Better Than Picture Perfect

by Stephanie Perry Moore

  “What’s wrong?” I asked him.

  “I just don’t want you to be disappointed in me if this doesn’t work out.”

  With a smile, I said, “As long as you’re trying, I can’t be disappointed. I guess, in my mind, I see this working out way better than you can even dream of. Everyone is going to love your work. Trust me.”

  “Yeah, on the remote chance that he’ll give me an opportunity, but whatever. I’ll turn it in. I don’t even have to worry about it. It’s not like he’s going to choose me.”

  “Oh, so you’re saying if he does you’re nervous?”

  “We better hurry and get to class. We’re late.”

  Hugo took me in a door I didn’t even know existed. The halls were bare, but we hurried and got to our class. All was good. We skipped school, and no one was any the wiser until I actually got home where both of my parents were sitting there waiting on me. I knew that wasn’t a good sign.

  “Everybody get to work. Get busy with homework or something. Ansli, we need to see you right now in my office,” my dad said, and he wasn’t smiling.

  I really didn’t know how I was going to play this because I wasn’t used to skipping school. Did he know what I’d done? Or, would I be playing myself if I just came out and admitted it and he didn’t know? When I walked into my dad’s office and saw this gentlemen whom I didn’t know, who looked like somebody’s secret service agent, I started freaking out.

  “This is John Haynes. We hired him to keep an eye on you girls, and the report that I’m getting back for you is not a flattering one. Before he reads off the report is there something you’d like to tell us?” my dad asked, with my mom standing beside him.

  John was about six feet, seven inches, and he wasn’t a stick. He was thick and built like a brick. I didn’t want to mess with him. I didn’t want to prolong this, so I told the truth.

  “I left school today.”

  “By yourself?” my mom asked.

  “No, with Hugo.”

  “You left school with a boy?” my dad said.

  “Yeah, but we didn’t go and do what you think we went and did.”

  My mom looked at me like “Are you serious?” Her head was shaking, and my dad was tapping his foot. They weren’t happy with me.

  “No, seriously. If he was following us, then he should be able to tell you that I went to an abandoned warehouse.”

  “Oh, that’s making me feel comfortable,” my mom said.

  “An abandoned warehouse, Ansli? What is wrong with you?” my dad uttered.

  “Because, Dad, I think I know who took our stuff, and I think I know where they’re holding it.”

  “And what? You were just going to try and retrieve it on your own? Why are you acting like this? Doing crazy stuff? Also, the girl that you had over here last weekend wasn’t the only person you had in our house without our permission. This boy Hugo you’re talking about, he came over then too. The choices you’ve made lately just don’t make any sense. I know you’ve been angry about your parents, but you can’t keep using that as an excuse. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

  Sick and tired that they could not see I was trying to make things right, I said, “Okay, good. So what? If I’m not acting how a Sharp girl should act, maybe I need to leave here. Maybe you should call my grandparents. Maybe I need to go to England and live with them because no way am I acting like a girl who has your DNA. We are absolutely not at all alike.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  AWESOME

  “If that’s the way you feel about it, Ansli, we’ll try to get in touch with them,” my dad said, looking as if I had snatched his heart from his chest and stomped on it.

  I couldn’t even look at my mom. I was trying to make things better. I cared about my folks, but here I was treating them as if their actions had caused me to put myself in harm’s way. That wasn’t fair, yet I didn’t have the words to fix it, so I just left out.

  “I ain’t hear nothing break in there.” Shelby quickly came up to me and joked as she escorted me to my room. “That’s a good thing, right?”

  My eyes rolled her way. I didn’t feel like talking. She stayed beside me.

  “How do I look?” Shelby asked.

  “I dunno. You look cute. What?”

  Shelby said, “Don’t be irritable with me. You said you would help me. I got to take these pictures. I got to do it tonight because I got to send them to Spencer. He’s gonna try to create this whole marketing campaign for me.”

