Aadvika’s articles

Full Piece 1

Chapter 1

Everyone says that I have curly, auburn hair that runs till my elbows, although not too curly yet still natural curls that everyone falls for. I have big brown eyes, more like hazel with thin lips, and a small nose. I love the fact I don’t know what music is, even if people try to explain it in a way. I love the fact that when I took dance, my teacher in sign language says ‘feel the beat’. I always chuckled, I don’t even know what my own voice sounds like. I tap a girl named Kaitlyn across from me and she looks at me, with her blond curls bouncing around. 

Her blue eyes look into mine, and she signs ‘what’s up?’ I sign back, “Show me a video,” 

She searches through her phone and smiles. I always loved Kaitlyn when she smiled, ever since I met her when she was 16 and wanted to work for a random deaf person. She taps on her phone, turns it toward me and taps it to play. It’s a classroom, with a huge blackboard with writing that says Pre-K 2000 in big pretty green letters, tulips drawn on the board and parents taking videos, like my parents took mine. The phone turns over to my mom, and her excited expression. She gave me my auburn hair and I got my hazel eyes from my dad. Chairs with children circle the room. Small, but pretty. I see myself, in a red top with my favorite pink pants given by my older sister. The teacher seems to talk for a while and all the kids start opening their mouths and say something. I think it’s music. I see myself looking around smiling. My heart dropped. I was always the odd one out in every class, my parents didn’t want to send me to a school for deaf kids, so I went to a regular school. I shook off that feeling and watched the kids. All their little mouths moving with delight, smiling. Soon enough, everyone started hitting their hands together, clapping. The teacher looked at me and signed something. I nodded my little head and the whole class understood what to do. I was wondering… what was I doing? My teacher gives all of us a look, and we start the alphabet… in sign language. I smiled so hard while watching. My whole class learned the alphabet for me. Tears of joy formed in my eyes and silently fled out. Kaitlyn looked at me and smiled, she knew what to show me all the time. The video ends with applause, and Kaitlyn pulls the phone away. I was about to sign for a tissue, but she already knew and gave me one before I even asked. I tap my face and wipe my tears. She taps my knee and looks down at her watch. I groan, it’s time to go outside. I wear an orange sweater that has a leaf on it and exit the house with Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn goes in front of me and I follow behind. She heads towards the elevator, but I… I take a sharp right and go down the stairs quickly without her noticing. The walls pretty rusty, but no railings. I run down as fast as I can and I jump off my last 2 steps. I wait in front of the elevator gasping for air, slowly breathing in, and out. While waiting in the lobby for her in front of the elevator, the door opens and I see her scowl. 

 “How can you just leave me like that! I know you like running, but you can’t just leave! Also, we live on the 7th floor of the apartments! How’d you get here so fast?!” she yells which seems like annoyance.

I look at her confused with my eyebrows scrunched up. What was she saying? I look at Kaitlyn and then her face changes, her mouth making an o shape like she just realized, like she forgot the fact I was deaf. She signed the whole thing in sign language like a lecture. I roll my eyes and she grabs me by the hand. It sucks to be babysat sometimes. We walk through the lobby, the walls marble and gold, with a huge gold ring that’s a chandelier. The lights shine down and the reception flashes me a smile. The boy is at least 19, he’s been working here for a while, and he knows me well. I flash a smile back and I get dragged out of the building. The city itself bustles with people cramming into the streets. I put sunglasses on, so the streets don’t get even more crammed because I’m here. Smoke roams the air and everything is quiet, to me of course. The buildings are so tall I have to look up to see the top. Billboards with my face on them. The New York life just seems perfect. I continue walking and everyone looks at me when I pass by, I guess my style is just perfect. A loose cropped white blouse with checkered pants that are white and black. My heels match with my pants by having white gems on my black heels. Kaitlyn, in front of me, goes into a small shop and I follow. The clear door opens and a lavender scent fills the air. I take a deep breath, mmm, it made me feel a lot better. The shop had a one floor, and everything on that floor… are boxes. I carefully step around the crowded shop and we head on the elevator. We press the button that sends a cold shock through me, and our elevator arrives. The doors slide open, and we both enter inside it. The elevator goes down a floor and opens up again. Dust fills the air and cardboard boxes everyday. Dang, this is a dusty warehouse. I look around, and this is also a huge one. The ceiling seems so far away and it’s so vast. A door at the corner opens up and I see a small figure. He has almond hair and tanned skin. 

