Chapter 32
Yuri had been right it seemed, and the ladies' training began in earnest. Because of that, Kitty's estimation of fashion models surged to an all-time high as she was led through a brutal---at least in her mind---fashion show boot camp of sorts. Kitty learned quickly that walking the runway was no game! This was hard work, pal!
Kitty struggled to train hard, and train hard she did…for hours and hours a day. When things began to look bleak---which sometimes did happen---she found it especially helpful to think of two things: Yuri's promise that she'd let her use her sweet Lamborghini; and the frigthening, most disturbing image of poor Yuri with that pig Gaston Ripperoux in the same room…which made Kitty shudder with revulsion! Those two thing were oft-times the only reason she didn't throw her hands up and run screaming into the streets!
Carmelita found the training hard too, but where Kitty oft-times hovered on the edge of hysteria, Carmelita found it a novel and eye-opening experience. She found Yuri and Naomi very patient with them all, though they were strict task masters. Carmelita was so glad she had Sly though, for many reasons…for his heavenly foot rubs, as those high heels were tough, even for an ex-cop, for his patiently listening to her numerous gripes and complaints, and for his near constant emotional support. Oh, he didn't walk around like some cheerleader or anything…no, it was little things he did that touched her heart. Like how he seemed to be able to tell when she needed a hug, and when she needed time alone. Like the spontaneous affectionate smile he always seemed to have just for her…even when she didn't know she needed one.
However, as for poor Kitty, as the days passed, her view on this whole business didn't improve overmuch. Now, some of that attitude was due to the fact that she was forced to wear----she shuddered!---heeled shoes (now true, they were not anywhere as high as the ones that Carmelita, Yuri, Naomi, Svetlana and Maria all seemed to wear…but still!), shoes which pinched and made her poor feet ache after only a couple of hours wear. In addition to that particular indignity, Yuri seemed to take some odd delight in parading Kitty around endlessly in the dresses (okay, they were pretty dresses…but still!) that fairly made her want to scream! She swore to herself that if the next dress Yuri made her wear was festooned with oceans of lace or fringe, that snow leopard was going to get a piece of her mind!
Maria and Svetlana, surprisingly enough, both proved quick studies…perhaps that was due to the discipline they both were able to maintain. They both worked very hard, and were constant companions. That afternoon, Svetlana found Maria staring off into space, sort of dreamy-eyed, and smiling wistfully.
"What is it, Maria?" Svetlana said then, moving up to eye her friend, putting an arm about her shoulders.
Maria was startled a moment, but then looked over at Svetlana and grinned. "What? Oh, it is nothing, dear," she answered.
"Nothing, hmm?" Svetlana replied, one dark eyebrow quirking up, a grin on her lovely face.
"Oh, all right," Maria admitted with a grin of her own. "Can you believe we are here, Svetlana? Doing something this worthwhile…for someone as kind and caring as Madame Yuri? I…I have never felt this complete, this beautiful before. Now, sure I know that I am pretty, my friend…but beautiful? Nyet."
"You are too hard on yourself, Maria," Svetlana replied, gently hugging her friend. "We two have never before had such an opportunity to do something this, well…feminine before. Madame has a way of making us all feel special."
Maria grinned thankfully over at her small friend. "Thank you, Svetlana," she said, then flicked her topaz blue eyes cleverly at the tigress. "Even Kitty, my friend?"
Svetlana giggled softly, looking over at the pretty pale-haired vixen, whose expression just now would of curdled fresh milk. "Da, even our stubborn Kitty, Maria," she answered. She watched her move, and sighed happily. "Do you think she knows how beautiful she is, Maria?"
Maria looked over, regarding Kitty, then frowned. "Most likely no, I think," she opined, then grinned. "That's why Madame has allowed her handsome fella here every day, da?"
"Da," Svetlana responded, looking over to the handsome Ling. "If I had someone as handsome as Kitty's Ling mooning over me, I surely wouldn't mind."
"Svetlana," Maria chided her friend. "Do not tell me you have a crush on Constable Chu now…"
"Oh, nyet!" Svetlana replied quickly, blinking her large lovely eyes in surprise. "No, I don't, Maria. I just wish I had a special fellow of my own is all." She gazed off into the distance, thinking.
"You shall, dear," Maria assured her. "Be patient."
