The Chance of a Lifetime

Chapter One

"Ladies, attention up here please!" Miss Calder announces. When I look up and meet her eyes, I realize she's speaking directly at me. A few of the surrounding girls turn to throw me discouraging looks.

I press my lips together in a flat line and fold my hands into my lap, trying to appear more attentive. Although that doesn't help my wandering mind.

"I hope you're all taking this seriously, because it is a big deal for your futures. Three of you, at the finish of these two months, will be receiving a $25,000 scholarship. If I were you, I wouldn't treat Colorado Rose Pagaent as a game," Miss Calder continues, eyes still on me with a disapproving look.

I knew I didn't belong in this competition as soon as I heard about it. But, man, $25,000 is a crazy amount of money. I need to get into college, and I'm not going to get there mooching off the income of my single mom battling cancer. If I can get $25,000 for wearing fancy dresses and learning how to pirouette, that's a deal to me.

When I entered this thing, I did not expect to be accepted. With just a glance around the room, these girls are all poised and trained for this sort of environment. From young ages these girls have likely been preparing for this very moment. Turns out, to make it fair, the judges take on a few newbies (a.k.a. clueless hopefuls trying for the money). That's where I fall in, and they all know it.

"As I was saying, these next few months won't be a tea party," a few girls giggle politely. "Dedication is a key factor to success.  If any of you expect results, you'll need to exert yourselves out of your comfort zones. I expect hard work and responsibility."

Miss Calder, a graceful woman probably in her mid thirties, has been running the Colorado Rose Pageant for almost ten years. And, as she's reminded us, she won this pageant herself when she was eighteen. She knows all about looking pretty. She's an expert on ballroom dancing. And she is an unusually clever girl in such a dull world. And that's all it takes, is what she told us when we first walked in.

"Educational classes are held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That includes English, world history, religious studies, science, and math. Sluffing out on any of these classes is not a brilliant plan on your parts. Five classes missed means withdrawal from the competition," her eyes wander over the group of girls. A few of them sit up straighter or throw a lock of hair over their shoulder.

"Tuesday and Thursday are talent-building. That's where you find yourself and improve who you want to be. Become an individual! Be unique! That's what this is all about. Our instructors are highly qualified and I assure you they can mold you into beautiful women that you have the potential to become," Miss Calder gives us a rare smile.

I swear I haven't taken on the introverted, self-pitying charity case. I couldn't care less if these people feel bad for the hopeless, fatherless girl who just needs the cash. No, to me, I'm just in this competition just like them. I don't expect special treatment. I fully expect to stand out like a sore thumb. But I've accepted that too.

"Lastly, rooms," she says, looking down at her clip board. "Every girl has a roommate. I expect you to respect each other and not complain about disagreements. Regal women suck it up and deal with it. If you can't do that, you've come to the wrong place."

That's one thing I can do. I can ignore snobs pretty darn well. I've been doing it all my life. I am fully prepared to deal with whichever classy blonde I'm paired up with.

"Names and room numbers are posted on the wall," Miss Calder points her pen towards the righthand wall, where everyone looks. "In an orderly fashion, check where you need to be, and find it. Your bags should already be there. Get your things set in order. Then come down for lunch at one. We've got some more business to take care of then." Everyone stays still, waiting. "Go on, then."