Page 32 of Sensing Selma
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THE NEXT MORNING, Iwas filled with immense excitement.Today was the day.More people to meet.More opportunity to learn about filmmaking.More opportunity to get to work on my music with someone so accomplished and talented as Ayra.The main cast and the rest of the crew would be in attendance today. I took extra care to wash with a lightly scented soap, shampoo my hair and let my natural curls take hold.
I’d chosen my attire the night before. It had to be casual, yet noticeable. I wanted my entrance to be memorable.
I pulled on my snug black pants and a very loosely knitted orange sweater with a black bra underneath. It was sexy without being provocative, and the orange knit was lovely against my skin, bringing out the hazel amber lights in my eyes and playing nicely against the copper highlights of my hair.
Satisfied, I headed out to the elevator. For this very first meeting with everyone, I wanted to go downstairs alone. I didn’t want Mother or Susan stealing not even a single ray of the limelight I craved.
“Holly!”Mother said as she wheeled herself down the hall and came to join me. “How adorable you look.”
“Thank you. I thought it looked very fall-like.Keely and some of the cast and crew are from America.I think it’s close to Thanksgiving over there.”
“Oh, I forget they’re from America since Ayra and Keely now live here,” Mother said.
“I find that very exciting, Mother.I’d love to visit America someday.It’s a very freeing place...all those freedoms to speak, to say what you want, to be who you want to be, the opportunities...”
Mother smiled.“You are indeed our most outspoken child.America would suit you.Yes, that orange looks bright and cheery on you.Very bold and full of life like you are, my sweet Holly.”
I beamed.I enjoyed being Mother’s favorite.“You look very nice yourself, Mother.I tell everyone I got my looks from you.”
Mother laughed.It was good to see her laugh.She looked down at the pale pink skirt topped with a darker pink blouse. “Thank you.”
The elevator arrived and we got in.
“Perhaps we should wait for Susan,” Mother said. “I think I heard her closing her door.”
I quickly pressed the button to shut the doors, then level one. “Oh, sorry about that. I was already poised to press the button when you said that.”
She shot me a knowing glare.
“Besides, I’m sure Susan can find her way downstairs on her own.
The doors opened and the cacophony of celebrity voices greeted us from afar.
“This is a little exciting, isn’t it?”Mother said.
“Very much so, Mother.”
I wheeled her to the large ballroom.
“Oh, my,” she let out on seeing the crowd.
I looked out at the attire of the women, wondering if I was under-dressed or over-dressed. Judging by many of them, I had hit the mark perfectly. Stylishly casual.Very American or Hollywood.Not so demure or British as stereotypes would led many to believe.
Smiling, I made a beeline for Keely.
“Holly. Glad you could make it.”
A pretty young woman stood beside her. She appeared to be about my age, perhaps an inch or two taller, perhaps a pound or two lighter.A little more blonder.
“Holly, this is Lauren Foster. If you know anything aboutSense and Sensibility, she’ll be playing the younger sibling, Marianne.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Oh,” Keely called out as she waved someone over. “Mary!Mary!Come. Come.”
The seasoned actress was several inches taller than all of us and almost painfully thin. She had a pretty if somewhat uninteresting face.