Fashion Hell---as Kitty had come to call it---continued on, and the very next day, Naomi informed all the girls that today was the day they would begin being made-up, cosmetics applied, their hair done, the whole works…in preparation for what was to occur for the real show itself. Kitty watched her friends---their pretty faces unadorned and freshly washed---move over behind the cubicle with Naomi…only to return later looking like---at least to Kitty!---refugees from fashion magazines. She shuddered…knowing this fate awaited her as well. Now, Kitty acknowledged that wasn't really a bad thing---I mean, after all, they were preparing for a fashion show, weren't they? However, that didn't by any means relieve the steadily sinking feeling poor Kitty felt in her stomach that day.
"Kitty? Come, cheri," Naomi commanded in that sweet steely tone of voice that reminded Kitty of a metal fist wrapped in a velvet glove. "It is time to make you tres manufique, mon ami." The cheetah smiled encouragingly at her most challenging prospect.
Kitty got to her feet---with the same enthusiasm usually reserved for those headed to the gallows!---and marched reluctantly over and flopped down into a chair in Naomi's Chamber of Horrors---or so she liked to call it. "Is this really necessary, Naomi?" Kitty whined pathetically, hating the very idea of what was about to be done to her. "I mean, you guys are always telling me I'm pretty just the way I am…"
"Kitty…" Naomi chided, using that same sweet voice, and those same hard eyes again. "Really now, Kitty…it´s not as bad as all that," Naomi soothed, as she prepared to get to work. "I promise…you shall look stunning, cheri. Trust me."
Kitty chose not to answer that, and Naomi went to work, applying a light application of a hot pink lipstick over her lips, nearly making Kitty physically cringe.
Naomi saw her charge wince in the mirror, and frowned. Why was this very pretty girl like this? she asked herself. "Kitty, the lipstick is tasteless and odorless…why is it that you find it so repellant?"
Kitty opened her right eye a smidgeon. "It's not the lipstick itself, Naomi," she replied. "It's just the way it makes me look that I don't like."
Naomi frowned at that. "But, cheri! It makes your lips very lovely…making them stand out on your pretty face, no?" she pointed out. And, it did at that…Kitty normally wore nothing upon her lips, so the addition of the soft hot pink color to her lips made them more noticeable. "You have very pretty lips, mon ami."
"Thanks, but I happen to like them just the way they are," Kitty remarked, just a bit tartly. "Or, I should say…the way they were." She directed her one narrowed blue eye at her reflection. Not bad, she admitted---though only to herself. The soft pink was only just a bit darker than her own natural lip color. She shrugged. "Go on, Naomi…just get this all over with, okay?"
While Naomi began to softly, gently rouge her cheeks, then apply the softest hint of powdery blue eyeshadow to her upper eyelids, Kitty blocked out everything…concentrating instead on her favorite things…like the Lamborghini! Like the amazing feeling she experienced snuggling close to her Ling, like watching a rousing soccer match, or even beating Ling at yet another car chase game on their Playstation. Anything pleasant, that was not so…well, girlish, that would allow her to weather this storm.
"Voila!" Naomi replied softly a moment later, her long supple fingers gently caressing Kitty's rounded cheeks one last time. "Kitty? Do take a look, cheri."
"Must I?" Kitty groaned, holding her eyes tightly shut. A part of her---deep in her subconscious perhaps---was curious as to how she now would look…her face made up like other women.
"Kitty…" Naomi warned in her same soft, steely voice, her patience wearing understandably very thin.
"All right," Kitty groused, and most reluctantly peeked open her eyes into narrow slits, then sighed heavily, and with a wrench of her will gazed at the young woman in the mirror before her.
Kitty, needless to say, was stunned! The face that gazed back at her in the mirror's surface was totally alien. Now, sure…the shape of her face was the same, and…her hair was still the same comfortable style she preferred. But, wow! the rest of her had changed. Her eyes---which were large to begin with---appeared even larger and, well, alluring now, enhanced by the soft blue of her eyelids, with the darker blue at each eyelid's edge. Her cheeks glowed just a bit pinkly…like she was softly blushing. All of these things were startling…but even more startling was the appearance of all of them together! "T-That's me?" Kitty questioned, grinning a moment…then frowned.
Naomi felt a moment's excitement, then sighed at Kitty's frown. "Oui? Go on…what is it, Kitty?" she questioned, frowning herself.
Kitty opened her eyes fully, and looked up into Naomi's reflection in the mirror. "Hey, I'm sorry, Naomi…it's not you," Kitty soothed, yet still frowned. "It's just…well, that's not me, okay?"