“Through here!” He signed to me. 

I quickly walk over to follow the guy and enter through the door. The walls and floor were marble, with silky Woodbine & Coral colored fabrics. A huge chandelier hangs from the ceiling with bits of rhombuses of glass hanging and jangling. There are podiums and even more fabric filling the area. My mouth dropped, this is exotic. I walk over to the cardboard boxes filled with fabric and scurry through. I take a Dusk Blue color and a silvery gray color. 

“Kaitlyn,” I sign and she looks over at me, “What do you think of a dress, half blue, half gray with white butterflies would be like?” I sign with a small smile on my face. 

She looks at me, and smiles back saying, “I think that would be beautiful.”

I search around even more, trying to find even more colors of fabric. A glowy crimson red caught my eye. I imagined a long dress, that dragged to the floor leaving a trail. I go back to the Woodbine and Coral colors and combine them in a way. A swirl of both, that could work. I reach into the pocket of my pants and felt a small curved edge. I wrap my finger around the item and bring it out. A small notebook, the size of my palm with a white background and in gold letters it says ‘big ideas, small notebook’ on the middle of the book cover. I open to the next empty page and draw each of their dresses. The half blue and gray one, fading to a blue to gray in a gown, with white butterflies attached, and perhaps can fly away. The hands will be ¾ sleeves, with puffiness that’ll be the color gold. The pencil in my hand lights up the sketch, and starts darkening with more pressure. I flip a page and I sketch out a crimson red dress that drags across the floor. The dress would be a sleeveless dress and would have a silky threads that you tie into a bow that’ll cover the back. I flip another page, thinking about 2 dresses in one. A flarry Woodbine one with a bow in front. Twirl super fast, and the green dress comes off, with a coral dress underneath has full sleeves and with an u shape collar neck. Then the bottom half  is a long skirt that is with a slit until the knee. I close my notebook and return it back into my pocket along with my pencil. There, something is done. I find an old sturdy box to sit on and rest. 

Kaitlyn joins me and signs, ‘Why did you recruit me that day?’ I rest my hands on my lap and sign back a story.

Chapter 2

It was when I was 19- turning 20, when I went to the local high school, and entered the school. The fresh air greeted me and I looked up to see a huge banner that said ‘Home of the Eagles!’ In big white letters with a dark green background and a golden border. Under the letters is a small silver eagle. My heels click and clack across the floor as I find myself walking to a woman at the front desk. She looks up from her computer, with her glasses on the tip of her nose, she gives me a pleasant smile and says something. I gestured for a pen and she understood quickly and handed it to me. I found sticky notes on the counter and wrote in cursive. I ripped the sticky note off and handed it. She snatched it from me and skimmed over the note. After she understood, she signed back, ‘what can I help you’. 

At that moment a smile formed on my face and I signed back, ‘take me to a debate class. 

I followed the woman with her brunette hair bouncing after each step. Her hair reached a bit more than her shoulder and it matched her eyes also with her coffee colored sweater she was wearing. It was in the middle of fall so it was understandable. My heels echo across the tile floor and we take a right turn into a small hallway that leads us into classrooms that have desks aligned in rows along with chairs. We take a left and enter into a room. Carpeted floor, 6 green desks into 2 rows on one side of the room, and 6 other desks across the room. It was definitely an interesting set-up. There were freshmen, sophomores and juniors standing up talking, which seemed like yelling. Everyone seemed interested, but it was definitely chaotic. I could tell, harsh arguments, great points, trying to make comebacks and that was when I saw Kaitlyn. She had short hair back then, her blond hair just at her shoulders. Across from her, was a girl around her height with very short hair, a bit above the shoulders. The girl smirked, and Kaitlyn stumbled. Kaitlyn’s stormy blue eyes showed it all, she was going to try her very best to win this case. She seemed to yell louder and louder and threw her papers which made everyone quiet. Her face was red, she was fierce. She took a few deep breaths and sat down quietly. Everyone was in shock, it seemed like she won. The teacher opened his mouth and all the students sat down. That’s when I decided to knock on the door. I did a little knock to indicate I was there, and everyone looked up to me. The teacher smiled at me, he had gray hair, black glasses, was wearing trousers, but seemed super fun. 