  “You want me to take some pictures now? After I just got in trouble?”

  “You didn’t get in real trouble. They just went off a little bit, and you know they’re only doing that because they care about you and love you so much.”

  “Shelby, quit being selfish. I’m not taking any pictures tonight.”

  Hotter than a whole bottle of chili peppers on nachos, Shelby said, “Whatever. You promised! You don’t be selfish. If I could take the pictures of myself or get anybody else in this house to do them, I would.”

  “Calm down. I’m not trying to get into any more trouble.”

  “Then come snap a couple quick pictures. I’ll set up a little background downstairs. Snap me quickly and we’re done. Please … ”

  “I said I’m not taking any daaa … ”

  “You know what. Fine,” Shelby said before I could even curse her out. “I don’t know why I was even thinking about depending on you. Any and every time you need me to have your back, I always do it. I guess I just imagined you would give me the same courtesy. Regardless of what you were going through, you would understand this is business for me. I’m trying to give you an opportunity to shine. You’re basically telling me to kiss your butt.”

  “I didn’t ask to be a photographer,” I declared.

  “But you said you would try it. I see something in you.”

  It was the weirdest thing because, as she was talking to me, I realized this is probably how annoying I sounded to Hugo. He didn’t see himself as a true artist—someone who could paint murals, make a difference in our school, and get some money for his work. I was pushing it down his throat because I could clearly see him shining in that arena. Here was my sister, basically doing the same thing. Granted, she’d benefit if my pictures turned out to be worth anything. She thought they were going to be fabulous. Why was I giving her a hard time?

  “Go on downstairs, don’t work yourself up. I’ll take the pictures,” I uttered.

  “You will? For real?” she said with glee, as she jumped up and down like she’d won the lottery. “Thanks, Ansli. I really need this. Your pictures are going to be beautiful too!” Off my sister went.

  Slone was coming towards me, headed towards the kitchen to get something to eat. With attitude, she said, “Don’t let Shelby break your camera.”

  “Why are you always so freaking negative?” I said to her, really fed up with her smart mouth.

  “Why do you keep everything all bottled up inside?”

  “Well, I ain’t bottling it up now. You talk too much.”

  “You get mad at our parents because they don’t tell you things, but when people tell you what they think, you get mad that they told you. I mean, you can’t have it both ways, Ansli. The world ain’t picture perfect.”

  She had a great point. I was mad at so many when I really needed to look within myself. My dad loved saying “you never know what you look like until you get your picture taken.” My sister Sloan hadn’t gotten a camera and taken a snapshot, but she’d certainly called me out. Now I clearly could see that I had issues that needed to be fixed.

  “I love you, Ansli, and I say what I say because I care. Skipping school, bringing people over here when Mom and Dad aren’t here, that’s not you. It takes a special person to be respectful and do what they’re told, and I’ve always admired you for that. You’ve done that with such grace. Now you’ve changed in a bad way. I am who I am, and I make no apologies for it, but you aren’t who you were, and I think you’re
making a mistake.” Sloan patted me on the shoulder and went on to the kitchen.

  Without even thinking I turned right around and went back into my dad’s study. “I owe you guys an apology. I’m sorry.”

  My mom was looking out the window. She couldn’t even look my way. I knew for them that my actions, not my words were going to move them. Though they did deserve an apology, and I was glad I gave it, I knew I was going to have to show them that I was real. That I was serious and that I was sorry.

  Before I could leave my dad said, “And we know where this warehouse is located. We’ve got people on it. Don’t go back there again. Am I making myself clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I went to my room and grabbed some of my equipment. When I went downstairs, I was amazed. Shelby was serious about this photo shoot. On one wall she put up some hot pink fabric. On another wall there was a black background, and another was white. She was ready to go. She was posing like she was a model. I took a few pictures that way, but she said this was a business and that the pictures needed to be professional. So while she could have some that were fun, she also needed some that were firm.