"Carmelita!" Naomi called out just then, beckoning the vixen over.
Kitty freaked! "No! Naomi, I don't want her to see me this---urk!" Kitty cried out, then snapped her mouth shut as Carmelita came around the corner at Naomi's call.
"Carmelita cheri," Naomi purred, feeling as if maybe Kitty's friend might be able to reason with this stubborn yet adorable girl. "What do you think, hmm?"
Carmelita blinked several times at Kitty.
Kitty, now on the verge of tears of frustration, shook her finger at Carmelita. "If you laugh at me---!" she began. Much to her surprise, Carmelita's face didn't show laughter…it showed something altogether different. Her eyes softened and were filled with her happiness and love.
"Oh, Kitty," Carmelita said in a soft hushed voice. "Girl, you're beautiful…" Her big liquid brown eyes shone with quiet admiration and fierce affection.
Kitty was stunned! "R-Really?" she gasped, looking at herself again. "I mean, c'mon, Carmelita…this is not the way I look…"
"Hush," Carmelita counseled then, and moved over to stand behind Kitty, putting her hands on Kitty's shoulders. "You look…terrific. So, okay, maybe it's not your usual style. I get that, Kitty. But, trust me, girl…boy oh boy, are Ling's eyes going to fall out of his head when he sees you like this!" She grinned a triumphant, telling sort of smile.
Kitty blinked, then returned her attention to her visage in the mirror. "Eh," she remarked, blinking her eyes for effect, then smiling at herself. "It's not that hideous, I suppose…" Apparently, Kitty found out…that was not the appropriate thing to say!
Naomi stiffened, snorting. "Hideous?" she questioned, her big amber eyes mere slits. "Hideous?" she repeated, crossing her arms before herself, her nostrils flaring.
Kitty grimaced. "Oops! Bad choice of words," she said with a grin. "Sorry 'bout that, Naomi."
Naomi tossed her head in indignation, her shimmering bright blond locks swaying. "I should say so, Kitty Petro…at the very least," she replied stiffly, insulted.
Kitty knew she had hurt Naomi's feelings…which wasn't really what she had been trying to do, actually. So, she told herself…time to mend some fences it seems. "Naomi," Kitty began, reaching out to take Naomi's long-fingered hand. "C'mon, you know me, huh? You know I have the uncanny ability to put my foot firmly in my mouth at the drop of a hat, right?"
"Oui, there is that," Naomi replied, a bit mollified, and grinned.
Kitty grinned too, and apparently her enhanced smile had a bit of magic behind it too. "I'm sure your work is top-notch, girl," she assured her. "I know how hard you worked on me. And…er, I know I'm not what you'd call a stellar client or anything." Kitty then gulped, swallowing her pride a bit. "Look, I'm not good at this, okay? Look, just how well would you like it if suddenly I had you out playing soccer with me and Ling?"
"Soccer?" Naomi questioned, then nodded. "Oh, you mean football, oui?"
"Yep!" Kitty affirmed. "But, you're not answering my question, buddy girl. How well do you think you'd take to being all sweaty, grass-stained, and more or less a mess?"
Naomi wrinkled her nose. "I think I would find it not to my liking, cheri," Naomi answered after some thought. "Sports of that sort are not…how you say, my cup of tea."
"Exactly!" Kitty crowed, making her point. "But…what if I needed you to play on my team? I mean, like I'd lose my house if my team lost or something? I could count on you to try, right?"
Naomi considered that a moment, then reluctantly nodded. "Oui, I would," she told her. "You are my dear friend, Kitty…that is simply what friends do."
Kitty swallowed hard at that, feeling touched. Then she frowned, realizing that Naomi had unknowingly twisted her example in her own favor. "Nice twist there, girlfriend," Kitty said ruefully. "Okay, okay…I'm yours until this little freak show is over, okay? I won't promise I won't complain, mind you…but, I'll do what you ask me to, agreed?"
Naomi clapped her hands in happiness. "D'accord, cheri!" she replied, then bent over to kiss Kitty atop her head, which made the little vixen laugh.
"Oh," Kitty then added. "that is…if you'll show me how to drive the Roadster, when Madame allows me to use it. Will you…please?" Kitty, knowing her face was now even better suited to enhance her big blue eyes, gave Naomi her pleading puppy dog look, blinking her eyes repeatedly.
