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Story of the Aging Beauty Queen

Angel's 40th Birthday Surprise

     When Angelica went to work for the Z. Michael label, things went very well for a while. She was able to put away some money and buy a few things she did without while she wasn't working. Her designs sold well, and Z.Michael expanded very fast, maybe way too fast. Then came the stock market crash of 1987...

The Conclusion

     It was Angel's 37th birthday, and all the Z. Michael execs were having a party in her honor at the small bar on 42nd Street. Things couldn't be better. Angel's designs were top sellers, and the company was making loads of money. Angel was dancing to the tunes of the 70's, in her retro style tight dress and was flinging her knee length hair all over. She was leaning forward, letting the length fall in front, and then quickly shake her had back and forth, bringing a long arc of hair over her body. Sometimes, it would hit someone, and they would grab it and drag Angel closer in and dance a few steps with her. Angel barely staggered back to the hotel she normally stayed at when visiting New York. Noticeably missing was Zane, the CEO and founder.

    Angel went back to her estate that weekend to work on more material. The work was good, but she was very lonely. She longed to see her daughter, who by now, was 15. She did'nt know where she was, only that she moved around Europe with her ex-boyfriend, James. Every time she would get close to finding Christi, James would move her again. About seven years ago, they seemed to vanish, rumor had it they went behind the Iron Curtain. She would wonder if Christi had her hair, growing it to great lengths, or if she ever went into modeling. Angel would never know, how would she know what Christi looked like? There was one teen model from East Germany that looked a lot like Angel did, but she never saw another picture of her again. Can't be her, this girl's name was Nakita.

    One crisp October morning, Angel was brushing out her long graying hair while watching the news. It seemed the stock market was having a tough time last week, and it continued this week. Angel decided to take the day off and work out in her field of flowers. Upon returning in the afternoon, she turned on her TV to see if anything was on. The stock market lost 20% of it's value in one day! Angel did not invest in the market, except for her shares in Z. Michael. She went about her business the rest of the day. That  evening Angel was lamenting how her hair quit growing when it reached her knees. She could get it trimmed, but would never grow beyond this point. As she started to braid her hair, the phone rang. Zane was missing and a note was found. Zane put the whole value of the company in domestic junk bonds that were now worthless. He even borrowed against future earnings to buy more. Creditors had sent notice for the company and it's assets to be sold. Angel quit braiding her hair, and got ready to go to New York.

     Things were horrible at the company. All were laid off, save a few who would shut it down. One by one things would disappear. Finally all was gone. The last thing left was the rights to the Z. Michael label. Angel won that bid for $100,000. She took a lien on her estate to pay for it.

     Angel spent the next three years trying to make a go of it on her own. She was trying to run a company and design at the same time. Unfortunately, Angel didn't know a lot about running a business, and the ones she hired to do so took advantage. It seemed the lady with the long gray hair was an easy target, and every white collar sleaze knew it. In the third year losses were so great, Angel missed four payments in a row on the lien on her estate. She received notice of foreclosure on her estate, so she closed the company and went back to Louisiana to pick up her things at her estate. Her life was in ruins. She figured she had nothing left to live for. Anything important to her was gone. Her estate. Her daughter, Christi. She was a laughing stock in the fashion world. Also gone was her youth, as tomorrow she would turn 40.

     By now, most of her things were now either sold, or put in storage. Still in her closet were some old vintage clothes from her modeling days in the early 70's. Since Angel always kept herself in shape, these things still fit when she tried them on. She left on a rather snug, short, light blue pheasant style dress and put an a pair of suede boots, and went out by the fence to think. It was evening, and tomorrow, Angel would be 40. But tonight, she was still 39, and felt young in her vintage dress and boots. "What will become of me? Will I ever see Christi again? Is there any reason for me to go on, I lived a good life in my 40 years. I had a great modeling career, until I blew it. I had a successful career in clothing design, until it was taken from me. I even got to run my own company and be my own boss, until it was stolen from me. I had a daughter, but could not hold on to her. I've blown more things in my life than most ever get to try in a lifetime. There was one thing she still had, her long beautiful hair, although it was now mostly gray. Looking at her long flowing hair, she lamented some more. "Because of this hair, I became a model. Because of this hair, I blew off my modeling career. Because of this hair, I got a chance to be a designer. This hair is all I have left, and it's all worn out. The deep black color of my youth has given away to the graying of age." Christi was 18 by now, and Angel longed to see her. All this weighed heavy on her mind, and she thought about ending it for her 40th birthday. She picked some flowers to put in bed with her and went inside.

