The Gold Mine 2

Chapter 2
March 15, 193
Naomi Dallas

“Oh, Naomi,” Sarah Wiese, Naomi’s assistant, started as she saw her walking up. She had her palm pilot ready to go and the little plastic spear ready to go. “You are running a little late.”

“I’m actually walking, Sarah, and I’m here the same time I am every day.”

“Yes, but the producer is here now. You know you are supposed to be here before him,” Sarah said in a pathetically rushed way. Naomi hated that Sarah always felt she had to rush. It took away from the beautiful things in life.

“Well, Sarah, they should send me an email before two in the morning letting me know that they’re going to be here. I don’t have time to check my inbox when I wake up in the morning. I work to do what is far more important than producers.” Naomi showed Sarah her hands, fanning out her fingers so that she could observe every nail individually. “Do you think I should get another manicure during lunch?”

“I think you should eat during lunch, but yes, you need another one. Should I get your usual?”

“No, let’s spice things up a bit,” Naomi said. “I would like an apple instead of a peach and I want a turkey sandwich instead of ham.”

“And the soup?”

“Keep it vegetable. I need the detox.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. Naomi could not see it, but she could definitely feel it. She let it slide though. Sarah had the right to be annoyed with Naomi’s obsession with the word “detox”. Naomi used it too much and it was only an abbreviation anyway.

“Edgar is ready for you when you are.” She paused. “I can’t get over his name.”

“Yeah, can you believe he gave it to himself?” Naomi asked with a distasteful twist of her lips. It made her pert little nose scrunch and twist as well.

“Oh! I almost forgot…” She poked like crazy at the device in her hand. “Edgar and his partner are celebrating their fifth year together. What should I get them for a present?”

“Oh, Sarah, I wish you could talk to my mother for me too. How about…” She trailed off as her brain furiously went through all the gifts she could possibly give. All the items that Edgar and Mark would die over were all too expensive for her to buy for herself or they already had and died over it previously. “You know what, use your better judgment. A nice statue of a naked man might do.”

“But something tasteful,” Sarah stipulated. “I know just where to go for that. Are you sure you don’t want to give them a roll of fabric. You know how Mark just loves cotton.”

“No, I want to get them something they can both enjoy. Oh, I know… could you go to that little shop and get…” They were too close to the salon for her to finish but she made a few crude gestures and Sarah nodded. “You are a life saver. Anything else?”

“Your mom called my cell last night,” Sarah said.

Naomi’s stomach dropped to her feet and her heart felt like it would stop pumping blood in. “What did she want?”

“She told me to remind you to ask for some time off to go see your brother. She also wanted me to email her and tell her if you’re a lesbian or not. Are you a lesbian?”

“No,” Naomi said.

“Shame. I’d date you,” Sarah said dryly, but she could not help but give Naomi a wicked grin. Her reward was an eye roll.

“If you were a lesbian I’m sure we’d make a smokin’ couple.”

“Oh, you would,” Edgar said from his chair. He was dressed in appropriately punky and classy clothes. He was the only man that Naomi knew that could make a mussed up suit look stylish. It might have helped that it was pink and blue. “You look fabulous, darling.”

“Of course I do. It’s my job to learn fabulous,” Naomi said.

“Please don’t take too long, Edgar,” Sarah said. “I need her in make up soon too.”

Edgar rolled his eyes as he opened up a protective cover for Naomi to keep the hair off of the clothes she was about to change out of. “Why haven’t they dressed her yet?”

“She’s going in with those clothes on, I guess,” Sarah said.

“What?” Naomi asked, stunned. “I never wear my own clothes. They’re hideous on camera.”

“Well, something happened at wardrobe anyway.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask, and you were going straight to Edgar anyway. I thought you already knew.”

Edgar rolled his eyes. “Naomi knows nothing unless you tell her, Sarah. You are her only ears and probably her brain too.”

“Hey!” Naomi said and pinched his arm playfully before sitting down in his chair.

“Hey now,” he said with a waggle of his index finger. “You know better than to mess with the man with the scissors.”

“Yes, sir,” Naomi said with mock submission. “What are we doing today anyway, Sarah?”

Sarah gave Edgar a “be good” look and then said to Naomi, “We are going into sector three on Starlet Street to talk about the Grammies,” she said. “I think you’re supposed to put in a little bit of speculation about who is going with who and what not. They’ll have cue cards for that.”

“Even if I don’t read them,” Naomi said.

