by Shawn James
ISIS:
All About the Goddess
Copyright © 2013, 20l6 Shawn James
Published by SJS DIRECT, Bronx, NY, 10456
Chapter 1
Management Systems are how a business allocates their human, physical, and financial resources.
The four fundamentals of Management are Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling.
I go over the terms that are supposed to be on today’s Principles of Management exam while my body is posed like Rodin’s Thinker. As the kids in the Introduction to Human Figures class frantically sketch out the details of my nude form, I draw the facts out of my mind that’ll help me pass the exam that’s coming up in two hours.
I’m finding studying for exams is a lot like learning my lines back in the day. When I was on the set of All About Nikki seventeen years ago, I had to learn things on the fly when we had re-writes. Sometimes the director would change the script right in the middle of shooting! And most times I managed to learn those lines so quickly we only had to do one take. Compared to the craziness of Hollywood, college seems like it’s a piece of cake.
Sitting across from me at her easel, Professor Harris stops sketching and holds up her red pen. That’s my cue that the class is over. I hop off the cube, slip on my black silk robe and streak into the dressing room at the other end of the studio. After I close the door behind me, I quickly get changed back into my street clothes. When I put my watch back on it reads 12:54. I have just enough time to meet Chris’ professor friend from Spelman College before I start my second job answering phones and sorting mail.
I sling my messenger bag over my shoulder, push past the exit door of Studio 1D and hurry down the hall to the office of the Fine Arts Department. When I enter the reception area, Amy the blonde nineteen-year-old working the front desk flashes an eager smile at me as she peers up from her Renaissance Art book. I smile back at her and grab the stack of mail sitting on the counter.
“Hey Marilyn, you’re here early.” Amy greets. “You that eager to answer phones?”
She wishes. “I came early to meet Dr. Flowers. I reply. “Is she here?”
“She’s still in Chris’ office.”
Amy grabs the phone and punches in his extension. “Chris, Marilyn is here.”
“Great.” Chris says though the intercom speaker.
Amy jumps out of her seat and slings her backpack over her shoulder. I smile back at her as she rushes towards the door. “Mari, I have to go. Got to get to class.”
“I’ll take care of things here.”
After Amy leaves, I hear Chris’ footsteps coming down the hall. The thin cocoa skinned man wearing khaki pants, a short-sleeve madras shirt and trainers strolls out to the reception area followed behind by an elegant looking silver haired peanut colored woman dressed up in a tailored orange linen suit, Church hat, and heels. That must be Dr. Flowers. Wow, she must come from some serious money. The last time I saw a designer outfit that expensive was when I was wearing it on the set of All About Nikki seventeen years ago.
“Marilyn, this is Dr. Edna Flowers.” Chris greets. “She’s one of the legendary professors from Spelman University.”
Legend is an understatement. From the graceful way she stands, I feel like I’m in the presence of royalty. “Nice to meet you Dr. Flowers.” I reply extending my hand.
“Nice to meet you Ms. Marie.” Edna says shaking it firmly. “My grandkids loved your show when they were younger.”
“Would you like an autographed picture for them?”
“You still keep headshots in your bag?” She inquires.
I wish I didn’t have to. I’d actually have more room for handouts. “Like a college degree it’s better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.” I joke opening up my bag.
“Well, my grandkids have outgrown Nikki, but I wouldn’t mind one of you for myself.”
“How do you want me to make it out Ma’am?”
“However you like.”
I take out a picture and write: To Edna: Thanks for being a fan of Nikki all these years. Best wishes, Marilyn Marie. The old woman’s face lights up when she reads my personalized message on the picture. “If only people knew how kind you were in real life.” She tells me.
“Several students who recognized Marilyn from the show on campus were surprised at how friendly she is.” Chris interjects.
“Sounds like you’re still quite the celebrity.” Dr. Flowers says.
“A fading star is still is still a light to those around her.” I sing.
“As is a good Christian.” Dr Flowers replies.
“I’d like to think I’m having a positive impact on the students here.”
I’m about to start putting mail in the cubbyholes near the door when I notice a sheet of paper in mine. Amy didn’t start doing the mail yet, and it wasn’t here this morning when I showed up to sign in. Maybe it’s a notice from the Bursar or one of my professors.
I pull out the note and grimace in disgust reading the sick message underneath the disfigured picture of me on it that says:
I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN MOVIE STAR
God, I had no idea that the Hollywood crazies would come to a New York college campus. Out of all the places in the world, I thought I’d be safe here. Chris catches the winced look on my face and becomes concerned.
“Marilyn, is something wrong?” He inquires.
“Th-This was in my mail cubby.” I tell him as I hand him the note.
After reading the threatening message, Chris hurries over to the phone at the reception desk and punches in an extension. “Hello? Campus Security? I need you to come to the Fine Arts Department Office right away.”
Chapter 2
Marilyn is a bundle of nerves as Joe, one of the security directors for the Next School Campus Police finishes his report. He looks her up and down contemptuously before confirming all the details she told him about the incident earlier.
“You say you found this in your mail cubby when you came in here Ms. Marie?” Joe growls as he presents her with the note again.