     The next morning arrived and Angel woke up to a songbird singing. The auction house was scheduled to arrive at about 3 PM, so Angel went to her closet and picked out the shortest skirt she had and put it on. She found a thin, lavender tank top and put that on along with white go-go boots. She was still determined this would be her last day, and why not go out looking good. She decided to have a picnic lunch out in her field, so she packed a basket, complete with a bottle of red wine. She brushed her knee length hair out, and left it down and free. "Who cares if it gets tangled any more?", she thought to herself. She started out by the stone walkway outside her back door. She kneeled down to look at some of the flowers she loved so much. "Soon, my flowers, you will have a new keeper. I gave you all my best." she said while taking a drink from the bottle of wine. She stopped at each tree and stared at each flower and cried.

     It was now just after noon, and Angel laid out the blanket for her picnic lunch. There wasn't much to eat, but there was still plenty of warm red wine to drink. She picked a book out of her basket and read while drinking and combing her hair. She was unsure how she would end it, so she brought a knife and sleeping pills. It's sooo beautiful out here!, she thought, so she decided to wait for evening to do her final deed. By about two, the wine was gone, and Angel felt no pain. She went back to the house to get some more wine.

     Angel decided to spend the afternoon by the pool, so she changed into a swimsuit. She added a few things to her look, some old peace sign earrings, pearls, sunglasses, and tie-up sandals. She would not go in the pool, since it was full of algae. Once again, she left her hair hang free. She sat on an old couch cushion and began to drink some more. Eventually, she passed out by the pool, awakened by the people from the Auction house. She woke up to see four men standing by the pool. "We knocked and thought no one was here. Sorry to startle you.", one said. "This is really a nice place." Angel began to cry and staggered away from them toward the house. "Weird chic!", another said. Angel went back inside to change back to her short skirt and boots.

     Angel watched them measure and take notes from the kitchen window, as they were preparing to take her estate from her. It was about dusk when they were done outside and came inside to take more notes. As they were about to leave, Angel threw herself in front of the door. "Please I do anything! I'll give you anything you want, just don't take my house!!", she cried loudly. "Here, look at my hair. I'll cut it all off for you if you let me keep my flowers! Tell me what you want! Abuse me in the bedroom! Anything!". She was sobbing, kneeling in front of the door, drunk. " Cut off your hair? What would anyone want with a pile of old gray hair? Come on, lady, get out of the way so we can leave." Angel moved away so they could leave. "One last thing, lady. You have one week to get your things out of here.", one said. "Don't worry, you can have it tomorrow, because after tonight, I won't care!", she hollered. Off they went, and Angel stood outside the door and watched them leave. As she closed the door, "The nerve of that slimey yuppie! A pile of old gray hair, indeed! This hair has been the calling card for my life.", she scowled.

     Angel was oblivious to what was going on about town. Talk of the impending auction was all over town. All thought they could pick up the beautiful field of flowers for a song. A teenage stranger was mulling about town, and asked what was all this talk? She was young in years, but battle weary in life. She looked to be many years older than she was. "What's this I hear about this estate going on the block?", she asked another teenage boy. He said, "The old lady with the long gray hair lost all her money in some business deal, and she lost her property with it. My old man thinks he can get it for pennies on the dollar.", he said. "What will become of the lady?", she asked. "Who cares!, I would love to take my girlfriend out in that field for a...". She interrupted, "Please I don't want to hear it! Where is this place, so I can see it?" "Up on state road 236. Right outside town. How come I never seen you around here before. Are YOU some outsider with money trying to get the place? If so, give up now. There's no way some outside money is going to get this property. The local bank will see to that!", he told her. "I don't want the property. But I think I need to see the lady you say lives there with the long gray hair.", she said. The teen stranger also had long hair, very dark, and it fell several inches beyond her waist. So off she went, down state road 236 to the house.