“Well, they like for you to have them as a guide line. We all know you like to improvise. Also, one of my contacts told me that Jessica Retson is dating Farmer Gordon’s son, Michael.”

“Oh, wonderful. Gordon must be pleased.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Sarah said with a smug little smile. She deserved it. This was scandalous. Farmers didn’t mix with Starlets. “They’ll make beautiful babies though.”

“Right, if he doesn’t have her off’d first,” Edgar said and started messing with Naomi’s hair. “But at least it’s a girl he’s messin’ with.”

“Oh, Edgar, you and your bright sides,” Naomi said. “Really, the more scandalous the better.”

“Well, if he had two sons it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but you know how Farmers are about sons. They need the heirs to their franchise.”

“Lucky bastards,” Naomi said. “Do you think I should change shampoo and conditioner?” she asked.

“No, you’ll be good for another week. I’ll give it to you when you need it,” Edgar said. “Girl, this stay in is doing wonders for your hair.”

“My hair is always impeccable.”

“Thanks to me.”

“Thanks to you,” Sarah and Naomi said in unison.

“We’ll have to touch you up tomorrow, I think,” he said sorting the hair and inspecting the parts carefully. “Your roots are starting to show. Gold Mine is so lucky to have found me.”

“Right you are, Edgar. I’d be lost without you,” Naomi said and smiled at him from the mirror.

He winked at her and then started grabbing hair products. He was the best hair dresser in the business as far as Naomi was concerned and a close personal friend after the years of working with each other. No one else even touched her hair. He would even do her hair before her dates if she asked nicely enough.

Sarah rattled on about more scandalous starlet stories. A starlet was never off the job. Not even the TV starlets could rest. They were always in the public eye. Every time they smiled at someone there was someone else trying to determine a romantic interest. If they spent too much time with someone there were more rumors. Pictures were taken. Videos were made.

Naomi could be a target at any possible time, but she dated outside of the Starlet circle. She dated in the corporate circle. No one was interested in the lower class billionaires. So long as they did not have billions in the upwards they were safe territory. They were also socially acceptable when it came to dating. Politicians were also a possibility and would earn only a small blurb on a rival network.

Sarah came from a family of farmers and politicians. Naomi and Sarah had met in a bar while Sarah was dating someone her father did not approve of in the low end corporate world. She was strapped for cash and in a bind. Naomi, always the sucker for a good sob story, took her in and gave her a job and found her a place to live. Even after the relationship ended and familial ties were repaired Sarah stuck around.

Her contacts were the best in the business.

Naomi was a lucky woman to have found her.

“All right, girl,” Edgar said and stepped away from the chair. “You are ready to go to the makeup artist.”

“Wonderful,” Naomi said and checked the sculpted waves from every angle. They shined like gold in the studio’s light. “You are absolutely fabulous.” Naomi slid out of the chair and the two exchanged kisses on the cheeks and parted ways. Sarah was following after Naomi.

“I am not dressed for Grammy talk,” Naomi said.

“Well, if we put some heels on you it will dress it up. I think we can also get some good accessories. Then you’ll look perfect. What your wearing is pure classic. We can make it look perfect for the Grammies.”

“You are the life saver I’m so glad I have,” Naomi said. “If I was a lesbian I would marry you. Swear to God.”

“Well, I don’t think my mother would like for me to marry a Starlet. She would be scandalized and I would be disowned.” Sarah sighed. “I don’t want to be disowned.”

“What? Are they going to arrange a marriage between you and a farmer?” Sarah couldn’t answer her because at that moment Naomi had to say, “Mitch, darling, there you are. Am I late?”

“Naomi, you sweet thing, you can never be late. Get in my chair! I need to see that perfect skin of yours,” Mitch said. Mitch only acted gay. He was actually a very happily married man to a brilliant engineer wife that worked for farmers to come up with new innovations. She worked more in Hollywood to be with him than in the out reaching farmdomes.

“You are such a doll, Mitch,” Naomi said. “How is your lovely wife?”

“Oh, honey, she is as precious as usual. I have never, in my life, met a woman so brilliant,” he said. “She said the most mind blowing thing the other night. You wouldn’t believe. The things she can do with a ruler.”

“I don’t think we need you to go into what she can do with a ruler, Mitch,” Naomi said playfully.

Mitch blushed and opened Naomi’s personal make up case. She had a few shades of foundation and every imaginable color and shade of color that went with her skin. Mitch could make her look fabulous and on the spot with any choice.

“Is that the outfit you’re going to be wearing, honey?”

