Growing Up Chase, pt 2
Growing Up Chase
By Rebel Yell
Part Two (Age Eight)
“But I don’t like it, Mummy.” He complained, trying to duck away from the woman who kept fussing with his hair. He hated it when he had to go with his mum to her work, people were always staring at them and he ended up sitting in the back of some big funny open space that was crammed with hot lights and funny props and people doing weird things. Or worse, like today, someone started talking to him about taking his picture.
“ He’ll be perfect for it. He’s just perfect.” Robbie glared at the photographer, while ducking once more away from the woman who kept touching his head. “It’s just a few shots each outfit, and of course we’ll pay you for his time as well. He’s here as it is - how much trouble is it?”
“ I suppose, this once, it won’t hurt.” Mummy agreed, and Robbie wanted to stomp his feet angrily. She never paid any attention to what he said. He didn’t want these people to take his picture. He hated having his picture taken, and he really hated that woman who wouldn’t leave his hair alone. She kept touching him, and he kept trying to duck away, most people would have figured out he didn’t like her touching him.
“ Mummy, I hate having my picture taken.”
“ You do not.” She argued, finally turning to look at him. “Besides, you’re such a handsome little boy, it’s a very nice compliment that these people want you to do a shoot, Robbie.”
“ Have him put this on. We’re ready for you over on the white screen.”
“ Just a minute.” She crouched in front of him, smiling falsely like she always did when she wanted to seem like the she was doing something sweet for him. She had a different smile, a real one, for when they were alone together. “Robbie, go put this on. It’s just like you’ve seen Mummy do, right? Put the clothes on, they take your picture, that’s it.”
“ Mummy, please. It’s pink. And it’s got…weird stuff.” He fingered the collar of the shirt, and thought if he wore it to school he’d probably get shoved about by the bigger boys.
“ It’s just trim, Robbie. It’s not ‘weird’, it’s a very nice, very expensive shirt that is designer fashion. And there’s nothing wrong with pink.”
“ Not for you, you’re a girl.”
“ Victoria, we’re ready!” Someone shouted across the room, and she glanced over her shoulder quickly as she stood back up.
“ Go put it on, and hurry back, Robert. It’s your first job, we have to be professionals.”
“ But I’m not a-” She walked away, leaving him protesting to no one. “Go where?”
“ Come on, I’ll take you to one of the changing rooms.” A different woman appeared at his side, holding her hand out and smiling at him like Mum did when she wasn’t faking it. She seemed nice enough, and she’d gotten the hair woman to leave him alone without saying anything, so he took her hand and followed her back behind a curtain and into a small room so he could change. It didn’t take long, and he looked into a mirror in horror. He looked stupid. Even Lizzie wouldn’t wear something this pink in public, and she was at least a girl. Whatever “designer” meant, it was for girls because boys who dressed like this would get shoved about.
“Oh, good, you’re ready. We need to hurry and do your hair and some make-up before we get you under the lights. Come on.”
“ Make-up? But that’s for girls.”
“ It’s for anyone under these lights, trust me. Robbie, isn’t it?”
“ Yes.”
“ Come on Robbie, Holly has to do your hair and she’s just been itching for the chance. You have gorgeous hair, you know. You look very handsome.”
“ Dad says I need a haircut, but Mum likes it longer.”
“ Well, I’m sure your dad means well, but I agree with your mum. It’s so precious like this.”
“ Lizzie says I look like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.”
“ Who’s Lizzie?”
“ My best friend, well, her and Danny both. I hate people touching my hair.” Robbie complained, as he was directed to sit in a tall chair and the same woman started doing something to his hair and putting all sorts of stuff in it. He suffered silently though, seeing the look his mummy shot him when he squirmed at first. He even managed not to complain after letting the photographer take loads of pictures he wasn’t let to go back to his book, but was handed another stupid-looking outfit. At least it wasn’t pink, but it still looked stupid. All it took was one look to his mummy, and he knew she’d be upset if he refused to do what he was asked. Maybe later he’d be able to get some ice cream out of her - she usually rewarded him for doing stuff he didn’t like to do when she asked. Besides, he didn’t want to cause a scene. Mummy hated it when he caused a scene.
