Chapter Text
It was the middle of summer when Lewis went outside the early morning. He tried to earn some money by helping around at Miss Rachel’s flower shop.
Miss Rachel was like a second mom to him. When his family was at their lowest she was the one who offered him to be an assistant.
Even though his family’s still poor he at least eats dinner every night. They may not have the best clothes but they make it work.
Lewis has one older sister and one younger brother. His older sister is 20 and lives with her husband whom she married a year ago.
His younger brother is 14 he tries to help around the house by cleaning and sometimes he passes out newspapers for some money.
Lewis starts to walk faster to the small flower shop. He starts to smile thinking of what might happen at the shop.
He loved working there. He enjoyed the atmosphere, all the plants, and even the customers.
The customers were nice to him which isn't common. Since his family is five they didn’t get the best treatment.
Though he was thankful that he and his family isn’t six, seven, or eight. They were treated like gum on the bottom of your shoe, a stain to society.
When he finally reached the flower shop he opened to door to find Miss Rachel sitting beside him to register to prepare to begin the day.
“Hurry up Lewis you only have five minutes to get dressed,” shouted Miss Rachel.
“Alright Miss Rachel.”
He learned not to argue with her, it never ends well. Once, you learn Miss Rachel's always right you'll make it to see another day.
Lewis rushed to the backroom got dressed in an all-white long sleeve shirt with a small sunflower design in the top left corner.
Since Miss Rachel originally wanted a female assistant all the bottoms she had were long old-fashioned golden yellow skirts.
It was to match the sunflower. At first, he was unsure about wearing it until Miss Rachel talk to him about it.
She said that clothes don't have genders and people can wear what they want. After that, he started feeling more comfortable wearing the skirt.
He also wore an all-black apron so he
wouldn't get the clothes dirty and some black flats for his shoes.
Although Lewis still got a little unsure when a male customer comes in. It was a vast contrast to his usual outfit.
He's normally wearing a baggy light brown shirt with some dark brown pants.
When he came out of the backroom Miss Rachel scolded,” how many times do I have to tell you the tuck in your shirt.”
Lewis hurriedly tucked his shirt in with an awkward smile. He always forgets for some reason.
“Now Lewis can you be a dear and change the sign on the door.”
Lewis nodded and changed the sign so it says open instead of closed. He'd always been obedient it was just engraved in him.
Sometimes mother would say she had one daughter, not two. He knew she was just joking but at times he felt like there was an underlying message saying,” you should act like a boy.”
Though he tried to ignore it, it always came back. It's like when you tell someone to leave you alone and they leave you alone for a few hours. Then when you're least expect it they come right back to bother you.
Miss Rachel helps him with that kind of stuff. She can somehow tell when something is wrong with him.
A couple of minutes after he changed the sign the first customer comes in. He's not
surprised to see Mr. Ricky. He's always the first customer of the day even when he's sick.
He says to Miss Rachel,” have you heard about the selection coming up darling.”
“Of course I have Ricky but you know my daughter Is seventeen which is too old to sign up.”
“She can always lie.”
“That would get us in very deep trouble, you know life is hard out here.”
“Who wouldn’t and I was just suggesting it.”
Lewis was wiping one of the tables when he heard Mr. Ricky say,” what about him?”
He stopped what he was doing and stared at him in confusion. “What about him,” Miss Rachel asked.
“I’m sure if you dress him up he could pass as a nice lady he even wears a skirt when he works.”
“First of all, he has to wear a skirt that’s the dress code. Second, I refuse to put Lewis in a situation that could get him trouble.”
“Fine just think about I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”
After Mr. Ricky said that he bought some flowers and left.
Lewis was thinking about what Mr. Ricky said. Many people did tell him that he looks like a girl because of his soft kind of rounded face.
Miss Rachel does often tell him that he has a good figure. Maybe he could give it a chance.
_______________
It was early Saturday morning when he went to Miss Rachel’s house. Even though it was the weekend he still went to see her.
Lewis knocked on the door three times before she opened it. She was still in her pajamas and her hair was still messy.
“What do you need this early in the morning, you know folks need to sleep,” scolded Miss Rachel.
“I know this is a lot to ask but can you help me with something?”
“Come in child and we can talk after we have breakfast.”
Breakfast took a while to be cooked. Lewis hated it, it left him alone with his thoughts. He didn’t like it not one bit.
“So dear what could you possibly want at eight in the morning,” she asked while setting the food on the small table.
“I wanted to ask if you could help me get into the selection.”
The was some silence for a brief moment.
Suddenly Miss Rachel screamed,” BOY HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!”
Lewis was startled for a moment. Miss Rachel didn’t tell that often.
Once she calmed down a bit she then said defeated,” what could I do to help.”
Lewises face lit up in excitement. He didn’t expect her to say yes at all. He thought she would scold him then kick him out.
“I know you have a daughter and you know a lot about makeup and girls. So, I was wondering if you could teach me to be more ladylike and make me look like one.”
Lewis basically pleaded with Miss Rachel and she just couldn’t say no. “Fine but you better win that prince over, I don’t wanna put in all this work just for you to fail.”