“Sadly they wanted a homier look for Grammy talk. This must be a warm up. Tomorrow I’m going to have to go all out.” She rolled her eyes. “Total waste. Anyway, do you have any idea what I’m wearing tomorrow?”

“Well, I know that it was specifically tailored for you.” He gave her a wink.

“I’ve seen it,” Sarah said. “It’s kind of multi-colored. It starts off a really pale pink for your complexion, turns sorta purply, and then ends off as a pale baby blue. Gorgeous and perfect for you and that blond head of yours.”

“I bet you’d look better in it.”

“I picked it out for you,” Sarah said. “Next year you should do that fashion show. You know… the one with the models and fashion designers. You would get to pick from some one of a kind dresses.”

“Everything has been done, Sarah,” Naomi said. “After thousands of years of wearing clothes and playing with fabrics there are only so many things that designers can do.”

“I’d like to see men wearing robes,” Mitch said. “Keep your eye open for me, honey.”

Naomi screwed her eyes up so that she would not see the pencil edging around her eye. She hated the liquid eye liner. Sometimes it ran into her eyes. It was a mess.

“I don’t know about that,” Sarah said. “It sounds girly. I would love to see them wearing coats that go down to their thighs but still let you get a peak at a promisingly scrumptious butt.”

Mitch pulled away to sharpen the pencil.

“Oh, Sarah, we should totally go out tonight. That would rock, don’t you think?”

“Oh, certainly,” Sarah said. “Should I let it leak for a little bit of publicity?”

“No, let’s just have an us night and do a little dancing. We haven’t been able to enjoy Hollywood for ages.”

“Oh, are you going to go to sector five?” Mitch asked.

“That sounds promising,” Sarah said. “Corporates like to keep the press away. Bad for business and they’re always doing something shady and they’re not nearly as snoody as farmers.”

“I like your thinking, Sarah.”

“Eye,” Mitch said and Naomi had to be quiet and concentrate on not twitching her lower lid or moving. Making the make up smudge was horrible to Mitch.

“I’ve been needing to get out. It is a good thing you don’t have to be at work until three tomorrow. Gives you plenty of time to do your beauty thing.”

“You know, that beauty thing is probably the reason scrumptious here can’t keep a man.” He gave Naomi a meaningful look.

“You like my perfect skin, don’t you? And Edgar loves my well conditioned hair. You have to make sacrifices for the job.”

“No talking. You need lipstick.” He stared at her for a moment and she gave him several expressions for him to choose from. He rolled his eyes and she gave him a saucy look. “Oh shush,” he said. “I know just the color.”

He picked out a hot pink that usually wouldn’t work, but with the dark shirt and jeans it would break up the monotony perfectly.

The Gold Mine 1

So, I wasn't exactly pleased with how it turned out and with my work schedule like it is I did not have time to go back and work on it before I had to be in bed. So here is a little something that I am working on other than Enchanting Scales. Since I don't have a chapter a day deadline that I put on myself I get to spend a little bit more time paying attention. Don't doubt that there are still mistakes and typos and things.

Chapter 1

March 15, 193

Naomi Dallas

It was a peaceful awakening greeted with languid stretching and a soft groan of irritation. It could not be morning already. Naomi Dallas turned her head to look at her alarm clock. The red numbers told her it was 3:30 am. In thirty minutes her alarm was supposed to go off and she was supposed to go for a run around the park outside of her apartment complex.

She sat up and turned the alarm off so that she would not have to hear it. The sound that emitted from it made her entire body feel ill. In truth, she was glad that she woke up before it.

Naomi paused and took a moment to enjoy the feel of linen sheets on her skin. It was 1000 thread count. They had cost her a small fortune, but they were worth it. She slept far better between them than she had in any through her childhood. Synthetic sheets were miserable in comparison.

When she decided that she needed to get up and brush her teeth her long, shapely legs slid out from beneath her decadent sheets and her feet hit a woolen rug. It was not the loveliest thing in the world. It was just a plain gray rug on a white linoleum floor, but it was made out of real wool. It was a gift from a farmer who was a fan of hers—it was nice to have sugar daddy fans.

The feel of the cool linoleum made her shiver. She wiggled her toes and headed for the bathroom. It was nothing more than a sink, a toilet, a shower, and a small space for her to fit her body in. If she had been any bigger she probably would not have made the fit.

Habit guided her to flip the switch and study herself in the mirror. She searched for any blemishes or lines. She then pulled the mirror back and took out her toothbrush and toothpaste. Some things never change.

