience," she said, hoping it was true and that Carol would soon be out of the studio, and their lives.

  Carol stormed out of the set and stopped in front of Tanya's desk with a photo print in her hand. She quickly compared photo and secretary, then threw the photo at Tanya with fury.

  "I always thought you were a bitch, Tanya, but this is way too much!" she said hatefully.

  She stomped out of the studio, leaving both Tanya and Johnny agape.

  Charlie came out of the set and picked up the photo with a sigh. "She recognized you."

  He showed Tanya the close-up of her model version.

  "Well, it's definitely her," Johnny said, observing the photo.

  "Tanya..." Charlie looked at her with a pleading face. "I'm afraid I need you one more time."

  "You fired her?" she asked.

  "I think she just quit," he shrugged. "Can you finish for her?"

  "Geez, Charlie!" She sighed. "OK, but it's the first and last time, you hear me?"

  "Sure. Fine." Charlie smiled, looking innocently adorable, damn him.

  "I don't know about you, Charlie, but for me it's an improvement," Johnny said. "She's more professional and nicer than Carol."

  "How are we doing with your assistant, Tanya?" Charlie asked. "Anyone called?"

  "I'll interview a couple of people tomorrow."

  "Good. Don't be too picky, I need you on the set as soon as possible. Let's get to work now."

  ***

  The morning after a new girl was hired. Tanya chose someone her age, blonde but not glamorous, long hair kept in a ponytail, and glasses. Her name was Rita and she had no modeling ambitions, therefore Tanya picked her up without hesitation.

  In the afternoon Johnny came in, early as usual, to chat with Charlie.

  "Who's that?" Rita followed him with her eyes, admired.

  "Johnny, Charlie's best friend," Tanya answered, pointing at the pictures on the walls around them. "Charlie made a career out of photographing him. They met in high school, Charlie loved cameras, Johnny liked to model, one day somebody noticed their work – and the rest is history."

  "I see," Rita smiled. "Now they're both top pros."

  "Indeed. And Charlie has the exclusive on Johnny's image."

  "Are they gay?" Rita wondered.

  "Considering the number of girlfriends they often share, I very much doubt it," Tanya chuckled. "I'd say they're only very good friends."

  She wondered if Johnny wouldn't ask her out again and prefer Carol, then she remembered he didn't like the model, besides wasn't he dating blonde top model Mandy? Tanya just couldn't follow all the flirts of the two best friends, she knew those weren't real relationships and had given up counting their dates. She wasn't in the list, and that was for sure. They had always considered her too young or too insignificant or whatever – except things were changing now that she had agreed to model, and she kept asking herself if it was good or bad.

  "Quit daydreaming, take off your glasses and get to work," Charlie's amused voice brought her back to reality.

  "Even today?" she protested. "I have things to show Rita, tell her how to..."

  "I'm sure Rita can manage, can't you, Rita?" Charlie interrupted her. "Come on, Tanya."

  "Can you manage?" Tanya asked Rita, hoping she'd say no, saving her from another photo-session.

  "Sure," Rita smiled. "I'll take care of everything."

  Tanya sighed and followed Charlie to the photo set. She allowed Marsha to apply make-up, then joined Johnny on the set.

  "Today you have to play the lovers," Charlie said.

  "Sorry if I can't look you in the eyes, but I'm totally blind," Tanya whispered.

  "I know," he smiled. "Would you like me to take you to buy contacts?"

  "Why, are you short-sighted too?" she asked, surprised.

  "I told you we should know each other better," he said. "At home I'm as blind and insignificant as you."

  "Hey, you two, stop talking or you'll ruin my shots," Charlie scolded. Tanya blushed.

  A lot of clicks later, towards the end of the photo-session, Rita knocked and opened the door.

  "I'm sorry, there's a Mr Freeman who would like to see the photo-session," she said.

  "Let him in," Charlie said without even looking at her.

  "Charlie," Tanya moaned.

  "What? You can't even see him," he shrugged. "Don't worry, keep going."

  Mr Freeman came in.

  "Good-afternoon, Mr Freeman, I won't be long," Charlie said. Then he turned to the models. "Okay, guys, clothes change!"

  Tanya and Johnny went to the dressing room while Mr Freeman stopped by Alex
who offered him a chair next to his workstation.

  "Did you prepare that portfolio?" the customer asked.

  "Sure, you could have asked Rita," Charlie answered. "Anyway, you can meet the model now."

  "I thought it was her," Mr Freeman said as Johnny and Tanya came back with different clothes.

