The Time-Traveling Fashionista and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile

by Bianca Turetsky

  “FOR HER BEAUTY, AS WE ARE TOLD, WAS IN ITSELF NOT ALTOGETHER INCOMPARABLE, NOR SUCH AS TO STRIKE THOSE WHO SAW HER; BUT TO CONVERSE WITH HER HAD AN IRRESISTIBLE CHARM, AND HER PRESENCE, COMBINED WITH THE PERSUASIVENESS OF HER DISCOURSE AND THE CHARACTER WHICH WAS SOMEHOW DIFFUSED ABOUT HER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS OTHERS, HAD SOMETHING STIMULATING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS SWEETNESS ALSO IN THE TONES OF HER VOICE; AND HER TONGUE, LIKE AN INSTRUMENT OF MANY STRINGS, SHE COULD READILY TURN TO WHATEVER LANGUAGE SHE PLEASED…”—PLUTARCH, LIFE OF ANTONY

  UNFORTUNATELY FOR CLEOPATRA, HER HISTORY WAS WRITTEN BY MEN WITH THEIR OWN AGENDAS, MANY WHO WERE HER ENEMIES. FOR THIS REASON, SHE HAS BEEN PORTRAYED AS A SEDUCTRESS, EVIL, AND OVERLY DRAMATIC.

  Louise now knew firsthand that these unflattering descriptions had nothing to do with the intelligent leader’s actual character.

  After her first never-ending day in the ancient classroom, Louise was hardly surprised to read that Cleopatra was extremely educated and spoke at least nine languages fluently. Amazing, Louise thought. She often felt as if she could barely master English.

  AS WAS THE CUSTOM, CLEOPATRA PRESENTED HERSELF AS THE HUMAN EMBODIMENT OF THE FERTILITY GODDESS ISIS AND WAS WORSHIPPED BY THE PEOPLE. THIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEITY GAVE HER EVEN MORE POLITICAL CLOUT, AND WHENEVER THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY SHE WOULD DRESS AS THE GODDESS IN PUBLIC. SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST MEMBER OF HER GREEK FAMILY TO SPEAK EGYPTIAN SO THAT SHE COULD ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND SHE WAS RULING.

  It was reassuring for Louise that the most powerful woman of the ancient world, and maybe ever, didn’t get to that position through her looks as history and Hollywood made it seem. She was a skilled politician, a great public speaker, and an extremely motivated student who tried to learn as much as she could get her hands on. And not being traditionally beautiful with a particularly large nose, crooked teeth, and frizzy hair didn’t get in her way. Being smart was pretty cool after all.

  Louise kept reading.

  BECAUSE OF THE SCORCHING DESERT HEAT AND RAMPANT LICE PROBLEM, WIGS WERE VERY POPULAR, AND HAIR REMOVAL WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE EGYPTIANS.

  She instinctively reached up to her own hair, half surprised not to knock off Charmian’s wig. Nope, for better or worse, her curly tangles were back. As she read on, she found that most people of the time shaved their heads and protected themselves from the sun with a wide array of decorative wigs and thick kohl eye makeup, as she’d guessed.

  ALTHOUGH MANY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY WORE CROWNS, THE TRIPLE URANUS, A CROWN WITH THREE SNAKES INTERTWINED, WAS UNIQUE TO CLEOPATRA, AND FROM THAT PIECE OF HEADWEAR ARCHAEOLOGISTS COULD DETERMINE WHAT SCULPTURES ARE MOST LIKELY REPRESENTATIONS OF THE POWERFUL QUEEN.

  The Triple Uranus must have been the headpiece that Cleopatra wore to the dinner with the Roman general!

  AFTER HER FATHER’S DEATH, CLEOPATRA WAS MARRIED TO HER TEN-YEAR-OLD YOUNGER BROTHER, PTOLEMY, WHO WAS TO BE HER CO-RULER. ALTHOUGH THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO A MODERN AUDIENCE, CLEOPATRA’S PARENTS WERE ALSO SIBLINGS, AND THIS MARRIAGE WITH CLOSE RELATIONS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY, SO THAT THE FAMILY COULD KEEP ITS POWER CONTAINED. HOWEVER, THIS SYSTEM CAUSED ITS OWN SETS OF PROBLEMS, AS FAMILY MEMBERS WERE CONSTANTLY MURDERING AND PLOTTING TO GET RID OF THEIR OWN BLOOD RELATIVES. IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SIBLINGS TO KILL EACH OTHER, AND CLEOPATRA WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN HER KNOTTY FAMILY TREE WHO WAS NOT KILLED BY A CLOSE FAMILIAL RELATION. SHE DIED BY HER OWN CHOICE IN WHAT HAS BECOME A FAMOUS LEGEND IMMORTALIZED BY EVERYONE FROM SHAKESPEARE TO HOLLYWOOD DIRECTORS. CLEOPATRA COMMITTED SUICIDE BY ASP BITE AFTER DISCOVERING THE DEATH OF HER TRUE LOVE, MARC ANTONY, AND THE FALL OF ALEXANDRIA TO THE ROMANS. THE YOUNG QUEEN WAS NEARLY THIRTY-NINE YEARS OLD WHEN SHE DIED IN 30 BC.