Naomi laughed, then caressed Kitty's blond-haired head with her hand. "Of course, cheri," she assured her. "I see that you've found ways of putting my work to use, no?"
Kitty laughed at that. "Well, yeah…I suppose all this has got to be good for something," she answered, her grin contagious.
Just then, Ling appeared around the corner, intending to ask Kitty a question. However, once he saw her, and once she turned her lovely blue-eyed gaze his way, he was robbed of any attempts at speech…simply standing there, his own olive-green eyes wide in surprise and awe.
Naomi grinned, her white teeth flashing. "Ah, and perhaps, cheri," she pointed out, nodding her head at the stunned Ling, "there is yet another thing it is good for, no?"
Kitty grinned, batting her long-lashed eyes winningly at poor Ling, who stood there gaping like a fish. She was just beginning to worry about him, when she saw his stunned look slowly transform into a look of longing and fierce affection toward her. "Yeah, I'm thinkin' you just might be on to something there, Naomi my friend…" Kitty observed with a winning smile.
Later on…
"…adieu, cheris!" Yuri called out at the end of yet another day to her dear friends and budding showgirls. "I will see you all bright and early at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, no?"
"What a day," groused Kitty to Carmelita as they walked toward Carmelita's bright red Peugeot. Kitty continually rubbed at her face, trying to ensure that all traces of make-up that had once graced her face were completely gone.
"Hey, sport," Carmelita asked as she unlocked her car. "I really thought you and I had sorted out all those make-up issues of yours."
Kitty dodged her question temporarily by climbing into the low convertible. "We did," she replied. "As far as I'm ever going to, Carmelita. While I'll admit I didn't mind Ling's reaction to me…I still don't like the stuff. Never have, never will."
"Understood," Carmelita said as she started the car. "But, remember, you did promise both Yuri and Naomi you'd do this, right?"
Kitty sighed, closing her eyes wearily. "Yeah, yeah," she grumbled. "But, that doesn't mean I have to actually like it, you know."
Carmelita's response to Kitty's observation was effectively silenced by her cell phone suddenly ringing. Switching on her headset for her phone, she took the call…even as she drove. "Hola, Carmelita Fox speaking," she offered.
Kitty knew well enough to keep her eyes on the road…just in case. Carmelita had the bad habit of wanting to talk with her hands…which, ordinarily wasn't all that bad a thing. However, when you considered what happened when she was driving and that happened…er, well. Right on cue, Kitty gasped as Carmelita jerked the wheel, sending the small convertible jerking toward the center line.
"WHAT?" Carmelita demanded into the phone, before she straightened out her driving. "Que lastima! Hold on, Carlos! We're on our way right now! Adios!" She hung up the phone, then stomped her foot down on the accelerator.
"Whoa! Carmelita…what was that all about?" Kitty demanded, startled by their current rate of speed just now.
"Later, not now, Kitty," Carmelita replied, finding a clear stretch of road, where she made a quick skidding U-turn. Once she had the Peugeot back under control again, she hurriedly speed-dialed Sly on her cell phone. "Hello, Sly? Hey, sweetie, it's me," she told him. "I just wanted to tell you that Kitty and I will be late coming home tonight, okay? Why? Oh, nothing much, honey…only Carmen's water just broke."
"Say WHAT?" Kitty screeched. "Carmen? What?"
"Just you hush, Kitty! I'm still trying to talk," Carmelita commanded, driving as fast as she could safely. "Sly, could you make sure you call Ling and let him that Kitty is with me? Thanks, sweetheart…I´ll call you when I learn anything. I promise! Love you! Bye!" She deactivate her phone, breaking the connection. "About time," she grumbled to Kitty. "I was beginning to think that Carmen was going to explode any time now!"
Kitty laughed at that, before Carmelita finally whisked her care into a parking space in the hospital's parking lot.
An hour later…
Kitty---true to form---began to get restless. She got up and began to pace back and forth endlessly, right along with the very nervous Carlos. "Just what's taking so long?" Kitty complained. "I want to meet her babies…"
"As do I, Kitty," Carlos remarked with a troubled, yet hopeful smile.
"They come when they come, Kitty. You're going to just have to be patient," Carmelita answered. "Just you wait until you have your own, Kitty Petro. Things like this simply take time, sport."
"Oh? And how would you know?" Kitty shot back. "Last time I looked, you aren't a mother yourself. And since you're the youngest member of your family…how could you possibly know that, hmm?"