He signed to me, ‘welcome to our school,’ guess he already knew. 

I smiled and entered the classroom.

 I waved my hand to the students and they all waved back. ‘I would like to see that one there,’ I signed to the teacher, pointing at Kaitlyn, ‘does she know sign language?’ I signed. 

But instead of the teacher answering, she signed back, ‘yes ma’am, I do know how to sign, how may I help you?’

I gestured for her to join me outside and we took a little walk around the school. She was in a uniform, a green collared dress that ended at a bit more after her knees. She wore a plaited headband with green, white and yellow. School colors. Her shoes were white and the earrings she was wearing were pretty, a diamond. She looked smart enough too, and those skills I saw in class. Well, it seemed like I found someone that could help me up my fashion career from the extra money I saved for years. Hopefully, she would agree. 

‘How old are you,’ I asked.

‘16 ma’am,’

‘Please, call me Lily,’

 She smiled and signed, ‘I prefer ma’am’

I smiled back and asked her, ‘what would you like to do in the future,’

She shrugged, ‘hopefully something my parents would approve, they aren’t much fans of me doing debate, they think it’s worthless. Maybe I’ll become an engineer or a housewife, who knows?’

I asked her a question, ‘do you want to do something that helps with businesses? Like fashion, you know, promoting outfits and helping someone,’ 

She smiled, ‘I love fashion, I’ve always wanted to create something with pieces of cloth and fabric and make something that represents you, you know?’

I slowly nodded, that was definitely a familiar feeling for me.

‘I love that,’ I answered, ‘what other interests do you have?’

’Well I’ve always loved riding bikes, reading, writing and playing sports like basketball and volleyball,’ She answered cheerily. 

An idea popped into my head, maybe she could design her own, I mean if she lasts with me long enough, I could surprise her perhaps, let her lead her own dream as well. 

We circled around the school, walking in silence, I had one final question left.

I nudged her and asked, ‘How do you know how to speak sign language?’ I asked.

Her eyes wandered around the school till she came back to me, ‘deafness is a common genetic disease that runs in my family, my little brother has it and so does my mom, my dad and I, are the ones in the family that aren’t deaf. It’s a great family though, but one day, me and my dad hope we can hear their voices, crisp and clear. Sometimes when they’re asleep, we both sit down on our dining table and talk for hours about our interests we have, books, writing, the latest news, and what we imagine my brother’s and my mom’s voice would be. We think my brother’s voice would be a squeaky toy kinda voice, and my mom with the voice with an angel. Though, it’s been a while since we had a nice conversation, a real one. Half the time I go talk to him, but he never answers back when I go to the graveyard weekly, I wish he would. 

It hits me like a steel wall, her dad died. Her eyes gloomily looked around and closed slowly and softly.

“Sorry for your loss,” I signed with my hands barely signing. 

 “It’s ok,” she signed, “I’ve always thought of him, but I got over the death of a loved one.” 

I felt so bad, she lost such an important person in her life, but maybe my deal would cheer her up.

 “Hey, I have an offer for you, I saw you in that classroom and wow, you are spectacular! I’m going to start as a small fashion designer, and I felt like, maybe with you as my manager and under my wing, we can promote designs across the world, why, maybe one day you’ll get to make your own designs.” 

She took it into consideration, her eyebrows scrunched up thinking really hard. After a few minutes, she looked up with a small smile and signed, “I’ll consider it, meanwhile, can I have your number just in case I want to?” 

I reached into my pocket and took out a piece of paper from my pocket- already having my number on the paper. I gave it to her, and she took it. She gave me a last big smile and she walked away to class. 

I came back to reality and I look beside me with Kaitlyn, with her eyes wide open. I snap and she also comes back. 

I say (in sign language of course!), “The rest is history, you call me, I help make arrangements with your family and make sure they are safe. And today, your mom is happy, and your little brother now works professionally as a businessman, and he’s the best in the world… And since you worked with me for enough years, I was thinking about this. How would you like to design your own clothes for this project! Maybe add some sports stuff, or something you’ve always wanted to make. I need you to make 3-4 designs and show them to me, ok?” 

