Butterfly

by Sylvester Stephens

  “Hi, Chanel,” Sophia said. “This is Butterfly. Is she with your designer?”

  “No, I don’t know anything about a Butterfly.”

  We trotted over to another area and she asked the same question. “Hi, Patty, this is Butterfly. Is she with your designer?”

  “Not that I know of, no.”

  “Come on.” Sophia quickly trotted off.

  She took me to two other designers’ stations and both said I was not wearing their clothing. Sophia continued to simultaneously walk and talk extremely fast.

  “There is only one designer remaining and there is no way—” Sophia stopped abruptly in mid-sentence and stomped away until we stopped in front of a very feminine-looking man. “Rene, we seem to have a problem. I am trying to have this model fitted for her wardrobe, but we can’t seem to find her designers. Can you help me?”

  “What is her name?” Rene asked without even looking at us and slinging pieces of clothing from one place to the next.

  “Butterfly.”

  “Butterfly?” Rene stopped what he was doing and looked at me. “This is Butterfly?”

  “Yes.”

  “She is mine! Come with me!” Rene rushed off with Sophia and me following in his footsteps.

  Sophia whispered in my ear while we were speed walking behind Rene. “This is impossible!”

  “What’s impossible?”

  “That you are wearing Jean-Claude’s line.”

  “Is that a big deal?”

  “That is the biggest of deals! Everybody wants to model Jean-Claude’s line! Everybody!”

  “Then why did he pick me?”

  “Because you were on television! Everybody in this business watched that television show and you won.”

  “So it’s not about me being a real model then? It’s about that damn television show.”

  “Of course you’re a real model, sweetheart. But models are not born; they are made.”

  “And here we are.” Rene stopped in front of two large doors. “The dressing room.”

  We walked in and there were people working like they were on an assembly line. They were coordinating each designer’s line to a certain area. Sort of like a controlled chaotic situation. If it was that frenzied before rehearsal, I did not want to imagine what it was going to be like in real time.

  “Listen up! This is Sophia.” Rene pointed at Sophia. “She will be modeling some of Jean-Claude’s pieces today. And this is Butterfly! She will be modeling Jean-Claude’s masterpieces today!”

  Jean-Claude had five handpicked dressers for his line. Dressers are the people who assist the models in putting on the designer’s wardrobe before they hit the runway. All five dressers came toward me for fitting. Rene cut them off at the path and stood between them and me. He held both of his hands in front of them. “Wait a minute, you piranhas! You will not devour her. Back up! I said, back up!”

  The group backed up a few feet and waited for instructions. Sophia put her hands on her hips in frustration.

  “I do not believe what I am seeing here.” Sophia pouted.

  “Listen up! All of you! I refuse to let you people send me to a mental institution today! Jean-Claude wants two of you to work with Ms. Butterfly and he wants her to be immaculate! And what Jean-Claude wants, Jean-Claude gets!” Rene put his finger on his lips and then contemplated which of the five he would select. “Okay, you and you! Get to work!”

  One man and one woman took my hands and led me to a full-body mirror. They took my measurements and then handed me piece after piece of clothing. They somehow made each piece fit my body perfectly.

  I was rushed onstage for the rehearsal. It lasted over three hours. I thought we were going to have time to leave and come back before the show, but that was a no-go. I was fitted for the designers in segments one and five, Ria Ramone of Italy, and of course, Jean-Claude Francois of France. Some models were in each segment. They would be dashing in and out all night long.

  Rene met with me after rehearsal and prepped me for the show. He had to leave briefly to make sure everything was going accordingly and I relaxed. When he returned, it was on and poppin’!

  “Is there going to be anyone else modeling Jean-Claude’s new line?”

  “You are a star, my dear, but you are not the only star. We have three of the top models in the world introducing his fantastic pieces.”

  “Oh.” I was embarrassed. “I didn’t mean it like I wanted to be the only model. I was saying it because I didn’t want to be the only model.”

  “That’s neither here nor there.”

  “We still have an hour or so before the show. Is there anything I need to do?”

  “Yes. Sit down.”

  “Okay.” I sat down and Rene sat next to me.

  “I don’t exactly know how you got to where you are so quickly or why Jean-Claude wants you so badly. And frankly, my dear, I don’t care. Those quaint fashion shows you’ve done are not comparable to what you are about to experience tonight. I know Ms. Erin has taught and prepared you very well. But if you’re going to be in my show, we have to give you a crash course in Fashion 101.”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you aware of the term, ‘fresh face’?”

  “Yes, it means no makeup.”

  “Did you bring nude and black thongs?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are we shaven in all of the proper areas down there?” Rene pointed between my legs.

  “Yes.”

  “Raise your arms.” I raised them above my head and Rene looked closer. “No residue under there? Good!”

  Rene sniffed my neck and then my entire body to smell if I was wearing perfume or body lotion. He gestured for me to get up and follow him. Sophia, who was getting a last-minute adjustment, playfully stuck her tongue out at me on our way out. I smiled and stuck my tongue out at Rene behind his back. Sophia laughed, and was accidentally poked by one of the dressers.

