III The Empress | Girl Power!

Believe it or not, Camille was ‘at that awkward stage’ from about 6th grade through most of 12th grade. It seemed that puberty was purposely avoiding her. As such, her school days were filled with angst and sadness. Her nickname was Snake Hips since she was so thin, but when acne appeared she became Feta Face.

It’s no wonder that Camille was lonely and introverted. The boys made fun of her, while the girls were grossed out. She spent most of her time indoors reading in her bedroom. Camille avoided going outside for fear of someone seeing her and laughing or getting sick.

The only positive aspect of Camille’s school career is that she was acing every class. There was nothing to distract her from her studies, so she couldn’t help but get straight As.

As a special treat for getting such good grades (and because they felt sorry for her) Camille’s parents made an appointment for her at Aphrodite’s Beauty and Day Spa. They’re tag line was “Arrive as a *Thete; Emerge as a Goddess.” Satisfaction Guaranteed.

The following Saturday, her parents dropped her off at the spa and picked her up seven hours later. The change was unbelievable. Camille really did look like a goddess! They even provided a prosthetic bra for her to wear until Nature kicked in.

Camille’s life changed overnight, literally. Boys followed her around like lost puppies while the girls were suddenly chummy and included her in all of their activities. She was polite but not excited or ever grateful. She remembered the name-calling, the laughter, the cruel jokes and all the rest. Screw them!

There was one boy though, who caught her attention. His name was Barry, and he was one of those bad boys of whom girls were taught to beware. Camille couldn’t get him off her mind. She thought about him all the time. Yes, she had her first crush.

Barry noticed Camille too; caught her looking at him from time to time, sometimes with a nuanced grin. Naaah! No way would chick like that want anything to do with me. Camille was too shy and unsure of herself to initiate a conversation and Barry figured he was hallucinating. And so, they left it that way until after graduation.

One day Barry and Camille ran into one another at a chariot race at the Coliseum. She was over the moon about it, and he seemed glad to see her, too. They sat together during the race. It turned out Barry’s brother was driving in it, so Camille made a big deal of cheering for him which impressed Barry. After that, they were all but inseparable. Things happened fast.

After three months, they were engaged and six months later they were married. At first everything was wonderful and both Camille and Barry were blissfully happy. Within a year, things had gone sideways. Barry had gotten a promotion at work and thought he was entitled to whatever and whomever, he desired. Camille put up with him for the sake of their kids, but then finally decided they were better off without him as a role model. One day, they were gone without a trace. Barry was relieved and not a bit remorseful.

Camille and the kids moved to Athens where she found work as a cocktail waitress at an upscale taverna. There, she was discovered by a representative from the **Omonia Modelling Agency. He left his card, and she called the next day. Once again, things happened fast.

Soon, Camille’s face (and the rest of her) were a common sight in Athens and beyond. Her image was on billboards, in magazines, and carved into the walls of caves and stone tablets.

She had made it on her own. She didn’t need a man. Camille didn’t know it then, but she became the early personification of “Girl Power!”

* Urban poor, slave

** Harmony. Also, a square in downtown Athens