A Boy With Girly Hair - Part 10

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The Modeling Offer

I had to sit Jenna down to discuss this. What did she mean by a modeling offer? Was the page really popular enough to deserve a modeling offer? And what kind of modeling? She couldn’t seriously expect me to go through with this. We had literally JUST solidified a decoy for Sammi Jaclyn, and now she’s throwing on me the most public endeavor yet! I was bursting with questions.

“Hey, just calm down, Sam. This is a good thing.”

I couldn’t imagine how this could be good in any way. The entire reason I was still helping her out was that there was a relative amount of anonymity for me. Nobody knew it was actually a boy, and more importantly, nobody knew it was actually me. Could we just keep it that way?

“Jenna, I’m concerned this is starting to get out of hand,” I reminded her.

“Sam, I don’t think you quite understand what is happening here.” Jenna pulled out her laptop and went into her Instagram direct messages. “See this DM? It’s from a woman named Trista Hayworth.”

“Who is that?”

“Trista is the owner of a small salon…in Milwaukee.”

Milwaukee? Why would someone from Milwaukee be contacting Jenna—or, Sammi Jaclyn, rather?

“This woman happened to be at the same Fashion Expo we were at. She didn’t see us, but saw that our account kind of blew up after being shared, and voila!”

“So let me get this straight…someone from out of state—NOT from the Chicago area—wants me to be their model?”

“Correct.”

I was beginning to realize why Jenna was intrigued by this offer…but I needed more.

“You said Trista asked for modeling…what does she mean by that?”

“Well, I only had a brief DM conversation with her, but I think it’s mostly full body stuff. Here—she seems blown away by not only your hair but your physique as well. I mean, look at you now!”

I was still wearing Daisy’s clothes. “Look, I see what you’re getting at with this modeling offer being from out of state, but Milwaukee’s not really that far. Don’t you think someone could see me?”

“Sam, this is the same type of stuff we’ve been doing as before. If you’re comfortable taking pictures of the public world of Instagram, then you should be comfortable with a salon, right?”

“So…you’re saying my face still stays out of it?” I needed to know this before any other steps were taken.

“I’ll make sure of it when we negotiate payment.”

“Woooah what? Payment?” I was stunned.

“You serious? Of course, they’re paying you. It’s your image they’re purchasing, Sam.”

“Oh my God…” Well, that changes everything. I can actually make money from this!

“Sam, this is the business I want to go into eventually. I’ll basically act as your stylist, photographer, and agent. All you have to do is, well, be you.”

“How much will I be getting?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Jenna admitted, “but whatever it is, I’ll let you keep…half?”

I was sort of caught off guard. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what the reaction would be when I came home dressed in Daisy’s clothes, but I sure as hell did not think I would walk into a modeling offer and contract negotiation with my sister.

“That sounds fair for now,” I agreed with her. “Just keep my face out of it, and we can make it happen.”

I walked upstairs, dreaming about all the cool stuff I could by with the easy money.

It wasn’t until another couple of weeks went by until anything else happened. Over that time, I managed to get Daisy her clothes back and helped out Jenna a few more times with class assignments. We were getting pretty good at working together. Sometimes she’d have a hairstyle she’d like to try and photograph, and I’d sit there as she worked her magic on my brunette locks. Most of the assignments about fashion she found that she was able to complete by herself or didn’t need a model, but twice I was able to help her out—modeling a pair of black leggings with a training bra, and another time wearing a jeans and boots outfit, similar to what I had on for Daisy.

But eventually, Trista got back to Jenna. She had been ecstatic to hear we were interested in helping out and wanted to chat on the phone about future projects. Jenna graciously accepted.

I had discussed this with Jenna before, but we thought it would be best if only she spoke on the phone. Though my voice was certainly not deep, I would need to work at it a little to make it sound like an actual girl. We were fairly certain Trista was under the impression Sammi Jaclyn is actually a girl, so it’s best not to show our hand too early.