By Rebel Yell
Part Two (Age Eight)
“But I don’t like it, Mummy.” He complained, trying to duck away from the woman who kept fussing with his hair. He hated it when he had to go with his mum to her work, people were always staring at them and he ended up sitting in the back of some big funny open space that was crammed with hot lights and funny props and people doing weird things. Or worse, like today, someone started talking to him about taking his picture.
“ He’ll be perfect for it. He’s just perfect.” Robbie glared at the photographer, while ducking once more away from the woman who kept touching his head. “It’s just a few shots each outfit, and of course we’ll pay you for his time as well. He’s here as it is - how much trouble is it?”
“ I suppose, this once, it won’t hurt.” Mummy agreed, and Robbie wanted to stomp his feet angrily. She never paid any attention to what he said. He didn’t want these people to take his picture. He hated having his picture taken, and he really hated that woman who wouldn’t leave his hair alone. She kept touching him, and he kept trying to duck away, most people would have figured out he didn’t like her touching him.
“ Mummy, I hate having my picture taken.”
“ You do not.” She argued, finally turning to look at him. “Besides, you’re such a handsome little boy, it’s a very nice compliment that these people want you to do a shoot, Robbie.”
“ Have him put this on. We’re ready for you over on the white screen.”
“ Just a minute.” She crouched in front of him, smiling falsely like she always did when she wanted to seem like the she was doing something sweet for him. She had a different smile, a real one, for when they were alone together. “Robbie, go put this on. It’s just like you’ve seen Mummy do, right? Put the clothes on, they take your picture, that’s it.”
“ Mummy, please. It’s pink. And it’s got…weird stuff.” He fingered the collar of the shirt, and thought if he wore it to school he’d probably get shoved about by the bigger boys.
“ It’s just trim, Robbie. It’s not ‘weird’, it’s a very nice, very expensive shirt that is designer fashion. And there’s nothing wrong with pink.”
“ Not for you, you’re a girl.”
“ Victoria, we’re ready!” Someone shouted across the room, and she glanced over her shoulder quickly as she stood back up.
“ Go put it on, and hurry back, Robert. It’s your first job, we have to be professionals.”
“ But I’m not a-” She walked away, leaving him protesting to no one. “Go where?”
“ Come on, I’ll take you to one of the changing rooms.” A different woman appeared at his side, holding her hand out and smiling at him like Mum did when she wasn’t faking it. She seemed nice enough, and she’d gotten the hair woman to leave him alone without saying anything, so he took her hand and followed her back behind a curtain and into a small room so he could change. It didn’t take long, and he looked into a mirror in horror. He looked stupid. Even Lizzie wouldn’t wear something this pink in public, and she was at least a girl. Whatever “designer” meant, it was for girls because boys who dressed like this would get shoved about.
“Oh, good, you’re ready. We need to hurry and do your hair and some make-up before we get you under the lights. Come on.”
“ Make-up? But that’s for girls.”
“ It’s for anyone under these lights, trust me. Robbie, isn’t it?”
“ Yes.”
“ Come on Robbie, Holly has to do your hair and she’s just been itching for the chance. You have gorgeous hair, you know. You look very handsome.”
“ Dad says I need a haircut, but Mum likes it longer.”
“ Well, I’m sure your dad means well, but I agree with your mum. It’s so precious like this.”
“ Lizzie says I look like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.”
“ Who’s Lizzie?”
“ My best friend, well, her and Danny both. I hate people touching my hair.” Robbie complained, as he was directed to sit in a tall chair and the same woman started doing something to his hair and putting all sorts of stuff in it. He suffered silently though, seeing the look his mummy shot him when he squirmed at first. He even managed not to complain after letting the photographer take loads of pictures he wasn’t let to go back to his book, but was handed another stupid-looking outfit. At least it wasn’t pink, but it still looked stupid. All it took was one look to his mummy, and he knew she’d be upset if he refused to do what he was asked. Maybe later he’d be able to get some ice cream out of her - she usually rewarded him for doing stuff he didn’t like to do when she asked. Besides, he didn’t want to cause a scene. Mummy hated it when he caused a scene.