She doesn’t answer, instead she snatches my notebook from my pocket and grabs my pen too. She walked away, sketching on the notebook, like nothing ever happened. I smile a bit, typical Kaitlyn.

Chapter 3

Kaitlyn comes running back after an hour or 2 and hands me my notebook. I flip open the cover and see the designs she drew. First one seems like a sports dress, well not really a dress but it looks like one. A long sleeve shirt connecting into a skirt to wear, a zipper in the back that makes the whole thing set. Caitlyn signs, “I feel like it’s good for sports, can look stylish with some accessories and hair designs of course, but shows a lot of athletes who love to dress up! I’m thinking colors like Bubblegum, Seaweed, and just black! What do you think?” 

I give back a thumbs-up and flip the next page.

The next page shows a 2 piece outfit. It has a blue blouse, with no hands. With a long pant running down to your ankle. It has tiny holes throughout the dress as a design. It’s comfortable yet stylish. I look up at Kaitlyn, and she looks super giddy. I flip through a few more pages of her designs and I’m really amazed. I knew she had a passion for fashion for a long time, but I didn’t know she really really knew how to make designs. I was surely excited, these clothes will be done in weeks and we’ll find beautiful models showing off these designer clothing. But then I stumbled into a problem. Where are we going to present these designs? I mean I could host a show… but in a few weeks and on such short notice… it’ll be nearly impossible. My trip is in a month, I can’t miss it. It’ll be almost the first trip I’ve had to visit my hometown.. in at least 7 years. I scheduled this years ago, making myself prepared and not backing out. I can’t stop. As I was trying to figure out the problem, the same almond guy who led us in, tapped on my shoulder and handed me an envelope. I simply read the cover. In nice cursive handwriting with black ink writes ‘From: Ellie Caddel’  and the address of the place. My heart stops when I read that name. I quickly yank yet carefully open the envelope seal and pull out the letter below and read over it.

Dear Lily,

Ellie Caddel here! If you don’t know me, I am a fashion designer well known around the world who has won tons of awards for creating clothing! I run the Eagle, as the most famous designer company on the globe, making clothes for the richest of people and also the public. We run a major fashion show every year and this year it’s on October 29th where people around the world watch the biggest show of the year! Many models and designers meet up to make their designs and work together for a few weeks. Not just fashion workers meet up, but everyone around the earth is welcome! This year, I am recruiting you to work on my fashion show and show off your designs. You’re unique, stylish and an amazing designer with all those transitions as your speciality. And oh, the colors you choose? Simply go along so well. I’m not even that good I’ll admit! I hope you can join us this year in Monaco! Yes, the climate might be a bit different, but it’ll sure be an experience. We typically do have a theme, as this one looks for princessy, and that’s what we’ll aim for. But, of course if you have anything else, you’re welcome to make it. I’ve already paid for as many tickets as you need, and I would need you to fly out on October 4th, if you accept the offer. We’ll make dresses and anything you need in Monaco at this big warehouse we own, but if there is any material you might need to bring, please do. Oh also! There are forms inside the envelope if you haven’t seen it yet! Please sign the forms below for your models and anyone coming to Monaco if you join. There are up to 10 sheets, only 10 people per team (including you) allowed. You would need to fill out their name, age, and other common information! Come join us on this opportunity and have a great day!

World known designer, 23rd time winning award of best designer of the year,

–Ellie Caddel

I look at the forms below and quickly scan through them. Alright, simple enough… but will I go? It’s a huge opportunity and it really is. But… my trip. Mom hasn’t seen me in a long time, I can’t break her heart like that. It’s really important. My eyes search for Kaitlyn and she has been gone. 

I pull up my phone from my pocket and slide it open to contact my mom. Sending her a picture of the letter, I anxiously wait for her response. She’s someone who’s always been there for me, someone who takes care of me when Dad is gone on business trips throughout the world. She used to lose belief in me when I was little, the mindset that I wasn’t good enough. I always followed what she told me though, she would lift up my chin and let me dissolve into her eyes, and she always said, “Follow your dreams”

to be continued

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