  Louise realized that what she saw with the prisoner must have been Cleopatra researching her plans for her own death one day! So that was what the queen had meant when she’d said she wanted to control her own fate.

  Louise next decided to google “Cleopatra Movie” to see if she could find out more behind-the-scenes gossip.

  CLEOPATRA WAS PRODUCED FOR WHAT TODAY WOULD BE $323 MILLION AND STILL REMAINS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MOVIE EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF CINEMA. THE STRESS OF THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND NUMEROUS HOLDUPS IN PRODUCTION NEARLY KILLED DIRECTOR JOSEPH MANKIEWICZ. HE HAD A RARE SKIN CONDITION THAT CAUSED HIS FINGERS TO SPLIT OPEN DURING TIMES OF STRESS, AND THEREFORE WAS REQUIRED BY HIS PHYSICIAN TO WEAR WHITE GLOVES WHILE SHOOTING. AT THE PREMIERE OF THE MOVIE, WHEN ASKED BY A REPORTER HOW HE FELT ABOUT THE FIRST SCREENING OF THE FILM, MR. MANKIEWICZ RESPONDED GLUMLY, “I FEEL LIKE THE GUILLOTINE IS ABOUT TO DROP.”

  THE FILM IS ALSO NOTABLY KNOWN TO BE THE PLACE WHERE STARS ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON MET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BEGAN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND TUMULTUOUS AFFAIRS IN HOLLYWOOD HISTORY, RESULTING IN THEIR MARRYING EACH OTHER TWICE AND DRAMATICALLY BREAKING UP COUNTLESS TIMES.

  Louise then clicked on a link for “Irene Sharaff,” excited to learn more about her former boss. She was still a little annoyed at herself that she had only experienced a tiny bit of the best summer internship ever. She had totally blown it by taking that necklace. Oh, well. She learned her lesson.

  IRENE SHARAFF WAS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED COSTUME DESIGNERS EVER TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES OF HOLLYWOOD AND BROADWAY. SHE WAS A FIVE-TIME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER AND WORKED WITH ALL OF THE MOST FAMOUS ACTORS, ACTRESSES, AND BALLERINAS OF HER TIME, INCLUDING ELIZABETH TAYLOR, RITA HAYWORTH, BARBRA STREISAND, AND JUDY GARLAND. THE COSTUME BUDGET FOR MS. TAYLOR ON THE FILM CLEOPATRA WAS THE LARGEST FOR ANY ACTRESS AT THAT TIME, AND THE DOZENS OF DRESSES MISS SHARAFF DESIGNED FOR HER INCLUDED ONE MADE WITH REAL GOLD.

  Louise was excited to read that Irene started out as a fashion illustrator for Vogue magazine before switching careers and moving to Paris to study and become a costume designer. Maybe all of Louise’s dress-designing doodles were a step in the right direction. Who knew where they would take her!

  In the midst of her intensive research, Louise was startled by the ping of a new e-mail landing in her inbox. She clicked over to her Gmail and was excited to see that it was a message from Stella!

  Hey, Louise,

  Sorry for not responding sooner, but I’ve been sort of held up by a little Civil War. LONG story, but watch out for those cute vintage military jackets—you never know where they’ll lead you. Would love to catch up! Seems like we’re cut from the same cloth. See you at the next sale, dahling! xoxo, Stella

  Louise grinned; it was the right Stella after all! She couldn’t wait to tell her fellow Fashionista about hanging out with Cleopatra and Elizabeth Taylor.

  Hey, Stella,

  YES, can’t wait to see you and go vintage shopping! I’ve recently developed a new appreciation for pearls. I never realized their history was so… ancient. And did you know that Elizabeth Taylor really did have purple eyes? Will tell you the rest at the sale!

  BTW, be careful of those fabulous Grecian dresses—they may not actually be Greek!

  Your fellow Fashionista, Louise Lambert

  Louise responded immediately, and then instantly regretted not waiting a day so that she wouldn’t seem too desperate for friends. Ugh, oh, well. Playing it cool had never been her strength.