     Meanwhile, Angel went back to the bedroom to finish what she planned. Originally, she was going to leave her hair as it was, but now changed her mind. She took her old cedar box and opened it. In it she put the wedding dress she never wore, a picture of Christi when she was one, a picture of herself in the hot pink empire dress took out in the flowers, a diary, and now wanted to add one last thing. She decided to cut off her hair add her hair to the contents of the cedar chest and hide it somewhere in the house. That way, a part of her will always be in this place. So, she went to the kitchen and got a pair of scissors, another bottle of wine, and a glass. Back in the bedroom, she braided her long gray hair for one last time. "That slithering slimeball. The nerve he had to think my hair was worthless. Whoever finds my braid will probably get loads of money for it!", she yelled, but for no one to hear but the walls. She tied a red ribbon on the top and bottom of her braid to hold it together, once it was cut off. Finished braiding, she raised the scissors to her hair. She began to cut. She worked the scissors, but couldn't seem to cut the braid. The scissors were too dull. "Fine, I'll go downstairs and get a knife!", she said.

     The well worn teen stranger made her way to the door and rang the bell. Angel heard it and yelled, "Go away! I don't want to see anybody!". The teen was persistent. She rang the bell again and knocked franticly. "Go away!", Angel yelled. "Please!, Open the door! I have to talk to you!" screamed the stranger. Recognizing this as a younger women's voice, Angel shouted, "Who are you, and what do you want with me?"  "Let me in. Then I'll tell you why I'm here. I'm trying to find someone, someone very close to me! Maybe you know where I can find her! I have a picture of her, too.", said the stranger.

     Angel decided she should do one last thing and help this stranger. Holding the knife and the scissors, she answered the door. Angel invited her inside. "Who are you and who are you looking for looking for, dear?", asked Angel. "I think my name is Nakita, but I don't know for sure. I lived most of my life in East Germany, and got out when they tore down the Berlin Wall last year. My Dad told me I was born here in this town here in Louisiana and I came back to see if I can find any of my family, especially my Mom. I had to sneak away from his place. He was in good with government, and I had to do special favors for his buddies. He's on the run now, and I don't think he cares where I am , or if I'm even still alive. I just had to get out of there. Right now, I have no one, no friends, no family, not even a real identity! I don't think I even know my real name. Something deep inside me remembers being around lots of flowers and a very caring mother. I heard talk about town of this field of flowers, and I came to see it. Do you mind if I have a look, Ma'am?". "You poor baby! Certainly, I'll take you out to see them. They were my pride and joy.", said Angel. Angel turned on the light and the went out to the stone walkway and looked at some of the flowers. "You say WERE, as if they are no longer yours.", Nakita questioned. "Yes, were. Next week someone in town will own them and I will be gone.", said Angel. Nakita started laughing, but tried to hide it. "What's so funny?", asked Angel. "Your hair. What a strange style. Two ribbons in your braid and it coming out of the top of your head? I'm sorry. Gee, it's sooo long. What's the scissors for?" she asked. "It's a long story, I was about to cut off the entire braid when you came. No more about me. Come upstairs, I have some things I need to get rid of, maybe they will fit you. You know, your hair looks very nice, a lot like mine when I was younger. When we get upstairs, show me the picture of the person you're looking for.", added Angel.

