I am shiny, and I am beautiful

Short story by Sharon Jepchirchir Korir

All she ever dreamt of was becoming a TV girl, often day-dreaming in their little tiny servant quarters at the Great Rift Schools in a remote area of Viewpoint. Unaware of what the burden of beauty meant, she longed to be the first of her kind. 

Her intellect was quick to catch on how unique her features were, owing to the constant whispers and body piercing stares from her early years, but it took growing up for her to realize how uneasy it would make her feel. When they said beauty hurts, she never thought she would relate, until she did. 

This was a painful reality she had come to face. Her standing out of the crowd became a weapon against her, a target of emotional torture. They were tearing her apart, each wanting a piece just to devour her into an empty shell, hidden, ashamed and silent.

But here she was, flaunting the very same features she was bullied for in front of multiple cameras she once dreaded. She was embracing every bit of the photogenic nature she had become, effortlessly achieving a near-perfect pose. Her smile was victorious, as if to say, this black cat from the town under the sun has finally become a pride of every place that built her.

Her milky – smooth charcoal complexion seemed to be the only definition of the girl, much to her disgust. What should have been beautiful rare hazel gray eyes, earned her a rather popular name “black cat”. Cynthia’s name seemed to have been forgotten right when she was introduced to class 7B. 

“Is that a black cat?”

Reyna, as she later realized, had shouted from the back of the class just as she was about to say her name. The whole class roared into laughter which died off as whispers when Teacher Karimi shouted “silence!”

Cynthia hurriedly introduced herself and was shown to her desk.

It was in this cold, unfamiliar place full of privileged kids that she was going to spend the better part of her years before going to college, she thought.

The Great Rift Schools, boarding primary and high school, was a well-known private school believed to offer great learning experience and a wide range of opportunities. Basically, it was a rich man’s zone, unless invited. There was a clear distinction between those invited and entitled to be there.

She had been near here for the better part of her childhood. Her dad was a responsible and able head chef at the Great Rift Schools for 5 years until about 2 years ago, when he was stripped of his responsibilities.Mr. Mursoi’s love for the bottle had gotten worse, frequently drunk and messing up at work. It had been only a matter of time until he completely embarrassed himself and the school at a new student’s parents conference, throwing up while on food serving duty, disrupting the luncheon.

Things escalated quickly and within no time.The tough transition saw Anna, a housewife, Cynthia’s mother, looking for menial jobs,to finally becoming a vegetable vendor while often picking up her drunk-in-the-ditch husband.

From a young age, Cynthia had to run the household, caring for her 7 year old brother for the better part of that year. Her grades were affected, much to Anna’s worry.

Anna set out to inquire about the kind compensational offer Great Rift Schools had offered for the immediate termination of her husbands’ contract. She requested that the school grant her daughter a scholarship instead, betting on Cynthia’s smartness and it paid off one and a half years later.

Her academic prowess secured her a scholarship to join this remote elite school on the slopes of the escarpment, towering over the great rift.Remembering her brother and her mother who was  laughed at for choosing a scholarship over money, pierced her heart, reminding her of why she had to work hard.

Cynthia and her likes, scholarship kids, were constantly bullied, laughed at and pranked on. For her, the black cat caught on from the onset.

One day she is ‘meowed’ along the corridors, the next day she is interrogated and crowded upon by Reyna’s girl gang.

Why are your eyes like that?

Do you have cat genes?

And your skin? Don’t you need to smile in the dark?

At night, has anyone ever confused you for a cat? You need to see a doctor?

Watch Now!

One time the girl-gang ambushed her at the dorm and switched off the lights just to see how her eyes looked. Well, whatever they saw started a rumor that saw almost everyone treat her like plague. Some said they saw a dog, others a tiger, others something they couldn’t explain. She had never felt like an outcast until that day.

That night she cried, a river and bucketloads. Nothing could stop her this time, not even her newly found scholar crew; Mercilynne, Bentah and Hariette. Contemplating on whether to run away, she wanted to talk to her mother. Cynthia had had enough!

She slept off and the next day she didn’t go to her classes.

She hated that she was different. She hated that the ‘no tolerance on bullying” school policy was just a fancy phrase that didn’t apply to anyone. She hated recalling how she ended up being punished for not going to class while the bullying was swept under the rug.

That she was smart was no longer an issue, she had an obligation, but she was disgusted by her dark ugliness with scary eyes. She could barely look at herself in the mirror, she never bothered to. She was perfectly aware of how she looks and all the stares confirmed this for her. With a low self-esteem, Cynthia avoided all limelight, became shy and chose the extracurriculars with less public involvement all through her primary years.

Cynthia Mursoi became a popular name within the academic highway, excelling in various subjects and receiving recognition, but she kept a small circle and always had her head facing down always. She avoided festivals and always managed to somehow cover her face in the compulsory class photos. She adapted and things were a bit bearable.

Two years into high school at Great Rift schools, Cynthia had grown into this tall beautifully shaped dark-skinned girl with gorgeous eyes. Her smooth skin was glowing while her bullies were on the fifteenth regiment treating blackheads and pimples. She had also developed a thick skin so nothing they said could ever make her feel any worse about herself. She, the black cat, still felt ugly. She was the black cat after all.

One thing the black cat couldn’t see, her story was about to change.

A group of alumni, the high achieving ones in the society made an impromptu visit to the school principal, one friday afternoon. The school hurriedly organized a quick motivational talk they all assembled at the hall. A doctor, a nurse, lawyer turned businessman, a journalist and two friends took turns to sprinkle their two cents.

Cynthia’s favorite spot was suddenly hosting the two friends who seemed to have nothing to motivate the students with. She stuck to her book reading, basically keeping a low profile until someone nudged her.

Hey, could you look up please? What’s your name? A friendly looking lady said smiling, her hand covering her phone on the right shoulder where her head tilted towards.

Eer, I’mmm I’m Cynthia… She hesitated.

Click! Click!

You have rare eyes and great skin, she said looking at the pictures she had just taken. My name is Kamila.

Cynthia felt a sudden chill in her stomach, gathered her book, and rushed towards the exit, almost toppling over Harriette. With that commotion, attention was drawn to her and she froze at the door. It was not until the speaker continued with the talk, that she felt a breeze push her outside.

She could breathe. 

It was Teacher Kamiri, her favorite teacher, who came to find her at her spot, the library. 

Cynthia, are you okay? I don’t know why you ran away but I know it must have made you uncomfortable. 

She paused.

Miss Kamila would like to speak to you, she has an offer for you. Come talk to her.

It turns out, she is an owner of a skin care brand and would love to have you as a model. This means a generous pay for you, and possibilities of a career for just taking a number of pictures. 

After much convincing and keeping the conversation within her circle, Teacher Kamiri invited Ana a few days later. 

On condition that Cynthia performs well in school, and Teacher Kamiri be present in all activities, Ana was excited about the prospect of her daughter earning an income so young.

Cynthia had to first believe she was beautiful, that her uniqueness should be celebrated and not be ashamed of. She had to unlearn the notions laid in her head and work on her esteem. She believed in herself. Found herself in the midst of practice sessions with her trainer, Teacher Kamiri.

Months later, news broke. The launch of Milas Love, silky smooth campaign. Cynthia is on the board! Not TV but, close!

It was her very first debut as a skin care model, the first to be recruited while in school, right in the eyes of her bullies. Her shine is finally bright.

In her ugly shine, she was finally beautiful. She felt it.

I am shiny and I am beautiful! 

She sighed, hugging her scholar squad. 

Be sure to catch Chiri on Youtube