  “Honey, we’re home!” her parents called up to her as the heavy front door locked behind them. “Can you come downstairs for a moment? We have something to discuss with you in the living room!”

  “Sure, be right there!” Louise yelled through her closed bedroom door. Discussions in the formal living room were never a good sign, but these time-traveling adventures always made her a little homesick and she was excited to hear her parents’ familiar voices. Even if she was going to be in trouble for going to the Fashionista Sale. Or maybe they had somehow found out about the pearl necklace! Louise shut her laptop and ran downstairs, eager to see her now seemingly normal family. At least they weren’t out to murder one another for political gain. She was starting to appreciate the small things…

  “I have some go
od news, and I have some bad news,” her father announced, leaning back into the uncomfortable white sofa that they never used except for occasional entertaining and family meetings. Louise held her breath trying to think of all the bad things that could possibly have happened.

  “The good news is, I have an offer with Swanson & Gordon Attorneys here in Fairview. The bad news is, the wild mushroom risotto I was about to tackle needs to be put on the back burner, so to speak. Although I won’t have such a long commute, and I should be able to occasionally cook dinner, I think I’ll have to hang up the apron for now,” he added, removing his wire-rimmed glasses and polishing them on his classic blue Oxford shirt.

  “Isn’t that wonderful, dahling?” Mrs. Lambert asked Louise, a little too enthusiastically. Her mother looked totally relieved, and for once the strand of ivory pearls looped around her neck was not twisted into a luxurious noose between her fidgety fingers. Louise didn’t think she’d ever be able to look at pearls the same way again.

  “It has only been a few days. You’d think I’ve been out of work for a year,” her father replied jokingly as he put his arm around his wife, who was wearing a peach cashmere cardigan and cream-colored slacks, sitting with perfect posture at the edge of the pristinely upholstered couch.

  “Congrats! That’s great, Dad!” Louise exclaimed, happy to see her parents in such a good mood and totally relieved that she wasn’t in any trouble herself. Although she was definitely not thrilled to be back to a life of boiled potatoes soaked in malt vinegar. After all, if a cup of vinegar could dissolve a pearl, imagine what it was doing to her stomach. She smiled, feeling lucky and happy to be back home.

  That night there was a sharp knock on Louise’s bedroom door.

  “Dahling, can I come in?” her mother whispered from the hall.

  Louise definitely wasn’t sleeping. Now that she was safe and back home in her familiar bedroom, the whole time-traveling experience was starting to feel more and more like a distant dream. But after everything she had just experienced in Hollywood and Alexandria, witnessing two deaths and having a sharp steel sword aimed directly for her own heart not that long ago, it was going to take her a while to feel totally relaxed. “Yeah, Mom, I’m awake.”

  Mrs. Lambert, in her periwinkle blue pajama set with white piping, perched herself at the foot of Louise’s canopy bed and began playing with a loose thread on her worn patchwork quilt. “I think we need to have a chat. I suppose I should have had this talk with you before, but as you can imagine it’s not the easiest conversation to begin.”

  “Great,” Louise enthused, propping herself up on her elbows, ready to finally get some answers to the questions that had been boggling her mind for the past week.

  “Where to begin?” her mother mused, looking off into the distance.

  “Are you a Traveling Fashionista?” Louise asked, cutting right to the chase. She didn’t want to lose her mother to one of these internal reveries again. “Is that why you have that necklace? And that old photograph? Was that really you in that picture?”

  Louise’s mom chuckled slightly at her daughter’s enthusiasm. “I suppose at one point I was. My aunt Alice took me to my first Fashionista Sale in London. Glenda and Marla used to do all her costumes. She was an actress, as I know you’ve discovered.”

  “So you do know Marla and Glenda!” Louise exclaimed, trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together in her head.

  “Yes, but I couldn’t let you know that, dahling. How else do you think they were able to find our address when they delivered you home after your first sale? GPS?” Mrs. Lambert laughed again and Louise joined in. The thought of Marla and Glenda using a modern tracking device was preposterous. “I’ve had quite a few adventures in my day. But that’s all in the past now. Those are stories for another time.”

  “But why did you stop?” Louise asked, not able to comprehend how you could just give up such an amazing double life. She wanted to go and experience as many other lives and histories as she could, for as long as she could, even if it was dangerous sometimes.

  “Well, when you have a child, you can’t exactly take off for another century. Somehow time-traveling between PTA meetings seemed a little odd. What if something happened to me in the past? Marla and Glenda are very cautious, but there’s always a small chance, and I couldn’t risk it.”

  Louise protectively wrapped her arms around herself at the thought of losing her mother to the bubonic plague or Hindenburg disaster or in some other distant tragedy. It was too sad to think about. “Thank you,” she finally mumbled.

