by Tara Ellis
The Medina family was all sitting in the living room. The television was being flicked through channel after channel. It stopped on AMC showing the classic movie “The Greatest Show On Earth”. Buttons The Clown turned to Holly a Trapeze artist and tells her “Clowns are funny people Holly. They only love once.”
Brenda looked at her older sister. “Is that true?” she asked.
“I was never a clown.”
“Then who were you?”
“I was never sure. Can we watch something else?” Eyes around the room shuffled over to her and away. The television traveled through more stations.
Mommy kept hitting the channel button on the remote. She saw her daughter on every other channel. Despite the animosity she felt, a dream came true. Her child had finally become famous. Well in this case it was a little more dangerous than fame, bigger than fame. Vanessa was infamous.
Mommy was over rejoiced of this outcome, even though she tried not to show it. Still giving Vanessa signs of displeasure. But internally she was thankful that Vanessa dragged her back into the spotlight as well.
“Anything without my face on it,” said Vanessa. A little bit of tension softened as chuckles were passed around. Then the Television stopped on her brother.
“There’s Jorge’s face,” said Brenda.
Harvey Levin of TMZ came onto the screen and then it cuts to the footage Jorge recorded. They began to relive that moment, each one of them, retracing their steps on that fateful day.
Vanessa’s heart was already bitter about what happened. Now watching it transpire all over again for the entire world, turned her heart sour. When she saw the wine hit her face for a second time she decided to go to bed.
Mommy was only thinking how awful she looked. She saw herself in a horrible light. She turned to Jorge saying, without shouting, “Why did you record this? Look at me.”
He turned to her wearing a guilty expression. “On the TV... I look horrible…. This is embarrassing. People are going to say I’m ugly. My hair wasn’t done; I don’t have on good makeup. I wasn’t ready for you to record me.”
Daddy then watched Mommy leave from the living room. After he heard those words stumble out of his wife’s mouth, he had the courage to grab the magnum out of that little box from under the bed. Load one bullet inside the clip and place the end inside his mouth. He had the courage to set himself free right then. But he swallowed it, and placed it into the deepest darkest corner of his mind. He figured taking the easy way out would have landed him straight in hell. Because he needed to be Daddy until his kids no longer needed him. And after that time has passed, when he is old, left alone with his wife, well then… just maybe.
Julio soon left. For him, having Vanessa home had only made the family experience more hellish. The air was more awkward, more tense. He took along with him Brenda and little Michael to meet up with Rodrigo. As soon as they walked out of the clock tower entrance they garnered unwarranted attention. There were men waiting outside to snap pictures of the Medina family. Julio kept his head down, focusing on making it through the parking lot to Rodrigo. They came together through a kiss. A picture perfect Kodak moment.
Little Michael and Brenda were starting to unconsciously adopt Julio and Rodrigo as parents. Julio suspected this, but he was accepting of it, because even he wanted an alternative family.
She was lost in the world. She had forgotten herself within her own mind. She was nothing, empty space wrapped in skin. She exhausted every emotion her heart was capable of, until it gave up. She decided that this life was no longer suitable. Vanessa Medina, Selena Santana Mimi the Jester, whoever the girl truly was decided to end its consciousness. That decision was made through a variety of prescription medications. Pills meant for depression and ADD with Julio’s mood stabilizers manifested into a buffet in her hand.
There she was right in front of herself, staring into the mirror. She gave a deep breath and slowly exhaled. The collage of capsules was placed in her mouth. She eventually chewed the handful despite the bitter taste. And a cup of water washed the remaining ashes down her throat.
While waiting for the inevitable she started to do her make-up, applying her best works. Top notch foundation, her favorite eyeliner, a bright lip gloss the stained her lips pink. The hair was worked on then pinned up. After she was finished Vanessa looked like from the neck up a girl who was going to have a good night on the town. To complete this look she pulled off her best Sunday church dress that was hardly ever worn.
Vanessa then laid on her bed with those hands tucked on her tummy. The girl became sleepier and sleepier. The vision and hearing were all becoming less important as slowly this nap came to meet her.
Mommy walked in Vanessa’s room unannounced. Usually Vanessa would have complained about this, but then she didn’t care to give energy to anything.
“You want to be honest with each other?” Vanessa only stared up at the ceiling. “Do you love me?”
“No… I hate you,” she replied with no emotion attached.
“But I’m trying to have more love for you. That is why I’m here telling you that there is a second chance.”
“Not for us… not for me.”
“A man is here from the circus. He says they want you back. You can be back on the job.”
“It’s not happening now.”
Mommy breathed in deep and walked away shutting the door behind her. Vanessa took her eyes away from the ceiling, fading more into a deep slumber. The last thought she had was how she didn’t know who she was, but knew what she was. Right then it was good enough for her. And on that note she left the world.
Mommy came down the stairs and on to the couch where John Hampton sat. “I’m sorry Mr. Hampton, she refused. She wouldn’t even hear it out.”
“Oh well that does put a damper on things Mrs. Medina,” he said.
“But I know she will eventually have a change of heart. If she is anything like me she wants to have fame.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Mommy looked down and shuffled her vision back towards Hampton’s chubby cheeks. “John may I ask what is your intentions with my daughter.
“Mrs. Medina your daughter has caused rather a stir in my company. That resulted attention from all over the world. A man like me would not be here if matters were not dire.”
“What are you getting at Mr. Hampton?”
“I’ve been working behind the scenes of Hollywood for most of my life. I’ll tell you that in this day and age your daughter’s scandal is just free publicity. And with my help it can be publicity we can all capitalize on. Let’s get this lemonade from these lemons, how does that sound in your ears?”
“It sounds better than nothing.”
Hampton smiled. “Very good, Mrs. Medina.”
“From what I’ve been told my daughter does not get along with some of the cast members of the show. And I wouldn’t think Artemis would have her back there anyway.”
“I have just as much birthed El Circo de Fantasias in to this world as Artemis. His creativity was the seed but my finances were the womb. What makes me the boss is saying what needs to be said, how it needs to be said, when it needs to be said, to who it needs to be said to.” He then sat up placing his coat on his back. “I’m offering 2.5 million for the season. If you and your family needs to sleep on it well then I will allow you that. Have a blessed day.”
Then John Hampton’s chubby presence was gone. He left out so fast it was like the clock tower spit him out.
Mommy headed back upstairs. She peeked into Vanessa’s room. There she was motionless; stuck in her dreams. Mommy took a seat by her daughter and watched her sleep. She knew there were big things in store for Vanessa. This child here Mommy saw as the most special out of all the Medina children. So she stayed there waiting until those brown eyes wou
ld open again.
______________________________________________________________________________
And yet there is
more to the story.
To Be Continued.