Before Carmelita could even answer, a soft feminine voice sounded behind them all. The three foxes all turned quickly to see a small, shy lioness dressed in a nurse's uniform. "Ahem, are you the Foxes?" she asked.
"Si! Uh, I mean, yes! So, how is she, my Carmen?" Carlos asked, his brow creased with worry.
"Please," the nurse said soothingly, smiling. "Not too worry, sir. Both mother and her twins are doing just fine."
"Cool. Hey, were they both boys or girls?" Kitty asked the lioness, curious.
"Neither, Miss. She delivered one each, a girl first, then a boy," the lioness informed them all. "She's up to having some visitors…so, you all may see them now. However, please do be quiet, yes? Miss Carmen is very tired." The softly smiling nurse pointed them toward Carmen's room, and all three of them hurried towar it. Moments later, they cautiously made their way inside Carmen's hospital room, where they found her laying propped up in bed, holding both of her children, one in each arm.
"Hey there, Sis!" Carmelita greeted her sister with a kiss and a caress on her cheek.
"Hola, mi hermana," Carmen answered back, smiling, though looking extremely tired just now.
"Ah, I am so relieved to see you well, my love," Carlos told her as he bent down to kiss his wife. "May I?" he asked in an almost reverent sort of voice. When Carmen nodded her head, Carlos slipped his daughter from his wife's arms, cuddling her to his broad chest.
Kitty peered around Carlos' shoulder to see the little girl. She was so cute! She observed to herself. "So, what are you going to call them?" Kitty wanted to know.
Carmen smiled, gently stroking her son's head. "That beautiful little girl in Carlos' arms is our Maria," Carmen explained. "She was born no more than three minutes earlier than her brother." She then hitched her son up in her arms and peeled the blanket back so they could all see him. "And, this handsome little fellow I´m holding now is our Enrico."
Carlos smiled in wonder, looking down into the cherubic face of his little Maria. "Carmelita? Could you come here, por favor?" he requested.
"Of course. What is it, Carlos?" Carmelita asked, curious.
Carlos grinned a knowing little smile, and beckoned her over. Once she was close and looking down at the small girl child, he continued. "So, Carmelita…do you see just there, below her right eye, si?"
Carmelita frowned, then looked and smiled, nodding her head. "I see she's a Fox, all right. She´s inherited my mole, the little dear," she said.
"Si! Just as Enrico has inherited his mother's freckles," Carmen observed, smiling as she tickled the little boy's nose as she swept over his freckles. She looked up a moment later, and saw Kitty staring, just a bit enviously at Carlos and Carmelita.
"Kitty? Could you please come here?" Carmen asked, smiling as she understood.
"Sure! What is it, Carmen?" Kitty asked, curious yet willing.
Carmen smiled up at her, and asked, "Would you like to hold him? Enrico?"
"Wow…you'll let me?" Kitty asked, thrilled yet touched.
"Si, of course," Carmen replied, nodding just before she showed her how to hold little Enrico in her arms.
As Kitty held the little boy to herself, she experienced feelings she had never had before…ones of odd contentment and joy. She grinned, observing, "Carmen, he's so small, and so light too. You know…I feel so strange," she said. "Not bad, mind you…just strange…though, in a good way, you know?"
Carmen smiled. "Si, I know, Kitty. That's only natural, my friend…you're just feeling a bit maternal now is all." Carmen watched Kitty begin to softly rock little Enrico, which made him smile. "I'm sure that every girl or young woman experiences that sort of feeling some time in their lives."
Kitty smiled. "So, Carmen…was it all worth it?" she asked, wanting to know.
"Hmm? Was it all worth what?" Carmen asked, confused by Kitty's question.
"Well, d'uh!" Kitty teased. "C'mon…you've been carrying those two around inside you for nine months now, right? And, along the way you suffered from everything from mood swings to morning sickness. Now…you just push them out, and what? You and Carlos, for the next couple of years, will be doing nothing but change diapers, feed them, and take care of everything they need. So…bearing all that in mind, lady, I'm asking you again…was it all worth it?"
Carmen smiled, finally understanding Kitty's dilemma. She paused, thinking a moment, then shook her proud head. "I am sorry, mi amiga, but I cannot answer that question for you. That is something only you can answer for yourself, dear girl. But, as for me---and my Carlos---yes, it was worth it, Kitty."
Kitty just nodded, smiled, and then looked down at little Enrico, who snuggled contentedly in his Auntie Kitty's arms, all warm and soft and sleepy.