After that Miss Rachel took him all the basic things a lady should know. Like cooking, cleaning, looking presentable, etc.
Now they were in Miss Rachel’s daughter, Brianna’s old room. Lewis sat at the white vanity admiring himself in the mirror.
He looked gorgeous, Miss Rachel fixed him up. Miss looked at Lewis and said,” you better glad you already had a beautiful face. You know you have to take a picture with and without makeup right.”
Lewis nodded still looking in the mirror. Now he was sure he had a good chance.
Then Lewis said,” what would be my girl name?”
Miss Rachel looked at him some more and breathed,” Jenna.”
“Why Jenna,” asked Lewis.
“I always wanted another daughter but the doctor said I couldn’t have any more kids. Jake and I already planned the name Jenna for the next girl. Since you’re basically my kid it just feels right.”
Lewis stood up and hugged Miss Rachel. Saying thank you Repeatedly.
“You’re welcome child now let’s get this makeup off your face. I don’t want you to have anything pimples before your big day.”
______________
Lewis and Miss Rachel now were at the front door. Miss Rachel added any extra details and made sure Lewis was perfect.
Miss Rachel decided to do natural makeup. She said it to enhanced his features.
She straightened his jet black hair and it sat just below the shoulders. He could never get a haircut because he and his family’s poor.
So he just let it grow out same with his younger brother. Miss Rachel didn’t mind she said that his hair was healthy and it made him look more girly.
“What’s your name?”
“Jenna Vixen.”
“Age.”
“16.”
“Hobbies.”
“Cooking and sewing.”
“Likes dislikes.”
“Singing and dancing, mean people.”
“Where do you see yourself ten years from now?”
“Married with children.”
“Good you now have an idea of the questions you might be asked.”
“Now, remember to be nice and kind even when you don’t want to there’ll be broadcasting the selection on live television. You don’t want your reputation soiled do you?”
“No, but I’m already a nice person right” Lewis questioned.
“Yes, indeed you are just reminding you.”
“Now go and put this dress on when you arrive there should be a fitting room,” Miss Rachel said as she pushed Lewis out the door.
Before Lewis could say I word she swiftly said,” come back here when you’re finished, bye.”
Then shut the door. Now Lewis stood in front of the door shocked.
He quickly came out of it and began the long walk.
______________
It was indeed a long walk. Along the way through he saw people staring at him.
He was sure the reason was that they didn’t recognize him. Maybe they thought he was pretty.
He secretly hoped they were staring at him for that reason as well.
When Lewis walked into the area he discovered that there was a fairly short line.
“Well, it is 7 in the morning. Of course, barely any people would be here” Lewis thought.
He made his way to the back of the line and waited.
It seemed like a quick and easy process. Soon enough, it was his turn.
Lewis walked to sign the name of his fake name, Jenna Vixen, and went to the room.
The room was sort of small but it was better than his bedroom. There was a tall stool in the middle with lots of lights.
They were directed at the tall stool that stood in the middle of the room. Suddenly, the cameraman came from behind the camera and told him,” all the need to do is sit on the stool look at the camera, and smile. Afterward, you’ll go to the bathroom wash your makeup off, and repeat the process.”
Seem easy enough or so Lewis thought.
The cameraman wanted it to be perfect. He said something about how he wanted to capture “her” beautiful facial structure and “her” exotic hair.
The process was about fifteen minutes in contrast to the average five minutes everyone else took.
“Maybe that was a good thing,” Lewis thought himself.
All he thought about on the way to Miss Rachel’s house as if he made it in or not.
__________________
Lewis and Miss Rachel waited impatiently for them to announce the girls who made it in.
People were crowded all along the streets with the girls who auditioned in the front.
“Nervous,” Miss Rachel asked quietly.
“Yeah of course who wouldn’t be.”
“Look I’m confident that you made it in after all I did fix you up.”
Lewis felt his confidence rise after hearing Miss Rachel. Sometimes, he wishes that Miss Rachel was his mother.
She acts more like a mom than his biological one ever did.
Lewis’s thoughts were interrupted when he saw a man with a card walk on stage. He then picks up the microphone and says,” sorry for the wait.”
The mysterious man opens up the card and begins reading the names. Only ten girls will be accepted.
“Eva Wilson.”
“Alison Marie.”
“Marice Johnson.”
“Jenna Vixen.”
All the other names were a blur the Lewis it felt like everything was spinning. Until Miss Rachel patted him on the shoulder and smile proudly. “See what did I tell you.”
Lewis hugged Miss Rachel and started ranting about how much he appreciated her and all the impact she made on his life.
“All the ladies whose name was called come to the stage!”
Lewis or now Jenna walked to the stage it felt like it was a dream. Like it was unreal.
(Lewis will now be referred to as Jenna using she/her pronouns)
She take her time walking up the stairs making sure she wouldn’t trip or fall. She really didn’t want to embarrass herself.
Luckily, everything went smoothly. She received flowers from apparently the prince. There was a note that said,” can’t wait to see you!”
They were told that they only had 2 hours to say goodbye to family and friends. The guy in the front told me that they didn’t need to pack because they will have everything they’ll need.
This was a start to a new beginning.