  The photo-session continued and Mr Freeman couldn't take his eyes off of Tanya.

  "Okay, enough for today," Charlie said at last. "Tanya, come here."

  She obeyed, embarrassed. She hated the blurry sight her eyes provided.

  "This is Tanya, Mr Freeman," Charlie guided her to the customer.

  "Charlie, it's not funny," she grumbled. "Don't make me feel like a clown. May I go change?"

  "Sure," he let her go. "I'm sorry, she's shy," he told Mr Freeman. He guided his puzzled customer back to the foyer and gave him Tanya's portfolio.

  Tanya came back with her normal look and sat at her desk near Rita. Mr Freeman compared the secretary to the model, and recognized her at last.

  "What a change," he told Charlie who smiled triumphantly. "I'm really impressed! It's true you make every woman look gorgeous!"

  "That's what they say," Charlie shrugged. "But I must also thank Marsha, the make-up lady."

  "How about Johnny?" Marsha was coming out of the set with Johnny and heard the last sentence, deciding to quip in. "If he hadn't suggested you use Tanya instead of Carol..."

  "I'm saying I didn't discover her, I just made the most of her," Charlie said. Tanya snorted under Rita's amused stare.

  Johnny joined Charlie and Mr Freeman on the sofas while Marsha and Alex left.

  "Will you work for me, Miss Tanya?" Mr Freeman asked her.

  "I work only for Charlie!" she panicked.

  "Of course," Mr Freeman smiled. "I'm not a photographer. So, are you on?"

  Tanya looked at Charlie, lost and confused.

  "Tanya will accept when she knows what we want from her," he said. "You want a testimonial. Let's talk about it."

  "May I go home?" Rita asked shyly.

  "Need a lift?" Johnny got up.

  They left together and Tanya reluctantly joined the conversation between photographer and customer.

  ***

  Tanya was curled up in bed with a book, engrossed by the story. The phone rang and she groped around for it, her eyes still on the page. She picked up when she reached a full stop and she put her glasses on it – she didn't need them for reading, but they could be used as a temporary bookmark.

  "Hello."

  "Hi, it's Johnny. I wanted to remind you it's Saturday. Are you busy tonight?"

  "Oh, gosh, I..." Tanya had forgotten all about it.

  Johnny chuckled at the other end of the line. "Pick you up at eight?"

  "Oh... Okay."

  "See you tonight, then. Bye."

  Tanya hung up and hugged her book dreamy and scared at the same time. The glasses slid on her lap and she picked them up, thoughtful. Now what? What did Johnny want? The glamorous model or the pony-tailed secretary?

  She had to be herself, she decided. She hated make-up, but she had more feminine clothes than her usual jeans in her closet. She picked up a short skirt and hand-made earrings. Blue eyeliner, light pink lipstick, flat shoes, and she was ready. She combed her hair, leaving it loose, then the bell rang – both were extremely punctual.

  He was very casual and Tanya was surprised to see him wearing glasses.

  "My eyes hurt tonight," he smiled. "Let's go."

  He opened the passenger's door for her and she smiled, relieved. He didn't look as glamorous as usual, and they were really on the same level.

  Tanya had always considered him vain and superficial, but talking to him outside of the workplace was enlightening: not only he had a brain, he also had a heart. He was a man, not just another pretty face. She was pleasantly surprised by the discovery, and felt as if they were old friends, enjoying dinner and each other's company, and he wasn't the heartthrob top model anymore, but a very sweet guy.

  "Did you go out with Carol?" she asked as they walked side by side in the night.

  "Are you kidding?" he scoffed. "I'm not good enough for her."

  "And Charlie is?"

  "Well, he was useful for her career. Anyway, I saw her yesterday with her son's father, maybe he's back, and they'll get married after all."

  "Have you ever been in love?"

  "Not really, no. You?"

  He looked at her, amused, and she blushed.

  "Well, I had a couple of crushes in high school," she said.

  "Who didn't," he smiled.

  "Yeah, well, no boyfriend anyway."

  "Happens a lot in high school. How about now?"

  "Now..." Charlie's face flashed inside her. "I think I'm in love."

  "Have you told him yet?" he asked.

  "No, forget it," she shrugged. It made no sense telling Charlie she was crazy for him. He had other things on his mind. And even if he had "fallen in love" with her as a model, he would have never accepted her as she actually was. But Johnny... "I must get him out of my mind," she told him.

  "Excellent, I could take care of that," he said.

  She smiled and shook her head. What could he do anyway?