“Yeah. Amy hadn’t done the mail yet and it was just there.” She replies.
“Are you sure you didn’t put it there?”
Marilyn’s eyes grow wide on the accusation as her face twists into a scowl. “Why would I put a picture like this in my own cubby?”She bristles.
“Well, you Hollywood types are always looking for attention.” Joe snarls.
“Dude, I quit acting over a year ago-”
“Maybe you’re thinking about making a comeback?” Joe jabs.
Like the tabloids would care about an R List celebrity like Marilyn. If she’s been modeling nude in an art studio for over a year with no press, then there’s no money in taking photos of her and selling them. The window for some cheap heat through the papers already came and went.
“I doubt Marilyn would waste our time with a false threat.” Chris replies.
“These celebrities are notorious attention whores Professor.” Joe snarls. “Especially washed up ones like her.”
“Joe, you’re out of line-”
“Whatever, Professor. Look, I’ll file this report with campus security and forward a copy to the police precinct. If this guy strikes, we’ll have a paper trail.”
That doesn’t seem like an effective plan of action for protecting a student who’s been threatened by a potential stalker. “Aren’t you going to do something?” I inquire.
“Not much I can do until this crazy strikes miss.” Joe growls. “All I can tell the movie star here to do is to go home and wait until this blows over.”
Marilyn cocks an
eyebrow. “Dude, I can’t just go home. I’ve got a test in a few hours-”
“Work that out with your professors. It ain’t got nothin’ to do with me.”
Joe stuffs the note in his file, jumps off the sofa and storms out of the office. Chris gives Marilyn a concerned look as he sits beside her on the sofa in the reception area. The cold way this girl has been treated by the Next School’s safety office is egregious. We’d never leave a girl so unsupported in the face of danger on the Spelman Campus or at the Theta House.
“In all my time in L.A. I never had a stalker.” Marilyn sighs.
“Most people were probably scared you were just as vicious as the character you played on TV.” Chris says.
“Yeah, no one wanted to mess with Nikki.” Marilyn replies.
“But they love to start with Marilyn.” I say.
“That’s the story of my life.” Marilyn sighs. “One year into art modeling I get the crazy on campus.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?” Chris asks.
If she gives up, the crazy wins. And from what Chris has told me about Marilyn, she’s worked too hard to rebuild her life to have someone tear it down again.
“I can’t. I have a test in two hours. And a four o’clock studio session with Professor Lewis in Figure Study 101.”
There’s that fighting spirit. “You probably need the money from both these jobs to pay your rent.” I say.
“Pretty much. If I don’t work, I don’t eat.”
“I think you can work in the office full-time until this blows over.” Chris says.
“I’d love to, but I don’t want to put you in a jam.” Marilyn continues. “The way models quit around here, you’re lucky most of the figure study classes actually do go on.”
“Even when she’s in trouble she’s always thinking about others.” Chris laughs. “I told you this girl is a sweetheart Edna.”
It’s clear to me she is. If anyone deserves the help of a goddess, it’s her.
“She reminds me of my granddaughter.” I say reaching into my purse for my cell phone. “I think I know someone who can fill in for Marilyn in your four o’clock class Chris. Just let me make a call.”
Chapter 3
I cycle through the channels on my LED TV for the fourth time looking for something among the mundane daytime programs to watch. With my shot at the Ivy Leagues gone, I have no idea what I’m going to pursue as a career this time.
E’steem says we goddesses go where we’re needed. But I keep wondering where that is. I always saw a place for myself as a mentor and a guide to women. And the most effective way for me to do that was as a teacher. But if I can’t work in the classroom, then how am I supposed to help others?
The chirp of my cell phone breaks my train of thought. I fish into the pocket of my pink bathrobe, pull it out, and cock it to my ear. “Isis.” I greet.
“Are you presentable Princess?” Edna asks.
I look myself up and down and give myself a whiff. “I can get presentable in about 45 minutes Doc. What’s up?”
“I’ve got a lead on a job for you-”
“Have you been talking to another one of your professor friends?”
“One of his students could use your help.”
I’d love to get involved. But I’m not feeling too confident in my teaching abilities after getting rejected for that adjunct job at Columbia University. “I don’t know Doc-”
“It’d do you a lot of good to get out of that apartment. How long are you going to mope about the one that got away?”
“Er…Until I feel better.”
“If I recall the week after Fisk rejected me, you made me take a bath, put on my best clothes, and go back out there to look for another teaching job.”
“And that’s how you wound up at Spelman.”
“That’s how I got my dream job. God can’t work as long as you’re doing nothing.”
She’s got a point. Faith without works is dead. “Where will I be working?” I sigh.
“Meet me outside of the Fine Arts building of the Next School in an hour. I’ll fill you in on the details then.”
Chapter 4
I sling my leather messenger bag across my shoulder as a flash of light takes me from the bedroom of my Harlem apartment to the bustling sidewalk of 14th Street and Fifth Avenue. Once I get there, I find my best friend standing outside of the Next School’s Fine Arts building dressed in an orange linen suit, Church hat, and heels. She checks her watch and smiles at me as I approach her. “Exactly an hour.” Edna says. “Looks like you’re still good with time.”