Soon enough the day came where Jenna would chat with Trista. Though they had emailed a couple times, this was the first time Jenna would actually hear her voice, and hopefully learn a lot more about the company.

“Jenna?” a woman’s voice asked. She sounded like a slightly older woman, in her forties or fifties perhaps.

“Hi, Trista?” my sister responded.

“Yes! It’s good to finally touch base!”

“For me as well! I have to say, I really appreciate that you were impressed by Sammi’s posts.”

“Impressed is an UNDERSTATEMENT. I was blown away by her beauty. And I have to say, Jenna, your stylist, and fashion skills are quite impressive as well.”

Trista went on to explain her salon. The salon was called “Gretchen’s,” named after her late mother. It had just opened up a few months ago, pointing out that it was always her dream to own and operate one. After working as a lawyer for 30 years, she thought it was time to follow her dreams.

“How sweet,” Jenna said.

However, opening a new salon was no easy task. She was confident with the business end, but she felt some marketing was needed.

“And that’s where you come in. Jenna, I want to hire Sammi Jaclyn to come in so I can do her hair and take pictures that I can use for advertisements. I can’t quite afford to hire a professional model, so I was hoping Sammi could do it for a little cheaper. I’d pay, of course!”

“You don’t…you don’t want me to do anything? Style-wise?” Jenna asked. I think she was a little bummed she wouldn’t be participating in this.

“Well, frankly, that’s part two. I was hoping that if my salon can get off the ground, we could talk about job possibilities as a stylist after you graduate.”

That’s when she lit up. A stylish job opportunity? That’s Jenna’s dream in a nutshell.

“You know, this is all so great, but I’m curious. Why do you need someone outside of your family?”

Trista let out a big sigh. “I never had any daughters. My husband and I have four boys, and I don’t have a single niece. Can you believe that? I truly believe that I have a knack for fashion and hairstyling, but I was never able to put it to use.”

“Well, consider Sammi your new niece.” Jenna tried ending with a positive note. Trista ate it up.

Jenna happily agreed to the proposal, and before I could even realize what happened, the call was over.

“You didn’t mention I’m not a girl, did you?”

She winced. “Crap! I didn’t.”

I collapsed back on her bed. That’s it. There goes my anonymity.

“Sam, it’s Milwaukee. Nobody will know you there. Plus, I’m certain she’d be fine if I tell her you’re a boy.”

“She just said she has sons!” I angrily said.

“Yes, but she probably didn’t style them because THEY didn’t want it. Not because of any principle not to do a boy’s hair. Plus, you’re not like most boys, Sam.”

What did she say?

“Am I crazy? You have an Instagram account as a GIRL. How many other boys do you know that do that, hmm? Don’t get me wrong, I love what we’re doing here, but you’re immersed in this world now. You have a unique opportunity to take advantage of a God-given physical gift. Your life at home will not change. But sure as hell don’t squander the opportunity to use your gift at NO social risk outside of your hometown.”

I’ve never heard Jenna speak that passionately before. She loves fashion. She really does. But I’m beginning to realize it’s more than just the love of creating a look that she enjoys so much. Jenna likes to maximize peoples’ beauty. That’s what she’s really been doing all along, right? Maximizing my beauty? I never felt the need to do that, but fulfilling my potential is a passion project for her. That’s what I’ve given her. In return, she’s given me companionship and a strong sibling bond.

For her, it’s not about the hair or the clothes, it’s about creating a worthwhile identity.

I took a long, deep breath.

Then, Jenna received an email. It’s from Trista! It read:

‘I forgot to ask: does $500 sound alright? I’ll also pay for your travel expenses to come up to Milwaukee!’

I could read the email from the bed. Jenna let out a huge smile. So did I.

“NOW will you do it?” she asked coyly.

“Seals it for me.” Looks like we’re off to Milwaukee.