Hugh knocked on a door and led the trio into a long room.
"Ah? Are we starting already?" a lady froze in mid-conversation with a stylish man holding a makeup powder palette.
"Not yet," Hugh waved a hand at her, "but these kids brought Stacey to me, worried about her because she doesn't have an ID or anything. They thought she was a runaway, but it sounds more like she's one of the lost kids that Marvel found to join the program. She'd make a good feature story, so I thought I'd bring her early so that you guys can get started on her first. These two boys have already auditioned, so you can just tick them off the register."
He then went over to whisper a few things into the woman's ear. The woman frowned for a moment but then cheered up.
"Ohohoh!" the woman clapped her hands. "Leave them to me. I suppose the boys will want to stick around and act as her peer support? Great! I can see that she's already got individuality by the way she dresses. Let's see if we can also dig out a great talent. Don't worry, dear," she said to Stacey. "If you turn out to be more of a science stream or fine arts person, we'll send you to the relevant place where you'll be supported with scholarships. You'll just end up as a part of a different program that will air later in the year. 'Let Me Entertain You' is more focussed upon stage and performing arts careers."
"Kids, I'll leave you with Mindy. She's our main writer," Hugh said, waving and then leaving the room, while flicking his silver fringe out of the way.
"Come and get your makeup done, kids," Mindy beckoned them to one side of the hall, gesturing them to sit on the stools.
"We did our interviews and auditions over in CC," Ken told her. "We only just met Stacey but I reckon we'll get along great with her. She doesn't seem to fit in with the other girls very well. She got pushed out by them earlier."
"I can see why. She's not like many of the other girls, is she? I like the non-mainstream ones. If we play things right, you'll stick out and make enough of a splash that people will love and support you just because you are you. Alright. Sit. Let me just get my laptop open," Mindy said, sitting down in an armchair while the boys and Stacey perched themselves on stools. The makeup people surrounded them. "Hey, keep the girl's make up as natural as possible, ok? Just highlight her main features. I want her looking pretty much as she is, so that people can see what she originally looks like. Writing the episodes and short clips for her individual channel will be great. I'm gonna look forward to assigning her main writer. Maybe I should write for her myself?"
"Close your eyes," a make-up man told Stacey after scrutinising her face for a moment.
"We'll do your registration first," Mindy told Stacey. "You talk and I'll type it in. Tell me your full name and date of birth, please."
"My name's Anastasia Wright," Stacey said, spelling it out. Then she hesitated when it came to her date of birth. What calendar did they use? Should she tell the truth or pretend to be younger?
"You don't know your birthdate?" Mindy said in a soft voice. "Never mind. Do you know how old you are?"
"Umm," Stacey couldn't decide how she should reply.
"Then do you know how long you were lost for? Where you came from?"
Stacey fidgeted. She couldn't exactly admit she didn't know how she got here, could she? Her face grew hot.
"Hoo boy," Mindy gave a sympathetic sigh. "Your area must have been among one of the first hit in the war if it's been so long that you don't remember anything. How have you been surviving? You must have built up some pretty impressive survival skills, right?"
Stacey shook her head.
"I don't think I have any survival skills."
"Then how have you been living?"
"I don't know," Stacey said slowly, feeling like she was about to be exposed for the liar that she was. "One day at a time, I guess. I mean, I've pretty much been starving the last few days."
"How did you find out about our program and get here then?"
"I, uh, don't remember…" Stacey's voice trailed off, sliding off her stool. She wasn't even meant to be here and felt bad for lying. "I'm sorry. I - I don't think I'd make a very good candidate for this program. I just saw all the people and decided to join in. I literally walked in off the street hoping to find something to eat. Maybe I should just go and not waste any of your time."
"Don't go," Mindy held out a hand and the make-up man gently pushed Stacey back onto her seat. "Sit back down. There'll be lunch later, so you can eat something. Don't cry. It's ok. I can see why you're a bit lacking in confidence after all those years on your own. It looks like you may have a memory issue or something too?" Mindy smiled at Stacey's emphatic nodding. "Don't worry. We'll work through this. We'll get a doctor involved in your care. I noticed you don't have a bag. Is this everything you've got?"
"Uh, yes," Stacey said, allowing herself to be sat back down and the makeup artist dabbed her eyes dry. Her emotions were all over the place. "You've got what you can see. This is me. Sorry."
"No, no. Don't be sorry. Why apologise for being yourself? Let's see. I guess you don't know your address? Parents? Emergency contact? School level and grades? Do you know if you have any talents in singing, dancing, acting? Anything at all? No? Don't know? Nothing? Alright. Nevermind then. Don't stress. Hmm… judging by your looks, you look about sixteen. Just my guess though. I could be wrong."