Norma looked at her reflection in the mirror. It had been another long night. Her face was puffy and blotched from crying herself to sleep again. Reaching for her makeup she began to apply the white cream with experience. She knew how to cover the pain. A loud knock upon her dressing room door; the announcer hollered a muffled, “Hurry up blondie the audience is getting restless”.
Norma finished painting on the big red smile to her lips and cheeks. Getting up from the chair, she opened the door. Taking strides toward the stage in her floppy red shoes, she knew it was time to make them laugh. She felt like the great pretender. With a deep breath she spoke a silent prayer, “God, help me find real love and happiness so my smile never has to be painted again.”