Pageant

The taxi driver pulls to the curb.  Chrissie hands over two twenties and grabs the suitcase stuffed with sequined costumes and rhinestoned tiaras and cosmetics, oh my lord, the cosmetics.

“Mommy.”  Jessie points to a man lying on a grate in the sidewalk, entirely covered in newspapers.

“Stay away from him.  He’s dangerous.”

“I have a quarter.”

“No.  He can find hisself a job; work hard like the rest of us.”

Backstage, Jessie strips to her underdrawers, dingy and gray, because the judges won’t see those anyhow and with the cost of the costumes, they can’t afford new ones.  “Rassle into this dress, doll.” 

Jessie steps into her costume; pulls it up. 

“Munch on these.”  Chrissie piles a handful of sugar cubes on the table.  She takes Jessie’s right hand and begins applying polish.

 “Your energy picking up any?”

Jessie nods.

“Eat another one”

Jessie pops a second cube in her mouth; chases it with her thumb.

Chrissie slaps the thumb out of Jessie’s mouth. “That’s vulgar.”

Jessie’s eyes widen.  Tears stream down her cheeks. 

“Ah, shit.  You ruined your makeup.”  Chrissie opens the makeup bag and re-applies a thick layer of blush.  “You see them girls?”

Jessie nods. 

“You’re better than all of ‘em put together.”

Chrissie takes a handful of chips from the bag on the table and stuffs them into her mouth.  She wipes her hands on her blue jeans and chews noisily, dabbing blue eye shadow on Jessie’s lids.  She paints her lips a deep red and applies mascara.  “Go and practice your routine.”

The girl stands and walks to a clear space on the floor, weaving between photographers and suitcases and empty pop bottles littering the floor. 

Finally, Jessie is called to perform.

She dances.  She sings.  She struts.

After, Chrissie gathers her in her arms.  “You were perfect, baby doll!  You gonna’ make your momma a boatload of money.”

They leave the auditorium and step over the man lying on the sidewalk, sleeping beneath last week’s news.

This post was written in response to the Trifecta Writing Challenge.  This week's word was vulgar.

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