“This must be my fifteen minutes of fame,” Janice thought as she posed for pictures. She smiled her biggest, proudest smile as the bright lights of camera flashes sparked around her. She turned to the left, then to the right. She held her daughter close, sharing the moment with her.

“Isn’t this wonderful?” She said through smiling teeth.

“Yes,” Amy agreed without moving her lips.

We’ve all seen those pictures of celebrities caught in mid-sentence, mouth wide open, eyes half-closed. It was important to maintain the pose.

Amy looked at her mom, still smiling. “Mom – “

Janice squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “Don’t look at me. The cameras,” she warned through gritted teeth.

The flashes continued as photographers called out their names and those of the others who stood nearby. There was another glowing woman with her smiling teenage daughter, and her husband too.

Everyone smiled and waved, taking in every moment of the hysteria while photographers pushed at each other trying to get that perfect shot. One was not enough, apparently. Were they hoping they would slip up and stop smiling long enough to lick their lips?

Janice’s lips felt tight and dry but she continued to smile and nod until one of the organizers stepped in.

“Okay, that’s enough. This way.”  He ushered Janice and the others along. He held open the hotel door as these newfound stars made their way inside, away from the screaming paparazzi.

Once inside Janice released her daughter. “Isn’t this wonderful, Amy?”

Amy’s smile faded quickly. “Yes, Mom, but you seem to have forgotten something.”

“What’s that, dear?”

“I’m the one who won the gold medal, not you.”

Image via Wikipedia