  “So, I decided to start living in the present, and for once really enjoy and experience what will one day be history for somebody else. You may not appreciate it yet, but today can be just as exciting as yesterday. Oh, Louise, you should have seen London in the eighties. It was marvelous!” her mom exclaimed, her eyes sparkling at the memory. “Well, perhaps one day you will.…”

  “I hope so,” Louise said, already lost in the fantasy of getting her hands on a Vivienne Westwood minikilt.

  “Clothes have special power. They are loaded with memory. It can be very dangerous. I didn’t want to encourage you. And yet you can’t stop someone from realizing her destiny. I suppose our old movie nights are the one way that I can get a little taste of the past without leaving our couch, and get the chance to share that with you. That’s why they’re so precious to me. You’re more like me than you realize,” she said, giving Louise’s foot a little squeeze through the blankets.

  On the outside, Louise didn’t look like her mom, always put-together with her ash blonde perfectly coiffed hair and matching sweater sets compared with Louise’s auburn frizzy mess and crazy thrift-store outfits. But maybe on the inside they were alike after all.

  “So it runs in our family?” Louise asked sleepily, as much as she was fighting to keep her eyelids open, her mother’s soothing English accent slowly pulling her into a dream world.

  “I suppose it does, I suppose it does.”

  At the last minute on Monday morning, Louise decided to wear the poodle charm necklace to school under her dress, a secret reminder of who she really was in the midst of an ordinary day of junior high. Although she was obviously still a seventh-grade student at Fairview, Louise was also a Traveling Fashionista, and in the monotonous and often embarrassing details of her daily life, it was too easy to forget that. She also attempted to add a touch of dark gray eyeliner to her lids as Cleopatra did, but glancing in the mirror she had to admit it wasn’t quite Elizabeth Taylor–worthy. It still looked kind of nice, though. She just had to make sure not to run into her parents on the way out the door, as they would most likely have a different opinion on the matter.

  She snapped a Polaroid, happily knowing that this morning there would actually be a slight change in her appearance even if it was just from a little makeup. Louise opened her sock drawer and took out the Polaroid she had shot the other morning. Just as she’d thought, in her rush, she had aimed the camera too low. Half of her head was cut off, leaving only her closed, tight-lipped smile and the top of her green dress. Her trademark hair was pulled back out of the shot, and for a second it was almost as if she were looking at someone else. For the first time, she realized that she and her mother had the same mouth, and if Louise looked quickly, she could almost be mistaken for a younger version of her mother in this photo. Weird. She always thought she could have been adopted, never seeing the resemblance between them. But she was definitely her mother’s daughter—the braces had gotten in the way of her being able to see that. She shoved the photo back into the drawer, tucked the charm necklace discreetly under her Peter Pan collar, and ran out to catch the bus.

  On the ride to school that morning, when Billy popped up behind their bus seat for his daily sarcastic commentary, Louise was ready for him. She rubbed the ancient coin in her pocket for an extra boost of courage, feeling the ridges of Cleopatra’s profile with her thumb, and then turned around and looked her greasy-haired tormentor direct
ly in the eye. “No one has ever asked for your fashion advice. Ever. So keep it to yourself. We’re not interested. Leave us alone.”

  She saw Brooke’s eyes widen with surprise at Louise’s newfound confidence, and then her friend broke into a huge grin. “Ditto to what she said,” Brooke added.

  “Sorry, Louise, you know I was just kidding. Jeez.” He slunk off to the back of the bus, and for the first time Louise realized that if he wasn’t tormenting her, Billy Robertson actually didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Maybe teasing her was the only way that he didn’t have to sit totally alone.

  When she got to school, Louise was surprised to see that Todd was waiting for her at her locker.

  “Are you wearing makeup?” he asked, brushing his dark wavy hair out of his eyes to get a better look.

  “A little,” Louise replied. For some illogical reason, she was embarrassed that he’d noticed.

  “No, I mean, it’s good. But you don’t really need it,” he said, studying her face as if she were a totally different person.

  “Thanks?” Louise replied at his backhanded compliment. “You’re kind of blocking my locker, though.” He casually moved and leaned against Brooke’s locker.

  “Sorry, so anyway, if you’re not busy, maybe we can do something or something.”

  Louise smiled at his muddled invitation to do… she wasn’t sure what. Maybe he was just odd and awkward, as she was sometimes. And then it hit her—maybe there really was nothing to get. “Sure, Todd, that sounds cool,” she replied, not overthinking it.

  “What’s that necklace?” he asked. Louise looked down and saw that the charm necklace had popped out from beneath her collar.

  “Just something my mom gave me,” Louise said, tucking it back in. It seemed so private to her; she forgot that other people could see it, too.