  “Shit! That hurts!” Sophia snapped.

  I followed Rene to another huge room they called the hair and makeup room. They had four chairs and six mirrors for the hairdressers on one side and four mirrors and four chairs for the makeup crew on the other side of the room. Bridgette was sitting in one of the chairs when I walked in. She waved at me and I waved back. They sat me in a chair next to hers and started putting on my makeup. We were sitting at an angle where our backs were turned to one another, but we could see each other in the mirror.

  I had never participated in such a large fashion show where the world was watching. I was accustomed to relatively small shows and everybody being in one spot, certainly nothing as extravagant as that. It was nothing for Bridgette, though. She had modeled all around the world and nothing seemed to surprise her—nothing but Jean-Claude selecting me to showcase his new line.

  “Which segments are you in?”

  “The first and the last.”

  “The last? That’s Jean-Claude’s line?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Erin.”

  “You are her pet.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “I have been in this business for seven years and I have never seen an amateur move so high up as quickly as you.”

  “What can I say? I have a good agent that really knows what she’s doing.”

  “I have the same damn agent!” Bridgette chuckled.

  “I know.” I laughed.

  “Take advantage of these people who are taking advantage of you. You are a hot commodity because you won that title on that television show. But from what I hear, you have what it takes to stay on top for a long time.”

  “You think so?”

  “Absolutely. The other four winners of that show gave up on their careers to become movie stars. And where are they now? They’re on other American reality shows trying to get famous by being famous. But you, you are putting in the work to become a real supermodel.”

  “Thank you. That was so sweet, Bridgette.
”

  Suddenly, Rene burst through the door and came directly to my chair. He seemed like he was about to go into cardiac arrest.

  “Jean-Claude is on his way in here to speak with you, Butterfly.”

  “About what?”

  “About his masterpiece.”

  “Oh-kaaaay.”

  “I want you to tell him you love his line, especially his masterpiece.”

  “Okay.”

  “I must go, but, remember,” Rene whispered as he walked backward out of the room, “You love it! You love it! You love it!”

  When Rene disappeared through the doors, Bridgette gave me more advice.

  “Butterfly?”

  “Yes?”

  “Never let anyone put you in a piece that does not feel comfortable on you. Take it from me; you and the designer will regret it.”

  Jean-Claude walked through the door with a small entourage. He was flamboyant and stylish. He wore big shades, heels, and a long feathered scarf that touched the ground on both sides. He also had on flared pants with a flared-sleeved shirt. His hair was cut like a woman, shaven on the sides and the back, and curly on top. He had on eyeliner with long eyelashes.

  “Bridgette?” Jean-Claude bent his wrist like a girl and shook Bridgette’s fingers. “How are you, my heart?”

  “I could not be better. I missed you in Paris.”

  “And I, you.”

  “This is Butterfly.” Bridgette pointed to me.

  “Aw!” Jean-Claude covered his mouth and then kissed me. “You are more gorgeous than I imagined, my chocolate Butterfly.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Francois.”

  “Mr. Francois?” Jean-Claude chuckled as he looked from side to side. “Is my father in the room? Call me Jean, or Jean-Claude.”

  “Okay...Jean.”

  “Are you completely comfortable with my ensemble? Your attitude will emanate the essence of my piece. If your attitude is uncomfortable, it will reflect through your walk, your smile, your twists, and your turns, everything you do. If you feel like my line is a part of your soul, that, too, will be reflected to the audience.”

  “I feel comfortable.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  “Good!” Jean-Claude walked off with his entourage standing to the side until he passed them, and then they followed him out of the door.

  “Wow!” I chuckled.

  “He likes you. That means a lot. He doesn’t like anybody.”

  “It seems like he likes you.”

  “That means nothing. He would just as much as called me a bitch, as sweetheart. He’s moody, but he likes you, so stay on his good side.”

  “I’ll try.”

  After my makeup, they fixed my hair. Things picked up in a hurry after that. In the first segment with Ria’s line, I had two pieces to wear. On my first run, I was dressed by two women. That was fine, but then there was a man doing something right beside us. I was timid to undress in front of the man. I was trying to find an area to shield myself from him while the girls helped me into my piece.

  “What are you doing?” Sophia asked.

  “That guy is standing right there and I have to slip into my swimwear.”

  “And?”

  “And?” I was surprised Sophia was so casual about undressing in front of a man. “And I don’t want him to see me.”

  “You better take off your clothes and slip your skinny black ass into that swimsuit if you ever want to work again.”

  “But what if he sees my goodies?”

  “Who cares? Here!” Sophia handed me a bottle of lotion and asked me to put it on one of her legs while she put lotion on the other.

  I helped her with her lotion and she showed me how to put bronzer between my breasts to enhance the look of my cleavage. She also put the bronzer on the bony part of my shoulders to enhance their look as well. And then I was off to the races!

  I stepped onto the runway and I immediately took control of the audience. I strutted down the aisle with the grace of a gazelle. It was such a rush when I felt all of the eyes in the room were on me.

