Monday, January 7, 2008

Coco and cosmetics.

Coco worked in the cosmetics counter of a pharmacy. She didn't really enjoy it there because she worked with the biggest two-faced pretencious snobs in Galway,
but at least, she could take home everything she liked: Perfume, make-up, skincare products and other magic potions. It felt so good to have all those little treasures she coveted for free.
Ever since Coco was a child she had loved cosmetics. She used to fight with her mother over putting make-up on to go to school, 'Just some of your lipstick, please!,'begged Coco. She did not know why she wanted it so badly, but at the time she felt like she had to put it on. 'Oh will you stop! You are not going to school with those lips, you are only five for god's sake!' She'd yell at Coco trying to wipe off the red on her tiny lips, she looked like a clown. 'And give me that you cheeky girl' said taking a bottle of Channel No 5 off her hands. 'You've got expensive taste, Missy.'
She also had her first serious accident because of make-up.
Coco's mother used to have most of her cosmetics in small drawers in a mirror above the sink in the bathroom. Coco used to climb up and sit down in the sink, open all the drawers and put whatever she came across with on her face. She'd also bring in her little toy cassette player and sing "Cry baby" or "War Child" while she glammed up herself. That is how she enjoyed herself the most, rather than playing with ChouChous or Barbies.
But one day she fell off the sink backwards and hit her head off the toilet sit and had to be rushed into hospital unconscious.
Coco always knew she'd study to become a make-up artist, and dreamed of working in movies or theatre plays, create her own brand of cosmetics or maybe open a beauty saloon...She had a loads of ideas and was very creative. She knew the trends in the cosmetics and skincare field, what was new, what was "in", she knew how to apply every single cosmetic that existed to perfection. She had talent and a really good taste for combining colours and shades.
She also had read Cosmopolitan since she was nine, so by the time she was fourteen she knew everything about sex, even though she never really had any.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Introducing you to Coco.

It was a cold morning. Coco couldn't summon the courage to get up.
She stroked her cat that was fast asleep next to her and for a moment she felt jealous, the cat would get to sleep as long as it wanted.

'Lucky bitch' said Coco, now feeling brave enough to leave her warm bed.
Coco did her morning ritual, washed her face, brushed her teeth, put moisturiser on her face and neck, and then put make-up on. God she loved make-up. And perfume.
Then she put on her new black and white tailored dress, but then looked in the mirror and realized that the mirrors in the changing rooms in Top Shop must be slimming because she certainly did not look like a Pig struggling to fit in a Tutu when she bought the dress.

'Oh well, I must be bloated this morning'thought to make herself feel better about the fact that she spent 100 euros on the not-so-flattering dress. She applied a few drops of Trésor on her wrists and behind her ears and went down to the kitchen.
While eating her breakfast she checked her emails and updated her iTunes. Then her mobile rang.
'Hello?'
'Hi, is this Socorro Palacios?' said a male voice with difficulty pronouncing her name.
'Yes, who am I speaking to'
'Hello Miss Palacios, my name is Dan Keating and I'm calling you from Brown Thomas in Eglinton Street.'
Oh my god, could it be true?She was waiting to hear from Brown Thomas for ages! Would she finally be able to quit her stupid job?
'Oh, hi...' she wasn't sure what to say, she was euphoric.
'I believe you applied for the Cosmetics Manager position in our shop in Galway.'
'I did.'
'Well would you be able to come in for an interview, Wednesday at 1Pm?'
She'd have to ask somebody at work to exchange lunch breaks, which should not be a problem.
'Yes, that's perfect.'
'Brilliant, so, when you come in ask for Dan Keating, and I'll take care of you, ok Socorro?'said lovely Dan, with trouble saying her name again.
'Ok, thank you, and Mr Keating...'
'Yes?'
'You can call me Coco.'


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