She stood under the Residence Inn metal awning, waiting for the third NYC deluge of Tuesday to slow to a trickle. She had what one called an “interesting” face. Most prominent were her Veggie stick legs, wrapped in Saran Wrap tight black leggings, attached to 2023’s version of platform boots.
James was waiting for his room to be cleaned. He sat in his wheelchair by the hotel lobby window and fantasized that her name was Chloe. She was working as a salesperson in Bergdorf Goodman, biding time until her big break as a runway model happened. Two years ago, she left her family’s row house in Queens and was sharing a fourth-floor walkup one-bedroom somewhere between the Flatiron and Bowery, with Daniel, another wannabe model.
As the rain let up, James saw Chloe reach for her mobile phone. It was the very expensive modeling school that she had just graduated from and for which she had to beg her parents for a loan. The voice on the other end told Chloe that a talent scout from Natori saw a photo of her from the last faux runway show and wanted to interview her Wednesday morning for their Fashion Week show. Could she get out of work for a few hours? Chloe ran uptown to the high-end store, determined that if they wouldn’t give her the time off she would quit.
James silently wished her good luck, finished his now lukewarm latte and wheeled to the elevator that took him to the 27th floor. In his room, he swallowed a couple of anti-depressants and dreamt of another time and calls from agents and a career in film that never was.
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Jess Nadelman is a frequent contributor to Lightwood. He has had many careers and now lives and writes in Colorado. Read more of this work here by clicking his name on our Search Button.
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