  She found out when silence wrapped them and he took off her glasses. He took his off as well and kissed her tenderly. Tanya hung to him, feeling her knees give way under the pleasant surprise. This was turning out to be the best night of her life.

  "I love you, Tanya," he whispered, holding her tight. She closed her eyes against him, listening to his heartbeat, wondering if it was really happening to her. But Charlie wouldn't see her, while Johnny was sweet and tender... Before turning to Charlie for some unknown reason, she had spent months fantasizing about the gorgeous top model.

  Those dreams came back while she looked up so he could kiss her again and again. She wondered if she was growing up at last while Johnny's desire made her heart beat faster. But he took her home without going beyond those passionate kisses.

  ***

  Tanya had often seen Charlie or Johnny in action. Therefore she was very surprised by Johnny's behavior with her. Maybe he was truly in love if he worried so much about not hurting her. Or maybe he wanted theirs to become a true relationship and not be a one-night stand.

  Tanya could get used to his tender stare following her everywhere, and she loved how he took off her glasses to kiss her. Johnny hadn't suggested contact lenses again, thus Tanya understood he accepted her as she was.

  Charlie observed them with wonder. Johnny never had had secrets with him, but about Tanya he went mum. He was in love, while Charlie hadn't experienced it yet, therefore he didn't feel like telling his friends about his dreams and his projects. For the first time in his life, at twenty-eight, Johnny was considering marriage.

  Tanya couldn't believe her ears when he proposed. She understood she didn't love him as much as he loved her when her answer came out without a thought. "Are you kidding, Johnny?" she laughed. Maybe some part of her kept thinking about Charlie. But in front of Johnny's disappointed face, she felt mean and bitchy. She had no rights to hurt him.

  "I'm sorry," she quickly added, trying to apologize. "I can't, I'm too young. Give me time, will you?"

  He nodded without smiling. She hugged him – she wanted to cheer him up, as after all she was very fond of him. Tanya decided to give him her body because she couldn't give him her heart.

  For a few hours she thought she had found paradise. Then she went back to work, saw Charlie again, and Johnny faded away from her mind.

  ***

  Mr Freeman decided to celebrate with a party his advertising campaign and invited photographer and testimonial to his mansion to meet his friends and acquaintances. Johnny wasn't invited, so Charlie picked up Tanya all dressed up and glass-less like a true top model.

  She immediately became the central attraction of the party and Charlie observed her in wonder as she chatted effortlessly to admiring men.


  "You seem to be having a lot of fun," he said when he managed to talk to her alone – after she graciously got rid of her new fans to grab a glass of water and rest from all the attention.

  "Do you think the Academy would give me an Oscar for today's performance?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

  "I certainly would. But can you see without glasses?"

  "I have contacts."

  "Really? Since when?"

  "Bought them with Johnny." She averted her eyes as her smile vanished. He remembered how she had looked more aggressive in her latest shots – she could see him, but hadn't told him.

  He followed her in the garden, still wondering. He couldn't understand her anymore. She was weird, challenging the world with her new perfect look, but maybe hating every minute of it. She was beautiful, though, Charlie couldn't deny it. But it was another Tanya, not the secretary he had hired. She was a new, mysterious woman.

  She turned to look at him with challenge in her suddenly cold eyes.

  "You like this top model, don't you?" she asked.

  "Uh, yes..." He was taken by surprise by the "new" Tanya.

  "I'm not like this," she snapped, turning her back on him and disappearing in the crowd of guests, leaving him too stunned to reply.

  He saw her smile by Mr Freeman's side, the elder man obviously smitten by her. He started comparing the two Tanya and pondered until the truth dawned on him: Tanya was in love with him.

  He considered the thought, still puzzled, wondering what it meant for him. Tanya's two faces were unsettling to say the least, and he didn't know if he preferred the glamorous model or the quiet secretary. It was like comparing two very different women, the Muse... and.. uh... new word in his vocabulary... could the other be Love? And did he have time for that? Or was he too committed to his art and his career? That would need hours, maybe days of pondering.

  ***

  Since the party Tanya's glasses were gone, to the puzzlement of Rita, Charlie and Johnny, and the joy of Mr Freeman. Tanya seemed determined to behave like certain brainless girls that Charlie was beginning to hate. She was always surrounded by friends and admirers, her biggest fan being Mr Freeman.

  Tanya accepted their love with a smile and a shrug, splitting her time between the middle-aged (married) man and Johnny. The younger man looked puzzled, upset and unhappy about her change, but didn't say anything. He missed the old Tanya, but didn't dare asking the new one what had happened to her.