Not my best work, but this was a difficult assignment!
Assignment 3
I thought I was done with the scary stuff after my first day. I thought things were under control, and that I could handle anything that came up. Boy was I wrong…
The day began like all the others. I got up, got dressed, grabbed a banana from the cafeteria and headed to class. I had no reason to think that this day would be any different than any other, but it was.
Mrs. Henry stopped me as soon as I walked into the class room. “Kit” She said smiling as big as every other day. “I have a special assignment for you today.” I got a bit nervous, thinking I would be forced to stand in front of the class and potentially make a fool of myself yet again, but she had other plans for this day. “It’s an on location modeling shoot. It will be taking place in an old mansion in the historic district. I know how much you like that kind of stuff so I thought this would be a good chance for you to get a bit of experience in a fun environment. What do you think?”
“Sounds awesome!” I chirped excitedly. I was thrilled to have a chance to check out a historic house. Not just a house either, but a mansion. “When do I leave?” I asked impatiently.
“The car is out front waiting right now. Mrs. Henry said. “Better hurry. You don’t want to keep Mr. Stein Waiting. He can be a bit impatient.”
“Right!” I called behind me as I rushed out to meet the car…or rather big white van that was waiting out front. I barely made it to the front door of the building before I was being yelled at.
“Hurry up kid! Let’s go! We’re already running late.” I rushed to get into the van as the guy yelling hardly waited for my foot to clear the door before slamming it shut. “Let’s go!” He yelled again, and the van moved out.
I didn’t say anything on the drive out. There were six other people in the van, they were all chattering back and forth about the shoot and what Mr. Stein wanted them to do. No one even acknowledged that I was in the van, let alone spoke to me. I was beginning to feel like my presence was more of a tolerated nuisance than an actual modeling assignment. By the time we actually arrived at the location, I wanted nothing more than to be back in class, posing in front of blinding lights.
“Let’s go.” The loud guy hollered yet again. I paused momentarily waiting for everyone else to exit, but the loud guy grabbed the back of my shirt and hurled me out the door. “I said go.” He huffed, as I staggered out trying not to land on my face. As soon and I got my footing on the ground an older mean looking guy grabbed my arm.
“You work the fountain.” He said. I glanced in his direction. I could tell by the way everyone was swirling around him that he must have been the forewarned Mr. Stein.
“What?” I muttered confusedly.
“We have no electricity. The fountain has to be cranked. Go crank it.” He said in a very deep German Accent. I could hardly understand what he was saying.
“I thought…” I stammered trying to make sense of my surroundings.
“You are too good to do this?” Mr. Stein asked in a very condescending tone. Even with his thick accent I could tell he was asking me one of those trick questions adults are famous for. I wasn’t falling for it.
“I can do whatever you need me to!” I shouted. I pulled my arm away from him and stood up defiantly.
“Good.” He said. I then felt myself being pushed away towards the mansion.
The shoot location was in the basement of the building. I didn’t even get a chance to look around as I was being steadily pushed towards the set from behind. The entire house was dark, and everyone was using flashlights to maneuver the buildings passages. I couldn’t help but wonder why on earth they would choose a building with no power as a shoot location, but asking was pointless. I was just the nuisance turning the fountain crank. Once I had been successfully propelled to my position I gave the crank on the back of the fountain a quick turn. A red liquid came streaming out of the fountain briefly before disappearing again. “You are going to have to crouch down behind it so the camera doesn’t catch you!” A woman called to me. I nodded my understanding and sat on the flood behind the fountain to wait.
After about thirty minutes the room was full of people, and light up bright with candles. It was some kind of Gothic or horror shoot. Everyone was dressed in dark clothing that gave a reddish shimmer in the candle light. It was actually a bit hypnotic to watch as the models moved around in their various poses. Two of the models obviously didn’t get along well at all, as they constantly let loose with snide quips and rude comments when they came in contact with each other. I was half expecting the girl to slap the guy in passing, but that didn’t happen. What did happen was much worse.
After one harsh exchange the male model stalked off to the side kicking at one of the candle stands as he went. The stand flipped over and set the curtains ablaze almost instantly. The fire climbed quickly onto the female models dress, and she started screaming frantically. I stood in wide eyed horror waiting for someone to do something, but no one did. Everyone was screaming and pointing, but no one was moving. I guess in retrospect I could have tried to grab a blanket or something to try and preserve the set, but I was scared and it was a jerk reaction.
I pushed the fountain as hard as I could and the red dyed water came rushing out in a huge wave. It doused the flames on the curtains instantly, and the female model was extinguished as soon as she sat in the water pooled on the floor. I let out a huge sigh of relief, grateful the fire was out. My relief didn’t last long though. Mr. Stein charged at me and grabbed my arm. “You destroyed my set!” He yelled.
“I’m sorry.” I cried. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You do what you are told, nothing else!” He yelled. I shrunk from his grasp, terrified of this man’s wrath.
“Hey ease up already!” A tall blond model hollered at Stein. “She saved Maggie from getting burned up. She’s a hero.”
“She is nothing.” Mr. Stein hissed angrily. “Clean this mess up. We will start again tomorrow morning.” He then swung around and pointed at me. “You will not be back on my set again.”
“Right” I muttered under my breath as I watched him walk away. I leaned down to pull the fountain back upright. A pair of arms reached over mine and helped me pull. It was the blond model.
“Don’t let that snob get to you.” He said softly. “You did the right thing.” I tried to smile at him.
“Thank you.” A woman said to my right. It was Maggie. “I really mean it. Thank you.” She repeated. I nodded.
Thirty minutes later the loud guy from the van was screaming at me again. “Let’s go!” he yelled waving his arm at me. I quickly followed him back to the van. By the time we got to the school it was all I could do to fall into bed and sleep, glad that the experience was behind me.
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