She shut the mirror again after putting a sliver of paste onto her brush and putting the tube back in. She stared at herself as she brushed her teeth. She made faces, practicing the movements of her face as she did every time she looked into a mirror when she was by herself.

When she rinsed out her mouth she smiled brightly into the mirror. “It’s going to be a lovely day,” she said to her reflection. She put the brush back and turned off the light and reentered her bed room. She dressed into some cotton shorts and a cotton shirt. Some would say it was too nice to work out in, but it was what their ancestors had used, so why should she be any different?

She picked up her identification bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist. It had all of her information on it, but it was useless without her finger prints. When she shut the door behind her she stuck the end into the door to prove that she had her chip and set out into a jog down the hall. It was white and metal. It made her eyes hunger for color.

In the elevator she stretched and bounced on her toes. Usually there were a couple of men and women in the elevator worried about their weight. People on television had to be three times more careful than the average citizen.

When she reached the ground floor she jogged out to the sliding glass doors. The complex had its own life support just in case the dome was to crack open, but the doors that sealed the heat and oxygen in and the cold and argon out were hidden in the walls waiting to be needed. Once every week they were checked to make sure they worked properly. Parts were changed or oiled on need.

It made Naomi feel safer about living on a planet that was not exactly hospitable to human beings.

The morning was chilly as it was every morning. Goosebumps rose on her flesh making the tiny hairs stand up straight on her arms. Her legs felt that familiar prickle of goose bumps that could not happen because the hairs had been pulled out.

What women sacrificed for beauty!

It felt good to run. She felt free. She could feel the air mixture filling her lungs, powering her movements. For a moment she felt as though she could be on earth running down the gravel paths in stories. The thick glass domes did not exist. The sun was closer and there was only one moon. Just like in the stories.

Sweat was running down her body when she was finished. She walked back to the complex to cool down her muscles. When she was approaching she saw more people running outside. They were all perfectly fit, but their skin was not as good as hers. Their hair was wrong and ill tended. They were not fit for the camera.

Naomi stopped to examine the flowers outside of the complex around the doors. It made her smile to see them there flourishing as the people who tended them were flourishing. She refrained from touching them. Her teachers in school always told her that touching petals made them wilt. If it was just with roses or other flowers Naomi never knew. Plants were precious.

When Naomi entered her room her personal phone was ringing. She never took it out on her runs, but everyone at work and in her family knew that she was awake. She looked at the name on the belt device and stuck the microphone and ear piece into her ear. “Answer,” she said.

“Hey, Mom,” Naomi said and placed the phone onto her night stand. “Little early for you to be calling.”

“Oh, hush,” she said. “You got up early.”

“I did. Did you need something, Mom?”

“Oh, I just wanted to say hi to my baby girl. You never call your poor mother,” she said with a sigh at the end.

Naomi could almost feel the eye cut. Naomi learned from the best after all. “Oh, Mom, you know you sleep more than you’re awake, and I work more than sleep.”

“You are your father’s child,” she said. “Actually, I wanted to remind you about your father’s birthday. You know it’s coming up.”

“Yes, Mother, I know.”

“Now don’t take that tone with me,” she said playfully. “I call my mother Mother. You call me mom. That is my name to you.”

“Actually your name is Susan.”

“To you I am Mom,” she said in the same commanding tone she had used when Naomi was four and called her mother Susan.

“Of course, Mother,” she replied with the same playful tone. “Do you want to take a shower with me?”

“What? I haven’t given you a bath since you were three,” Susan said. “Why would I want to join you now?”

“Well, I have to take my shower, condition my hair, detox my face, eat breakfast, brush my teeth again and whiten them.” She check her nails. “I also need to get my nails done today. I think the pain is about to chip.”

“I don’t know how you’re my daughter,” Susan said regretfully. “I never paid so much attention to my nails.”

“And that is why you’re a computer engineer at Face Base, Mom,” Naomi said. “I am paid to look flawless and make it look easy. If only my public knew what you knew. I’d be ruined.”

“I think I should tell them just to get you to come home. You know we miss you. Do you think you could get here before the baby is born?”

“I don’t know, Mom. I could probably see if I could make some good work excuse… as excited that I am that my brother is giving me a niece I might have to settle with spoiling her from afar.”

“That’s a real shame,” Susan said. “Do try though? It’s a two day tram ride and I know you won’t fly here. You know, storms don’t actually hurt the ships.”

