White is the New Blue

I walked into the massive building holding the small hand of my golden five year old responsibility. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had never seen anything so new and shiny. You could tell everything was professionally cleaned, and each worker wore their own crisp flawless uniform. The whole place made me feel that I had been acting immature my entire life.

As I walked I followed Olive's lead keeping my back straight, my chin lifted, and my eyes steady. I walked to the receptionist to ask for directions. She was quite beautiful with her completely pink body hair and eyes, but as soon as she saw Olive her face went through almost a slideshow of emotions: First was fear, I can understand to being afraid of this tiny terror, then was curiosity, then her face went back to the professional smile that she had worn before.

"Why hello Miss Parker. Do you need any help?" The woman at the counter asked.

"I don't need any help Julia, but this nightmare of a nanny slash today's stylist needs to be brought up to speed." Olive said.

She obviously didn't want to take the fall if others thought she looked bad.

"New nanny I will go to the photoshoot alone, this receptionist will fill you in with everything. Toodles!" After saying this Olive skipped away through the building's hallways.

"Should I be following her?" I asked Julia.

When I looked back to her; she was back to looking scared again. I had forgotten that the fear in people's eyes was always for me. Olive treated me like scum, she didn't fear me because I looked scary. I had almost forgotten what others think of me. Her look of fear wasn't because of a nightmarish toddler, it was me.

"No no, Miss Parker is a regular here she knows where she is going. Miss Parker actually looks prettier than I have ever seen her previously. She said you styled her today, you did a marvelous job. She usually looks like she styled herself."

Being an entirely pink person it was in her nature to be kind, but you could still tell that she was afraid of me. Since I had already read all through Olive's activities, I knew I would be here often, and since Julia knew Olive's name, and Olive hers', I can assume she worked here often. So I knew it was necessary to explain that I was harmless.

"Over the years I have learnt to read people fairly well." I explained, "I can tell that you are uncomfortable with me, and I can assume that is due to my lack of colors. Which is usually the case. I promise I am harmless, I just have rotten luck, which you know is true, because you have met Olive."

She gave a small crooked smile at my last comment.

I continued, "My pigment can't take yours away and the only strength that comes with this color, is not having to focus on what color I am."

I finished my explanation, and Julia looked much more comfortable.

"I am sorry that I judged you prematurely, even if it was only by facial expression." she said.

After I finished our conversation I sat down in the waiting room ready to fall asleep. The room was totally quiet, and the perfect temperature that I didn't need a blanket. Just as I started to nod off for my scheduled nap, Olive came running to me with tears welling in her eyes.

"The photographer won't let me take my pictures! He took one look at me, and told me he wanted to see you. What did you do? You ruined everything!" Olive whined.

Well there goes my nap.

"Okay little miss I am coming." I said.

I grabbed her hand and she led me towards where her photoshoot would be. A man with blue skin and matching purple eyes and hair walked towards us. The photographer stopped when he saw Olive, then gasped when he saw me.

"Miss Parker who is this...uhm person that you brought here?"

I looked down at her waiting to hear her response. To my surprise, there wasn't a trace that she had been crying only moments ago. She hadn't even smudged her makeup.

"This woman is my new nanny, she was the one who styled me today." Olive said very professionally.

I was amazed at the act this small child could pull off.

"Okay...new nanny" the photographer said, "Where did you learn how to dress a child like this, and where on earth did you learn how to apply makeup on children?"

My chest filled with anxiety for a moment. I had never practiced these things. Did I actually mess things up for Olive? If that is the case, I will be fired and sent back to the orphanage quickly. Despite my doubt I followed Olive's example and faked pride.

"Yes, I styled Olive today. I learned makeup and fashion by reading of such topics. I have also clothed many children at the orphanage where I was raised, so I have experience dealing with children." I stated.

Olive glared at me on my last statement. She had found out where I had gotten my childrens fashion experience, and was not pleased.

"...and does this new nanny have a name?"

