Not In My Wildest Dreams (Dream Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

stats and photos and said ‘Thanks, we’ll keep you in mind,’ they kept my photos and I left. I never had to walk around.
    “Again. Less movement in your arms and shoulders, this time. Stare straight ahead, no emotion.”
    I repeated the little walk to the door and back to his desk. He narrowed his eyes and nodded.
    “What other jobs do you have lined up in the next couple of weeks?”
    “Just bussing tables and the repairs at the motel.” He looked at me blankly. “At The Corner Diner and the motel I’m staying at in Hoboken,” I explained, pointing at my stats sheet.
    “I’m talking about modeling jobs.”
    “Oh, um—” I stammered, feeling about two inches tall. “Nothing,” I got out. “At the moment,” I added hastily.
    “So, here’s the deal. You need some coaching, but I think you’ll be a good match for walking with Rebecca. I need you to clear your schedule for this week to work with the team, next Tuesday is the fitting, and the show will be Friday night. If it goes well, there’s another show the following weekend. The pay isn’t camera work, but it’s something. You get paid after the show. No advances. It’ll get your résumé started at least. And you’ll have some photos to add to these test shots.”
    I stood shocked. I’d just gotten a booking. I was being hired for my first modeling gig. Three months of twice a week coming into the city, visiting five or six agencies every week and I was finally getting a shot. I didn’t know how to react. “Right on! Thank you, sir,” I said extending my hand to shake his and seal the deal.
    “Don’t thank me yet, kid. Runway is no picnic. See you at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Get plenty of rest, you’re gonna need it.”
    I laughed inside, thinking to myself, Walking? How hard can it be? But I schooled the sarcasm and said, “Yes, of course. Ten o’clock. I’ll be here.”
    William pulled out papers, rattling off some contract jargon, which all seemed fine to me. I signed a three month contact, to be reviewed at the end of the term. I left the office committing the date to memory: Tuesday, September 18, 1979. My first modeling gig was booked. I was on my way.
    I got cocky with the booking and went to the diner and turned in my notice. It wasn’t two weeks, but the manager of the diner said he understood. He’d known that I’d come to New York to do just this. The waitresses were gushing and telling me they’d look for me in magazines and billboards.
    At the motel, I told the manager I wouldn’t be able to do any repairs for the next couple of weeks on account of the gig. He said he’d have to start charging me rent again. My savings was nearly gone, but I was about to get a paycheck, so I didn’t care.

CHAPTER 5

    I showed up on time that Wednesday morning to work with the ‘team’ William mentioned. They had me walking, posing, stopping, turning, doing all sorts of queer stuff to show off clothing. I felt like a complete dork. Three days of working with this team, and every night I went home exhausted.
    The following Tuesday I showed up for the fitting and felt like the biggest moron that walked the planet. They tested all sorts of colors and outfits ultimately deciding on three different looks, each outlandish and something that you would never be caught dead in on the streets or in a club. The tailor made markings and adjustments while I stood there like a god-damned mannequin.
    Out of nowhere, a tall, beautiful blonde walked up to us with absolute conviction of her importance. I recognized her instantly from magazine covers and billboards. Strangely, I no longer felt six-four. She was almost as tall as I was, bossy, and freakishly intimidating to everyone around her. “They’ve paired us up. Lemme see your walk,” she ordered, crossing her arms in front of her.
    The man marking the bottom of the pants moved back so I could walk for this Amazon woman before me. With the team I’d been working with for the past few