  After my first walk, I went backstage and then quickly changed into another swimsuit. I was so high on the moment, I did not care who was looking at me. I did not give a damn if I had on clothes, butt naked, or whatever. I just wanted to get back on that runway as quickly as possible. My adrenaline was pumping!

  At the end of the show, everyone was waiting for us to reveal Jean-Claude’s new line. I could hear the oohs and the aahs from the audience as the girls pranced their way onto the stage. I thought to myself, if they reacted that way to them, I was going to bring the damn house down. I was the final model, and I rocked the hell out that piece!

  Sophia and Bridgette were waiting for me when I walked backstage. They hugged me once I was out of sight of the audience. I was out of my mind with excitement. Jean-Claude came backstage with Ms. Erin and he was in seventh heaven. Ms. Erin stood aside and absorbed the moment. She had made me a star, even if it was only for one night.

  Jean-Claude and Ms. Erin pulled me into a private room, and I was invited to model his line in Europe for the entire month of September. It would begin in Paris, and then I would go to Portugal, Milan, Berlin, Amsterdam, Oslo, London, and it would end in the desert of the beautiful Dubai. I was so excited I allowed myself to get too caught up in the moment. I signed the contract on the spot without considering my scholarship to Spelman.

  Ms. Erin had two limos waiting for us after the show. I thought it was strange that she, Toya and the other Philpot girls piled into the first limo, but Ms. Erin instructed me to get into the second one. Again, I was hyped from the show and was not thinking straight. I stepped into that long, stretch limo and I could not believe my eyes. Jeremy was sitting all alone with a dozen roses in his hands.

  “You were absolutely beautiful.”

  “Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to show you how much I love you, Butterfly.”

  “This is amazing! How did you get here?”

  “I flew, and your friend Toya did the rest.”

  “What?”

  As I was asking Jeremy a question Toya texted me: Have fun, you deserve it. Your PA, Toya Laury!

  “Your friend Toya called your mom, and your mom called my mom, and my mom asked me if I wanted to forget about basketball for a weekend and enjoy being a teenager.”

  “She let you fly out here all by yourself?”

  “I did not say all that! She and your mom, oh, and Bri, too. They’re all here in San Francisco. They came to see you at your fashion show.”

  “They were there?”

  “Screaming like they were at a sorority party.”

  “Oh, wow! This is an unbelievable night.”

  “I know. I can’t believe I’m here with you. I love you, Butterfly.”

  “I love you, too, Jeremy.”

  “I want to ask you...”

  As Jeremy was speaking, my mom called my cell phone. “Hi, Mom.”

  I immediately told my mom that I had committed to a European tour. She told me the decision was mine to make, but she advised me to take advantage of the opportunity to see the world. She told me the opportunity to go to college would be there when I returned. I asked her about trading in a dream for reality. In that case my dream was modeling, but my reality was a college education. She told me I should never trade in a college education for a dream. But she reminded me that modeling was no a longer dream; it was a reality and I had the contract to prove it. I told her I loved her, I would see her in October, and then I hung up my phone.

  “I need to call one more person, and you will have my undivided attention.”

  “Okay.” Jeremy sighed and sat back in the seat.

  I called my dad and told him I was going to Europe, and I would not see him again until I returned. He wanted to see me, but he was excited that his little girl was fulfilling her dream. I told him I loved him, I would see
him in October, and then I hung up my phone.

  “Okay, I’m all yours. What’s up?”

  “Ever since...”

  My cell phone rang again. It was Ma Powell.

  “Sorry, Jeremy, this is my grandma. It will only take a minute.”

  I chatted with Ma for a few minutes and told her about my European tour. She was so excited she asked me if I needed her to buy me some underwear for the trip. I told her I was okay in the underwear department and she told me she loved me. I was going to spend plenty of time with Ma before I left for Europe, so our conversation was not as bittersweet as when I had spoken to Ms. Alicia and Dad.

  “You just heard everything I said to my parents, right?”

  “Yup.”

  “What do you think about me not going to college this fall?”

  “I think school will always be there, but this opportunity won’t. I saw you on that stage tonight. I won’t lie. Maybe it’s because I love you, but you seemed like the star of the show. All of the women were beautiful, but all of them didn’t electrify the stage like you did. I was looking at people, looking at you. They were just as amazed as I was.”

  “Wow!”

  “Butterfly, I love you.” Jeremy held my face in his hand. “Go to Europe, baby.”

  “Hold on, if you love me so much, why do you want me to leave the country?”

  “Because it’s time for you to really do what you have to do.”

  “But I could be at Spelman and you could be at Georgia Tech.”

  “Yeah, but if it was about me wanting what’s best for me, I would be playing ball at a D-1 powerhouse, like Duke, U-Conn, or Michigan State. My dad didn’t make me stay in Atlanta to go to school. I stayed because I wanted to be near you.”

  “Jeremy, stop talking to me like that. I’m going to start to believe you, boy.” I turned my head and looked away.

  Jeremy turned my face back toward him and kissed me on the lips. “It’s true! I wanted the chance to get you back, and once I found out you were going to Spelman, and not Yale, that was my chance.”

  “Do you realize what you’re saying? We’re too young to be talking like this.”