  “Yeah, this one is good. Smile, stand over to the left. Give me a little more attitude.” Before I knew it, I was all into it.

  “What are you girls doing down here?” my mom said about an hour later.

  “I just had a photo shoot thanks to Ansli,” Shelby announced.

  My mom asked, “Can I see the pictures?”

  “You’re gonna love them,” Shelby said before even seeing them herself.

  Thankful for my sister’s belief in me, I hooked the camera into my computer and pulled up a ton of images. Shelby was so excited. She loved every image. When my mom smiled at me, I realized I done good, and that felt great.

  September was flying by. I had gone a couple weeks with no incident. I was studying. I was obeying all my parents’ rules. I wasn’t all into Hugo. I was researching what a photographer needs to have for a successful business.

  Shelby’s marketing campaign came out so well. Everyone she showed the pictures to wanted to have some done by the same person, and that person was me. While I wanted to know more about my biological dad’s state of mind the last day he and my mom were on Earth, I wished my maternal grandparents were in my life. I didn’t want to feel upset that my parents kept me in the dark for so long. I realized if I took that energy and channeled it into this whole photography business, then I’d be really doing something.

  Once I was going to class, and I got stopped by Freddie and Val, two of the homeless kids I met with a couple weeks back.

  “Hey, y’all. How’s it going?”

  “Oh, so you just gonna hey us like it’s no big deal? Like you didn’t make us a lot of promises that you haven’t been keeping?”

  “I’m sorry. I know I told you guys I was going to get with you. I had every intention to do so. It’s just been so crazy. A lot’s going on with my family…”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know,” Val said.

  “We see y’all on TV sometimes.”

  I guessed I looked a little funny like, “Y’all have a TV?” but I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t mean to make any assumptions. I told them I was going to go where they lived, but I hadn’t been there. They could live in a palace for all I knew. I did need to go to the foster home.

  “I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you guys?” I asked.

  “We don’t want your help,” Freddie said.

  Val added, “Yeah you were probably doing it just for show to impress the principal or something.”

  Squinting, I said, “I wasn’t trying to impress the principal.”

  “We seen you cut class. You ain’t as goody-two-shoes as you try to make it out to be,” Freddie said.

  “No, I’ve got a lot going on. That’s what I’m trying to tell you guys. But I do care, and I do want to help.”

  “Whatever,” Val said, as they turned around to walk away.

  “No, seriously. What can I do?”

  “The man the state put in charge to run the group home shouldn’t be there,” Val came back and said. “If you just meet him, maybe you can figure out what to do to help us.”

  “Okay, I’m on it,” I said, meaning every word.

  Val finally smiled, “Great so when can you come? Today? Tomorrow?”

  Needing to settle her expectations, I said, “No, I was thinking in a couple weeks. I’m on punishment. I don’t even have a car.”

  “Oh, see. Freddie’s right. You’re full of it,” Val angrily hissed like a mad snake before she walked away.

  “Girl, you better hurry up and get to class,” my sister Shelby said, passing me with Spencer.

  Seeing them changed my frown to a smile. She was all in love, and that was so adorable. I liked the way they looked at each other.

  “You took some real nice pictures,” Spencer said.

  “I hear you’ve done a real nice brochure on her,” I replied.

  “I’ll show it to you later. I’m so excited, I won’t have anything to do after school today. You wanna ride home with me?” Shelby asked.

  “Spencer, can I talk to my sister for a minute?” I said to him, thinking of a way to rectify a situation.

  “Yeah sure,” he said to me.

  Spencer leaned over and gave Shelby a kiss on the cheek. She looked like she did not want him to leave. That did make me long for Hugo. They were a cute couple.

  “What’s up?” Shelby asked.

  “I need you to take me somewhere.”