     They went to Angel's bedroom, where Nakita fixed her eyes on a cradle. Staring at the cradle, Nakita asked, "Do you have a baby?". "Had a baby. I haven't seen her for almost 17 years." answered Angel. Nakita changed her tone. "Almost 17 years?", she mumbled to herself. "This is odd. I wonder if I've found my Mom?", she thought. There was no answer from Angel. Nakita saw the cedar box and looked inside as Angel gathered some of her old dresses from her modeling days. "Is this your baby?" asked Nakita as she held the picture of Christi. "Yes, her name was Christi, and her father took her from me when she was very young. I have not seen her since." "I guess this is you?" asked Nakita holding the picture of Angel in the pink dress. "Yes, I was a model when I was younger. Look at these things. This 70's stuff is back in style, see if there is anything you want. They are all designer labels from my modeling days." Nakita started to think, not paying attention to what Angel was saying, but looking about the room. She noticed a bottle of sleeping pills next to the cedar box. She appeared to just be staring out into space. Angel waved her hand in front of Nakita's face. "Are you still with me?", inquired Angel. "Can I ask you something? There is something wrong with this whole scene. You were going to cut your hair and put it in this box, weren't you? The flowers were going to belong to someone else, and you will be GONE?", said Nakita with emphasis on gone. "Giving away your things. This bottle of sleeping pills on your bed! You were going to kill yourself, weren't you!!" yelled Nakita, backing away. Angel dropped the clothes and looked at Nakita. "Bingo, you win the prize. You are quite perceptive for your age. Tell me, how old are you, anyway?" asked Angel. " I'm 18, but seem to be going on 40.", answered Nakita. Angel smiled and said, "I'm 40 today. It's a good time to go. I've lost everything dear to me, even my youth is gone now." Angel was interrupted by Nakita laughing. " Youth? Look at you! Your skirt is shorter and tighter than anything I've ever worn out in public, that thin shapely tank top, and those boots!" she laughed some more. " And your hair. All the older women I knew got rid of their long hair long before they were 40. You seem more my age than I do! Youth is in the mind. You're 40 going on 18, I'm 18 going on 40." Both laughed at this comment.

     A silence came upon them. "You don't think?" asked Nakita. "Think what?", asked Angel. "Things are beginning to make sense. The flowers. The cradle still here after all these years, the sign of a caring, but grieving mother. The way we can connect after knowing each other for such a short time. You don't think..... ", paused Nakita. "Think what? Out with it, child!", said Angel. "Child... You don't think my real name could be,..... CHRISTI?!!", exclaimed Nakita. Both stopped and stared at each other. Angel broke the silence. "Oh, how I wish you were my dear Christi!", said Angel as she started to cry. "It would give me something to live for!", she continued. "How do you know I'm not Christi? The age is right. Something deep in me tells me this was my home and YOU are my mother!", screamed Nakita. "I guess we'll never know." said Angel, sadly. "No, we'll never know if you kill yourself tonight. "My father's name was James Dunn when he lived in the states. He was a modeling agent. You were a model, right? He said my mother had very long hair, longer than any model of the time. Your hair is still longer than any model I know. Here, look at this picture I have. Does any of this ring any bells for you?", asked Nakita. Angel looked at the picture of a model with a short halter dress dated from 1973. It was from the last photo session she did with Keystone. She looked longingly at Nakita. "They have tests that can help. Please, end your stupid plan of killing yourself and come with me for some blood tests. Please!", she cried. Angel looked at Nakita, and began to see herself in her youth long ago. "You may be right, my dear, we'll go for the blood tests tomorrow. My baby's father's name was James Dunn, and there is no way you could have known that and had this picture unless there's a chance you might be my Christi!!!". Angel broke down and cried. "You win, I have a rare blood type, we can find this out easily. If it's true, we can start over on life together." Angel took the sleeping pills and the knife and threw them out the window.

     At the clinic, the blood tests showed that Nakita almost certainly was Christi. They gave each other a big hug and resolved to starting a new life together.

Thanks for reading "The Story of the Aging Beauty Queen". This story is fictional, and any resemblance to an actual event is accidental.

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