“All I had to do is shower and change.” I reply. “I just hope I’m not too casually dressed for this interview.”
Edna smiles at me again as she looks me over. “Jeans and a blouse will be fine for meeting with Professor Cherry. He usually keeps things casual.”
Edna gets the door for me and we walk into the lobby of the Fine Arts building. After I sign in with security and stick a visitor sticker on the front of my blouse, she leads me down the busy corridors to the office for the Fine Arts Department. As we approach the reception desk, I light up on seeing a familiar face.
“Oh my God, you’re Nikki Desmond!” I blurt.
I put my hand over my mouth as my social gaffe is greeted with a snicker by the former TV star turned college student. The café au lait colored woman wearing all black gives me a forgiving smile as her friendly brown eyes meet mine. “Don’t feel bad miss. I get that all the time.” she tells me.
“I’m sorry. Seeing your face kinda jogged my memory back to Monday nights a long time ago.”
“So you were a fan of the show too?” She asks.
Fan? My Monday nights for seven years were scheduled around that show. I even have a set of Nikki Desmond dolls on display back on the island. “I never missed an episode.” I reply.
Before I can ask her for an autograph, Doc takes a moment to formally introduce me to the woman who played one of my favorite TV characters. “Marilyn, this is my protégé Isis. Isis, this is Marilyn Marie, the student I want you to work with.”
Did Doc just say she wants me to work with Marilyn Marie? The girl who played Nikki Desmond in the classic APN sitcom All About Nikki? Man, this isn’t gonna be a job, it’s gonna be an experience.
Okay goddess, just keep it professional. It’s not every day you get to meet with a real live celebrity let alone work with one.
“I’m pleased to meet you Ms. Marie.” I say extending my hand.
“Nice to meet you Isis.” Marilyn says shaking it. “So you’re here for the job?”
“Yeah.”
Marilyn presses a button on the intercom. “Chris, Edna’s friend is here.”
“Great. Send them in.”
After announcing me to her boss, Marilyn hurries around the reception desk to close the front door of the office. Then she takes Edna and me from the reception area through the blue Berber carpeted maze of cubicles into Chris’ corner office. On seeing us, the casually dressed dark skinned man jumps out from behind his desk and smiles as Edna introduces me.
“Chris, this is my protégé Isis. Isis, this is Chris Cherry, the head of the Fine Arts Department here at the Next School.”
Chris smiles as extends his hand. “Nice to meet you Isis.”
“Nice to meet you Professor Cherry.” I say shaking his hand.
“You can call me Chris.” He replies. “I can’t stand titles. Why don’t you ladies have a seat.”
We ease into the leather office chairs in front of Chris’ desk as Marilyn slides into a seat taken from the reception area. Before Chris falls into the leather chair behind his desk, he smiles as he gives me a once-over with his eyes.
“You’re right, she has very nice lines for someone with a small body Edna.” Chris compliments.
“Wait till you see her muscles. She has that slim dancer’s build you’ve been looking for.”
Lines? Muscles? Okay, I don’t think what they’re taki
ng about relates to my teaching background. I better find out what’s going on here. “Er…How exactly would I be helping Marilyn?”
“You’d be filling in for her in the figure modeling classes she’s scheduled to participate in.” Chris replies. “Have you done any modeling in the past?”
“Isis here posed for the sculpture of a goddess Jack Anderson commissioned for the lawn of Travis Manor.” Edna answers.
Chris smiles on hearing about my one-time involvement in the arts. “She was the inspiration for that piece? Chris replies. “No wonder it was so graceful. Tell me Isis, would you be comfortable modeling undraped?”
“Undraped?” I ask.
“Would you be comfortable modeling in the nude?” Marilyn interjects.
My eyes grow wide on the revelation of the duties of my new job. “Nude?”
“It’s actually quite relaxing.” Marilyn persuades.
“I don’t know, I’d find it hard to relax without clothes on-”
On hearing my protests Edna gives Marilyn an earnest look and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Marilyn, can I have a minute with Isis here. One minute.”
I jump out of my seat and follow Edna out to the hall. What kind of mess is she trying to get me into? This scenario is just about as crazy as an old episode of All About Nikki.
“I have something to say to you Doc.”
“What?”
“You stink.”
“Oh, come on, it won’t be that bad-”
“Nude modeling? It can’t get any worse than this-”
“You’d be helping someone out-”
But I doubt anyone is going to help me when I go out looking for teaching jobs. In between ultimate fighter and art model, it’s going to be next to impossible for me to find work teaching on a college campus.“I keep putting crappy jobs like this on my resume and the only career I’m gonna be able to have is working at Starbucks-”
“Aren’t gods supposed to serve the people?”
“We like to serve the people with our clothes on.” I retort through gritted teeth.
“Look, Marilyn really needs your help Isis-”
I catch the hint Doc is throwing at me by emphasizing my name. “Professor help or goddess help?”
“Goddess.”
“Is she in trouble?”
“The Campus police aren’t taking a threat made on her life seriously. I thought you could use your time between classes to do a further investigation into the matter.”
