Victor's doorbell rang. He opened to find his latest tutoring subject. She was a brown beauty with shoulder length dreadlocks bound haphazard in a narrow flowered headscarf tied close to her scalp. Dark eyes, dusky smooth face and baggy Reggae clothing completed the look. She handed Victor an envelope and said: "This is my letter of introduction." Victor opened the letter and read:
To: Victor, Senior Pageant Trainer
From: Ms. Smith, Chairwoman, Total Woman Pageants Board of Directors
Subject: Jamie, Contestant for Miss Jamaica
The bearer of this communique is Jamie, the current Miss Jamaica. She is a candidate for this year's Miss Caribbean. She is gifted with intelligence and beauty. She speaks adequate Island English. Total Woman Pageants has been retained by her benefactor to perfect her in every way in order to outclass the competition in the upcoming pageant.
You are at liberty to use any and all means and methods necessary to instill in her the arts and skills demanded both onstage and backstage to win a world class beauty pageant. Please afford her the FULL range of your specialized tutoring. However, if at any time, you find this candidate to be reluctant or recalcitrant, feel free to return her to us without any regret or further obligation. She and her benefactor have been briefed on these terms and conditions and both have agreed in writing.
This Board, her benefactor and especially the pageant judges will truly appreciate your upmost attention to refining her abilities. As always, we thank you for favoring us with your valuable time and labors.
Victor folded the letter and looked over his latest charge. Her bold eyes stared forward, expecting his instructions or dismissal. He stepped out, waved the limousine driver on his way and carried her valises into the studio reception. Returning to the entrance, he ushered the woman inside, closed and locked the door and resigned himself to another long grueling week of work.
Jamie looked around at her accommodations for the coming week. Appearing unimpressed, she eyeballed Victor. He began his usual routine and guided her to the stage for an impromptu interview and once over. She was tall and firm figured, very self-assured by her stature.
"So, Miss Jamaica, why are you here?"
She boldly challenged him. "They told me you would teach me how to win beauty contests."
"And why do you want to win beauty contests? Frankly, you don't seem the type. The women are often shy and meek, needing to build confidence and self-esteem that they think can be gotten through external validation. Look at your stance right now. You look combative. Those are not beauty contest mannerisms. I may just dismiss you now and get it over with."
Jamie's shoulders sagged and her face melted, almost to a sniffle but that was not her style. She held her arms straight down, fists clenched. In between lumps in her throat, her frustrated staccato voice managed to say: "You wouldn't believe how hard and degrading life is for a young woman on the island. There is no gainful employment. Macho Rastafari dudes constantly grab and hit on me, drunken tourists diss' me as a local streggae tramp, expecting me to sell them ganja or cheap casual sex. Winning a beauty contest would be my ticket out, to a larger world where people treat each other with a modicum of dignity. I need your help. Please!"