Make-up

Party

My mother had invited her friends around for a makeup party organised by a friend of the family. My bedroom was the room above and she had already shouted up for me to turn down the hi-fi.

I decided I’d better go out to the pub sooner than I’d planned.

As I went down to get my coat and go I met my mother in the hall, as she went to the bathroom. She normally didn’t wear much makeup so it was a bit of a shock to see her professionally made-up. I must admit it did look good.

"What do you think?"

"Very nice mum."

From the back room where the party was going on they heard my voice, wine was flowing and good humour was evident.

"Come in Niraj, it’s your turn now! You’ll look lovely with a bit of colour."

What I did.

Stuck my head around the door and said, "You must be kidding! I’m out of here." Then went to the pub.

What I wish that I’d done.

"You think so? What would people think of me!"

"Oh go on, it’ll be a challenge for the make-up artist. You’re among friends here." Said mum’s friend Ashmita. "Your mum will get a big surprise when she sees you!"

"What have I to lose apart from my dignity! Go ahead."

All the ladies cheered. The makeup artist Shilpa just smiled and as she wrapped an apron around my neck said "Brave lad, I’ll make you look nice, not like a clown, don’t worry. If you’re not happy about anything just shout."

She carefully cleansed and toned my skin then began to apply a liquid base foundation, there were no mirrors so I could not see what was happening. I then felt her brush my cheeks with powder then she asked me to close my eyes. She worked quickly with deft movements of the brush on my eyelids, then I opened them again to allow her to apply the mascara and eyeliner pencil. She moved to my lips and using a brush and pencil outlined the shape then filled in, I could not see the colours being used, another brush applied a gloss coating. My facial makeup was finished using an eyebrow pencil. I could feel the effect of the cleansers and astringents and taste the gloss on my lips, my eyelashes felt heavier and I could see the thickness added to them. It felt good but she wasn’t finished. Now she asked me to lay my hands on a cloth on my lap and proceeded to give me a manicure. She had been describing what she was doing all the way through and now explained that the nail varnish should match the lip colour. I could now see the rich ruby red applied to my shaped nails and had to imagine how this complimented my face.

As she finished she took off the apron and gave me a mirror to look in. You couldn’t say the girl was a supermodel but it wasn’t a boy looking back, it wasn’t my face at all.

My mother smiled, "you look just like your sister." The other ladies applauded, isn’t she lovely, they called.

Thanks for being a great sport," whispered Ashmita. "Here’s some cleanser, you can go upstairs to clean it off."

Mother followed me upstairs. "Don’t clean it off just yet dear, come into my room."

On the bed there was some underwear and one of my sisters dresses, I knew instantly what she wanted to do. I slipped off my clothes and dressed in the offered ensemble, mother helped with the bra filling it with rolled up panties, and showed me how to pull on the red Lycra lagging  to match the dress. As I stepped into the dress she zipped me up from behind and steadied me as I placed my feet into the low heeled  shoes. Then she led me to the mirror and as I admired the transformation she brushed out my hair into a pageboy style, clipped on earrings and a gold chain around my neck. I had tried on my sister’s things before but never had the complete outfit with the professional makeup to complete the effect.

"You look stunning my dear we can’t call you Niraj it’ll have to be Nisha tonight."

I was still amazed that my mother was conspiring to create this image but I turned and kissed her.

"Lets surprise them mum!"

We went downstairs and mum introduced a new ‘girl’ to the party. The ladies welcomed me warmly after their initial surprise, mum did say to them that they had started it so she’d finished it!

We sat and watched as several other ladies were ‘made over’ and at 9:30 the party finished and the guests began to leave. Shilpa was the only one left and mum said to her "come on girls no point being beautiful with no where to go lets get a drink at the wine-bar."

I only realised she meant me as well when I was handed a coat and handbag. And guided towards the door. The cool night air swirled around my legs and I enjoyed the feeling of freedom the outfit gave. The bar was only five minutes walk and Shipa brought us a glass of wine each as we sat in an table.

I could feel the attention of the men in the bar, It was scary and yet felt good. Mum and Shilpa treated me like a teenage girl for the rest of the evening.

Eventually Shipa left and we returned home, mum helped me undress and cleanse my face and as I went to bed ‘Nisha’ had gone.

In the morning there was a present by my bed, a box of cosmetics, the colours as chosen the night before.

End...

© amand