Martha worked as a model to pay her tuition. Her name was Martha, which was kind of weird because how many models do you know with the name Martha? Anyway, she worked as a model because she didn’t know what else to do with her life and she was pretty. Isn’t that why most models get work?
One day Martha was going to a photo shoot when she got a call from Tyra Banks. Yup, a direct call from Tyra Banks. Tyra wanted her to be on America’s Next Top Model, but Martha wasn’t sure because she was a rather private person. Even when she flaunted her body for the camera she still kept a small part of herself secret. They could have her body but the couldn’t have her mind. If she went on the show, her image would be in the hand of editors, and Martha didn’t think she could trust them.
Martha had a mother who worried about her and a sister and brother she helped support financially. They were ungrateful but Martha didn’t care. She knew that one day all of her good deeds would come back to her, in what form she did not know.
While Martha was considering the offer from Tyra Banks she enlisted the help of her best friend, Georgia. Georgia was also a model and she nearly hit the floor when Martha told her about Tyra’s call. Georgia felt a bit jealous, but mostly she felt happy for her friend. Georgia advised her to do it. Why not? It would help Martha with her career, and who knows what else might come from the opportunity. Martha trusted Georgia and said she would think about it. Georgia said she only hoped Martha would remember her after she became rich and famous.
Martha did think about it, and the next day she called Tyra back. The process went quickly from there, with Martha being swept up by a limo that weekend and taken to the model house. Martha was cast into a group of women she knew nothing about. After meeting a couple of them she wasn’t sure she wanted to know more. One woman told Martha that she “wasn’t here to make friends.” Martha had heard that one before.
Another model bragged about how she had gotten a personal call from Tyra Banks. Martha said nothing as the other girls oo’d and aah’d. It was going to be a long cycle, Martha thought. When she went to look for her room, Martha ran across a woman who was dragging her suitcase awkwardly down the hall. “Can I help you?” Martha said.
“Oh, no, it’s ok,” the other model laughed. “I could have used help when I was trying to decide what to bring, but that’s beside the point now.”
Martha smiled and introduced herself. The other woman said her name was Maggie and she was from Washington state. Martha didn’t ask whether she had gotten a personal call from Tyra, and Maggie didn’t tell.
Martha found her room a few minutes later. When she walked in she noticed something on her bed, an envelope. It took a moment before she realized its significance. “Hey, everyone! We’ve got a note from Tyra!” She ripped open the envelope and scanned the first words of her new adventure...