I didn't want to give out the name Violet and be a laughing stock; so I simply gave him my state given surname.

"I am Miss Foster." I said.

"Well Miss Foster, you are going places. Olive looks absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen her look better, and her outfit is both fashionable and practical for this season." The photographer complimented enthusiastically.

Olive and I were both shocked. We looked at eachother in the eyes, then our gazes were back on the man in front of us.

"Okay doll, you go get in front of the camera while the adults talk." the man said.

At fifteen this was the first time I had been called an adult, so I took this conversation very seriously. "Well Miss Foster, my name is Pierre Fransis John Alexander Sinclair. Most people just call me Sin. You obviously have talent for this business, so I would like you to work with me. Miss Parker is one of the most stubborn and difficult children to work with. Just one day with you, and she let you style her. We have never been able to persuade her to let anyone style her. She did choose someone skilled I might add. Obviously you are not only good with clothing and makeup, but dealing with children as well. I don't know what that child's father is paying you, but I can double it."

I was utterly shocked at this man's proposal. Did I actually have a talent in this? Could I make a career out of this simple task? Then I remembered that the only reason I was able to leave the orphanage was because Ed needed a nanny for Olive. If I quit I would surely be sent back. I gave him my answer,

"Sin, as amazing as your offer sounds; Mr. Parker isn't simply paying me to nanny Olive. I owe a great debt to him. Thanks to him I have a roof over my head and am able to live with my brother. So it isn't simply about money. Although I would be lying if I said more money wouldn't be nice. Especially if I could earn it by doing something so simple."

He cut me off there, "Simple? Are you being serious right now? The level of work you did for that girl typically requires someone to go to fashion school, and have some sort of knowledge of childrens psychology. You should have the purple and blue that I have been blessed with. You said this was your first time properly styling a child. That is unbelieveable, trust me, what you did today wasn't simple, at least not to most people." he said.

His words gave me bit of a confidence boost, but I still couldn't take the job.

"I am sorry Sin, but I really am unable to take the job." I said.

"Okay Miss Foster, what if I make you a deal. I will use Olive as a model for some of my professional work, and when she is doing her thing; I will pay you to do the styling and wardrobe for the rest of my models. This is only contract work, so you won't be getting a salary, but I will pay you accordingly for your hours worked." Sin offered.

I smiled. This was an amazing offer that I could actually do. This way I could stay out of the orphanage, and help Robert with living expenses. I had to think before I answered, I couldn't act to eager and end up losing money.

"This offer sounds good," I said calmly, "but I have a few conditions."

He raised an eyebrow and responded "Name them, and I will see what I can do."

I smiled once again and continued

"Firstly, since this is a contract job, I cannot afford to purchase any of my own supplies, so your company will have to supply all of the proper makeup and tools I will need to style your models, obviously this includes Olive's supplies as well; and secondly, I wish to have a minimum pay of an adults minimum wage, I do not wish to be paid as a minor. I feel that these conditions should be easily met." I said this both maturely and professionally.

It had gone very well, in my mind at least.

"Oh darling" said Sin "Those are already set standards, they aren't actually conditions. Don't you worry about pay, like I said before I can certainly afford you, you will be getting more than minimum wage." he said.

I stuck out my arm giving Sin a handshake. "

Sounds like a deal. Now you better go take some pictures of Olive before she starts screaming." I said.

Sin looked frazzled. He had obviously forgotten about her.

"You can wait in the waiting room we will be about an hour. I will bring Miss Parker to you when we are done."

I was too excited now to take my scheduled nap, so instead of sleeping in an uncomfortable chair and catching up on sleep, I decided to spill everything to Julia. I talked and talked with her, it looked as if we had been friends for years, though her happy end of the conversation might just be her being forced to be polite at work.

"I can't wait to tell Robert!" I exclaimed, I had almost forgotten about him.

"Ooh who is Robert? A boyfriend maybe?" Julia attempted to tease.

I faked gagging as she snickered.

