Chapter One

Chapter One

            Tess pushed the release button on the tape compartment of the 8mm camera and waited while the tiny computer brain followed her command.  She had just finished taping a children’s wear fashion show and her neck and shoulders ached from standing with her arms in the same position for so long.  Much of the footage had been shot handheld, with the help of the steady cam, and even the small camera could quickly get heavy.  The studio owned an excellent tripod, complete with dolly, but with children often the most artistic shots came up close with camera in hand, it looked less intimidating that way and it was possible to get more relaxed, natural shots. 

            She took her work seriously and tried to tell the entire “story” from her viewfinder.  This seriousness combined with her natural creativity made her very good at what she did.  The studio had a reputation for good work and were usually booked up weeks in advance.  They probably could have doubled their staff and still stayed busy but both she and Ross liked to keep a high quality level which they both felt required personal attention to every aspect of the product they turned out. 

            Tess did all of the video camera work and the rough edits but most of the credit for the finished product had to go to Ross who personally did the final edits and assembly.  They functioned together as a team, with the use of the high quality equipment Ross purchased for the studio they produced a first class product. 

            Tess glanced up from packing the equipment as Ms. Kirkenbaum, the modeling coach who had hired the studio to tape the fashion show,  approached.  The tapping of her stiletto heels on the tile floor of the mall concourse could be heard even over the din of noise all around them and Tess studied the older woman as she approached.  She was a vision of perfection, from her carefully coifed hair to her neatly manicured nails and the expensive, perfectly tailored suit that she wore.  Tess smiled to herself trying to picture Ms. Kirkenbaum looking harried and frumpy as she herself seemed to spend most of her time.  It was nice to realize that she’d finally reached a point in her life where she no longer felt intimidated at events like this, as she would have been only a few years before.  She was used to being the only woman in jeans or casual slacks and flats.  It hadn’t taken her long to realize that people rarely paid attention to the person behind the camera, only to the camera itself, so she was accustomed to being part of the décor, or treated as wait staff. 

            “How’d it go?”  Ms. Kirkenbaum asked when she was within ear shot. 

“Really well, I think we have some very nice footage here,” Tess smiled as the older woman who appeared to be in her late forties, but it was hard to tell.  The skin of her face was taunt, as though it had been lifted so there were no determining age lines there.  The excellent cheekbones, which made her features striking, were genetic and it was evident that Clarrisa Kirkenbaum had been a beauty in her youth. 

            “Were you able to get good close ups of the boys?  I don’t usually get many boys to work a fashion show and I want some footage to use for portfolios for advertising work,” Ms. Kirkenbaum held herself regally, her posture picture perfect. 

            Tess felt the need to stand straighter herself as she replied to the other woman, vaguely wondering if she too had modeled before becoming a coach.  ’Every life has a story’ she thought with a smile, ‘everyone is a compilation of all that came before.‘  She assured the older woman that she had indeed gotten good  close ups of the five boys that had modeled in the show as she briefly thought about life’s path and how lives could be similar, but each was unique to the individual actually living it. 

            Hitting the replay button on the camera, she held it out for Ms. Kirkenbaum to review.  As she showed the other woman the controls her mind wondered, what was the old saying, ‘Nothing new under the sun?’  That was so true, even the abstract thought patterns that flitted through ones mind were not new, someone at some time had probably had similar thoughts, for not even an inventors creation was theirs alone, it was usually based on work that had come before or built from ideas someone else had put down. 

            Mentally giving herself a shake she apologized to Ms. Kirkenbaum, “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”

            “How long before I can view a final copy?” She repeated patiently, she was used to dealing with children so she had a great deal of patience. 

            But Tess was embarrassed to be caught wool gathering and she blushed slightly as she replied, “It will probably take a week or so, but we’ll give you a call as soon as we know for sure.  I’m not sure what Ross’ schedule is like, but I’ll get to the rough edits as soon as possible.” 

            “That’s fine, I’m just anxious . . .” Ms. Kirkenbaum stopped talking suddenly,

smiling at someone behind Tess.  “Have you met my son?” she asked.

            Tess shook her head and turned to look up at the tall handsome man that had somehow approached without her noticing.  He looked to be nearing forty, which would make his mother older than she’d thought.  He had his mother’s cheekbones and carried himself with the same poise and she briefly wondered if he too had modeled or if he’d just had lots of instruction from his mother.  Remembering her manners she wiped her hand on her jeans before reaching it out to grasp the hand that he offered.  “Tess Quinlan,” she told him as his hand closed over hers.   
            “Bob Kirkenbaum,” he smiled, revealing perfect teeth and a dimple in his left cheek.  “Mother has shown me some of your previous work.  I’m impressed.”

            Tess returned his smile, “Thank you for your compliment, but most of the credit goes to Ross.  He does the final edits and the assembly.  I’m just the camera . . . .person.”

            Bob grinned noting her slight pause before using the ‘politically correct’ term, his eyes quickly taking in her slender figure and petite build.  “You’re right, you are definitely not a cameraman.  But don’t discredit what you do, all the editing in the world can’t make something from nothing, the shots have to be there first in order to be edited in.” 

            Tess smiled again she wasn’t discrediting her work, just stating a fact.  Shooting footage was easy and she enjoyed it, it hardly seemed like work at all except for the ache in her shoulders.  It was the frustrating hours in front of the editing equipment that brought forth the polished results that the customers saw, but now hardly seemed the time to argue her point.  “Well, thank you for your vote of confidence, I enjoy my work.”  She bent down to the camera case and pulled out a business card and handed it to him.  “If you ever need our services, give us a call.  Gina handles the appointments, she’s our office ‘go-fer’ and works the front counter, although I think she prefers the term ‘girl Friday!’  She smiled, “She handles the scheduling and can get you set up.”

            He took the card slowly from her hand, a look of surprise on his face.  “Ross is a lucky man, having a dedicated employee like you.  He better hope you never go into business for yourself, you could give him some real competition.” 

            Tess forced a smile, “Thank you.”  She wished they would move on and leave her to her packing.  She hated small talk and his words had struck a nerve, giving her a feeling of déjà vu.  Ross often told her the same thing, that he’d be in trouble if she went into business for herself.  What neither man seemed to realize was that she just wasn’t that brave yet.  Her shoulders were carrying about as much responsibility as she could handle right now, she didn’t need to add such a major thing as running her own business. 

            Bob and his mother turned to greet some of the parents so she quickly turned back to her packing.  The parents would want copies of some of the footage as well so her four hours of taping would net a lot of profit for the studio.  She grinned thinking of Ross’ favorite saying, “Nothing happens until the sale is made.”

            As she packed Bob watched her, noting how she carefully rolled the cords and tucked each piece into their slotted carrying case.  Most people would have just tossed everything helter-skelter into the case but as tired as she must be she was still taking the time to put everything in its proper place.  He smiled, his admiration for her growing as he remembered the way she had tossed his mild flirtation back into his face by handing him a business card and instructing him to call her girl Friday for an appointment.  Here she was, all five feet nothing of her, dressed more for a day in the park while the women around her were dressed to the nines, but she was still so filled with self confidence that when a man gave her a compliment, she brushed him off with the equivalent of “don’t call us, we’ll call you.”  She reminded him of a feisty terrier, not big as a minute but very determined.  He wondered what had made her so cautious even as he thought what a formidable business partner she would make.  Tucking the thought into his mind for another day he glanced at Tess one last time before turning back to his mother.