  “I’m not going to no warehouse thing or whatever Dad told you you’re not supposed to go to.”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. Public service. Maybe a place where you can do another fashion show and get some publicity for it. Or maybe a place we can take Dad back to help with his campaign.”

  “Where is this place?”

  “I’ll tell you after school.”

  “Then I’m not saying yes ‘til I know. You are not tricking me, Ansli. You done gone all renegade on me. I’m always down for a cause, but after getting mixed up in the whole domestic violence thing—being at Sydnee’s and being scared of being shot when her crazy fiancé came with a gun —I’m taking a few steps back.”

  “You wouldn’t even have the brochure if it wasn’t for me. You gonna do me like that? You think I would put us in harm’s way? Really?”

  Shelby looked at me. “That’s true. Alright, after school, but we can’t stay long wherever this is though.”

  After school when I walked to the car with Freddie and Val, my sister was narrowing her eyes. But I introduced them to each other and just said that they needed a ride home.

  When we pulled up on the group home’s property, everything looked kosher, on the up and up, and really nice. Then we met Mr. Ron Wheeler. He was a redhead with a receding hair line.

  At first, he was snappy. “I don’t have no papers on y’all! You can’t be staying here. We full to capacity.” But when Val explained who we were, who our father was, his tone changed.

  “Oh, well I need more money. Maybe your dad can help the city come off on some more. These children don’t have enough.”

  “What do you mean they don’t have enough?” my sister asked, doing what I knew she’d do—care.

  Mr. Wheeler laughed, “Just teasing. Y’all stay as long as you want now you hear.”

  When the cost was clear, Val tugged on my sister’s arm and said, “He’s serious. We don’t get enough. We barely get enough helpings. He doesn’t buy a lot of groceries, and when there is food, he stocks it in his room. He thinks we don’t know, but we know.”

  My sister came up with a plan that they’d show me. So she went into the next room and kept Mr. Wheeler company. I went around with Val and Freddie taking pictures of all the things that were out of place. It seemed as if Mr. Wheeler was really shady, taking money that was supposed to go to the group home and spending it on himself. He drove a nice car when the bathrooms
were clogged. He had a bunch of nice clothes when the air conditioner was broken. He had the finest furniture in his bedroom, but the bunk beds that the kids were sleeping on barely seemed to be staying together. Yeah, this man was shady, and my camera held all of the evidence.

  When Shelby and I got home, we immediately went to find my dad. Thankfully he was nestled in his office, strategizing with his campaign manager. But like a great dad, when he saw us coming, he asked his strategist for a second of privacy to talk to his girls.

  “Go on, Ansli, you tell him.”

  “No, no, no you tell him,” I said, knowing Shelby had the passion and could always articulate best what we needed to get our parents to respond.

  “There is this group home where a bunch of kids from our school live, and the guy who is running it is a crook.”

  “Please explain.”

  And so we did and showed him the pictures too. At the end of it, my dad was livid.

  “See girls, these are the things in the city that I want to know about that are wrong. I can’t change stuff if people hide things from us. We put people in place to do right by the citizens. I’ll be looking into this some more.”

  “Looking into this some more?” I said a little heated.

  “Not because I don’t believe you girls or don’t think you have enough evidence, but just let me do some digging. Tell your friends to hold tight.”

  “Okay.”

  I just shook my head, got up, and walked out. I knew my dad wasn’t the mayor yet, but at first I didn’t want him to be because I thought it would be too much attention and spotlight on the family. But the more I was growing and the more I was getting involved in my own community, I realized that we needed a good leader like him who truly cared. There was too much corruption around us. The only way the corruption could be stopped is if someone with the right heart was at the helm. But how was I going to go and call Freddie and Val to tell them to hold on and that my dad was on it? I had no details and could not tell them what kind of change would be brought and when? They needed something different to happen immediately, but I had no time frame. That was frustrating.

  Later, my sisters Slade, Sloan, and Yuri came into my room. Sloan said, “So you want to be a photographer, huh?”