"No way, Robert is my brother. Well sort of my brother, we aren't actually related, but he is enough of a brother for me to introduce him as my brother. Looks like I am going to be coming here often, so maybe you will meet him someday."

We continued talking for the most part of an hour. Sin and Olive came walking towards us. Sin thanked Olive for being a good girl. Then Olive took my place in talking to Julia. Sin began to talk with me.

"Here is my card, you can call or text me when you need to. Can you give me your phone number so I can reach out to you with job opportunities?" he asked.

I scratched my head, "The thing is I don't actually have a phone." Julia, Olive, and Sin all looked shocked.

"Not even a landline?" Julia asked.

"Nope." I responded.

"Well then...maybe I can manage to get you a company phone. All I will have to do is give some headshots of Olive with her new style, and say that you are her manager. That should work. Next time you are here, I will give you a company phone."

I was shocked.

In one day I managed to successfully woo Olive as a stylist, I got a paying job, and was about to get a free cell phone. It didn't seem real, I had to double check.

"Are you sure about all of this? This will be my first real job, I have only done makeup once, and this seems like a lot to ask for, for someone like me." I asked timidly.

Sin looked at me and smiles a bit he began to talked.

"Honey you are wise beyond your years. You are a prodigy when it comes to working with makeup, you know how to handle yourself, and you even gave conditions when you could. Obviously you can see why I wanted your talent. You may be a bit odd, you know being white and all, but you obviously should be blue. You are smart and know how to get what you want. Don't act shy now."

I smiled so wide it was obvious I was happy with what he had said. The only compliments I had ever received were from Robert or toddlers. On top of that he said I should be blue. I almost felt like I had turned blue that instant. I couldn't wait to tell Robert. Julia started talking.

"I think she could have some pink too."

At this point I was almost to the point of tears. Julia continued

"She was so nice explaining about her complexion when I seemed nervous, and she is obviously kind to Miss Parker which we know is D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T" Julia spelt out.

Olive started yelling "What did you spell about me? I bet it was bad!"

Julia looked at me. It was obvious that she felt like she was being backed into a corner.

"Julia spelt wonderful, but she spelt it in French, so we would understand her without the accent." I said. Olive quickly changed her raging demeanor.

"See a natural blue." said Sin. "Okay girls it is time I said goodbye. I have other clients. Olive you were so beautiful today, keep up the good work. I will email you the pictures." He walked away back towards where we had come from.

"Okay Julia this is where we say our goodbyes as well. Say goodbye Olive." I said.

Olive scrunched up her face and crossed her arms. I knew she didn't like to be told what to do, but this was ridiculous. I knelt down to Olive's height.

"Okay Squirt. I didn't want it to come to this, but If you aren't nice and misbehave like this. I am going to have to make you ugly when I do your makeup, but I will make all of the other girls pretty." She stared at me, daggers for eyes. If looks could kill I would be dead.

"You wouldn't dare. I would tell my dad on you." she said.

I raised my eyebrow and smiled an evil smile.

"I can do your makeup however I wish. Remember what I said before, your dad thinks you look beautiful no matter what you look like. He won't even notice if you think you look ugly."

Her eyes opened wide she was shocked. She thought what I said was true for sure. I knew that all she had to do was give one complaint about me, and I would be fired. She didn't need to know that however.

"Fine I will listen." Olive said reluctantly.

I stood up, held Olive's hand and said once more "Say goodbye to Julia, Olive." She glared at me once more.

"Goodbye Julia" Olive said reluctantly. This kid will not be easy, but I can handle this brat even if blackmail is the only answer. Julia was shocked that I managed to get Olive to submit.

"Goo-goodbye Miss Parker and Miss Foster." she stuttered in surprise. As we were walking away; she said one more thing.

"Definitely blue." I smiled once again as we continued to walk towards the doors. Not one, but two people think I should, no could, be blue. Neither of them showed any signs of being sarcastic either. These weren't bullies these were honest compliments. Could I ever be blue?