“They can say that all they want, Mom, but I’m not flying. It’s unnatural.”

“Everything about our lives is unnatural. Oh, this is a waste of your time. You go take your shower. Call me when you’re on your way to work.”

“Will you still be up?”

“Yes, you smart ass. I’ll talk to you in a bit. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom. Tell Dad I said hi,” she rushed before her mom could hang up.

“I will. Have a nice shower in that coffin of yours.”

“Mom!” But she had hung up. Oh well.

Naomi took the piece out of her ear and took her shower. She enjoyed her time in the steamy space. She could feel it cleaning out her pores. She always felt lighter when she stepped out of a shower even if her head felt ten pounds heavier.

Naomi never looked entirely polished when she left to go to work. Someone did her hair and make up at the office. She learned a long time ago that it was easier if she went with a clean face and clean hair. Nothing other than cleaning and conditioning products touched her skin. She dressed in a comfortable pair of blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt as well. They dressed her for the camera. Naomi only had to make sure her body was in top form.

She called her mom as she was leaving her apartment. “Hey, Mom. Miss me?”

“Dreadfully,” her mother said. “When are you going to start dating again?”

“Mother, not his again.”

“You’re a lesbian, aren’t you? It’s all right, darling, I swear. The government loves Lesbians. They keep the breeding crisis down. You know that.”

“Mom, I am not a lesbian. I love men. I love penises. I just am not in love with one right now.”

“You’ve loved plenty of dicks, honey.”

“Mother!” Naomi exclaimed. “Please, don’t say things like that. What if someone hears you?”

“I’m talking to my daughter. I can say what I want.”

“You’re not a farmer, Momma. You can’t just say whatever you want.”

“Well, I’m sure as hell not a politician,” she said. “I’m just concerned, dear. I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy, Mom. I married my job. Remember?” She gave the air in front of her a patient smile. “My job treats me better than a man would anyway.”

“Your job is more likely to dump you when you’re old and wrinkly than a man is. If you wanted a job that would keep you through beauty and crow’s feet you should have become an engineer like your good old ma.”

“You are not a ‘ma’,” Naomi told Susan with a classic eye roll.

“You’re right, I’m not. I’m your Mom. You should really listen to me, honey. You need to find yourself a good man.”

“Good men don’t have money, Momma,” Naomi said. “Good men would cream themselves just looking at my room.”

“That’s vulgar,” Susan said. “Who taught you to speak like that?”

“John,” her daughter answered. “Anyway, it’s not important. Look, I’m not a lesbian, all right?” Naomi received a dirty look from an old woman with a purse dog. She quickly looked away. “I’m just single right now. It’s a dry spell.”

“What does that mean anyway?”

“I think it was an earth term. Rain, I think it was. You know… where the water falls from the sky?”

“I wish I could see it rain,” Susan said wistfully. Her mind was in a place that no one had been to in over two hundred years.

“Me too, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. That comet did one world of a wonder on the surface.”

“It will heal, dear. Just give the old planet a few years and we can go back.”

“Maybe our kids will be able to,” Naomi said thoughtfully. “I’m sorry, Mom, but these deep conversations are going to mess up my skin. Can we talk about something less depressing?”

“Talking about Earth is not depressing. It is hope and the one thing we have to look forward to.”

“Mom, we live in a glass eco-something. We’re Martians now, get over it.”

“I will not,” her mother said huffily. “I’ll believe in Earth even if you don’t.”

“Whatever Mom, I’ve got to go.”

“Oh, you’re just going to hang up on me like that.”

“Let’s see, Mom… we’ve covered my sexual orientation and we’ve discussed our demolished home world. I think we just might be done here. What do you think?”

“You can’t be done with your mother,” Susan said. Naomi could hear water running in the background and her father grumbling something about caffeine.

“I am for right now. Will you be up tonight?”

“Depends on whose night we’re talking about,” Susan said.

“Err… around ten my time?”

“Well, I’ll be up, but I’ll still be at work. Your father wants me to go back to bed. You take care.”

“All right, Mom. I love you. Give dad a kiss on the cheek for me.”

“I’ll give him a kiss all right,” Susan said devilishly.

Naomi rolled her eyes. Her mother was such a pervert.

The rest of the walk to work was uneventful and usual. People were already out to tend the gardens and mind the trees. Even the irrigation systems were being checked. The soil was being scanned and analyzed for nutrition and worms. Everything was carefully maintained in Hollywood and everywhere else on Mars. Even the human beings.