I sat on an old bench that stood close to Philea’s bees. His new hive was already very busy. I watched the little friends flying around and visiting some flowers. Some flew over to me, to make sure, that I wasn’t a threat. Or they just wanted to take a look. I didn’t know. 

I wore my new shoes. They made walking way more easy. Livia complimented my new shoes, at breakfast. She was a bit worried about me ruining the shoes, but I assured her, that I bought these especially for the farm.

Breakfast.

It had been chaotic. Lali asked if she could invite her friend over. A twelve years old girl and daughter of some neighbor farmers. She got a bit grumpy when she wasn’t allowed to invite the other girl. While she pouted, a small bird flew inside through a window. It took some time to get it outside again. It made a crash landing on me in its panic. I ended up being the one to bring it to the window. As a thank you, the angry birdy bit me while I held it carefully, to stop it from flying away until we arrived at the bird’s exit. Nice.

Today, the photo shoot was planned to take place here. My Mom paid for this. This time. But her friend refused to take much money from a friend. Even so, my Mom tried. She was aware, that the family needed the money. But Alessia refused. I didn’t know more. She fought about it with her sister, while Lali and Phil tried to convince the bird to fly outside again.

I got a text massage from my dad. He told me, that Mom and my colleagues were on their way. Somehow, this ruined my mood. I loved being a model. I loved having fans. I liked being loved. Of course. But I wasn’t happy about taking pictures with Helena. It was different with Mony. Timon’s nickname. He was a friend.

“Hello, bee-friend!” Phileas was on his way over to me. He looked like a giant bee himself. Fully clothed in black and yellow.

“Hello alpaca-boy”, I answered a bit startled. I hadn’t noticed him coming over.

He raised his eyebrows. “What’s up? Why the bad mood?

“It’s nothing.” I watched a little bee that decided to sit on my knee. I let it climb on my finger. “Just a coworker I don’t want to see.”

“Oh?”

“Exactly”, I grunted. “And what are your plans for today?” Sadly, the bee decided to fly away again.

“There is always some work to do. I just cleaned the alpaca stables. Lulu stole the sweep. I had to chase her to get it back. Silly girl. My fluff-friends are back on their pasture, and Farty decided not to eat the wrong things today. Well. For now. I hope it will stay like that. And I will sell some Honey on the village's little market later. It takes place once a month. Next to the city hall. Did you visit the market already?”

I shook my head. “No. I didn’t.” I only ever went to the small expensive stores, when I needed something. And the university had a little grocery store, a coffee shop, a bistro, a cantine, and a diner. I never had to cook.

“I thought so. You can accompany me if you want to. Not today, obviously.”

“I will think about it”, I said. But I didn’t plan to go with him anywhere. Luckily, my phon started ringing. I saw my Mom’s name on the display. I happily excused myself and went away to answer the call.

“Hey, Mom.”

“My boy!”, Mom chirped. “We will arrive in fifteen minuets. Alessia said she has some nice places to take some pictures. I was thinking about pictures with some hay. Inside the stables. Doesn’t that sound romantic?”

“Hay? Why that?”

“You will see!”

I had a very bad feeling about this. “Mom? You said it’s a special foto shoot? Suits and evening dresses?”

“Yes. But we got I sudden request for another theme. We will have to change some things.” She sight. “We were requested to make some pictures to promote lingerie and underwear.”

“What?” I nearly let my phone slip from my fingers. “Lingerie?”

“They pay us even more now! If it goes well, we will earn a very nice contract with that fashion magazine! They are one of my biggest rivals, in influence! I was planning to publish a magazine, not just the occasional nice brochure, but this deal would be a big win! We have magazines to promote our stuff, yes. But The Variety Paper hasn’t promoted my fashion so far. I didn’t get along with their owner. But his son has taken over now! This could change everything! Well, if we start to work together… Isn’t that nice? They will have their own fashion brand, which would make them a bigger threat, but we get to make the pictures! I want that contract!” She sounded more than just happy. “I can smell the money, my darling! I will tell you the details when we arrive. See you soon!”

“Okay, Mom.” And she ended the call. I brushed my fingers through my hair.

Lingerie?

That wasn’t my first photo shoot wearing underwear, I did that some moth ago. But here? At a farm? I wasn’t too sure about this. And one of the reasons already came running to me.

“Noeeeelle! Can I watch the photo shoot? Dad said I would get in the way, but I really want to see it!”, Lali shouted excitedly. “Can I? Please? Pretty Please?”

Eh. No? “I fear you can’t”, I answered when she nearly ran me over. Lali held onto my purple shirt, to catch herself from falling.

“Why?” She looked at me with the biggest puppy eyes I had ever seen, while she clung to me. “Why? I won’t get in the way. Pleeeeease!”

“We’re taking special pictures”, I answered and shook my head. “No. You can’t.”

“How special?” Lali let go of my shirt and crossed her arms. “Nudes?”

“What? NO!?”

She pulled a face. “Why can’t I watch then?”

“Because!”

“Noelle! That’s not a reason!” Again, she sounded like a grandma. Like my grandma. The old Lady hated it, when I answered with ‘because’. “Is there a reason?“, she grunted.

What should I do? The truth? Yes! She was twelve, not three. “My Mom just informed me, that she wants to take underwear pictures. That’s not for kids.”

Lali nodded while in deep thought. “I see. You don’t want me to see your butt.”

YES! And more! “Underwear, not nudes! It stays a No, though. Maybe I can take you to another photo shooting? A fancy one? How does that sound?”

“Deal!” And she ran off looking rather pleased.

Alessia came out of her house at the same moment. She watched Lali running back inside. Lali shouted something about the photo shoot. Her mother answered something. Smiling she came over to me. “Aren’t they here yet.”

“They should arrive any moment.”

“You take Lali to a photo shoot?” Mom's friend smiled amused. “With what did she convince you?”

I sight. “She wanted to watch this one. But Mom just informed me, that we will wear underwear and lingerie. Not only suits and dresses.”

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“Lingerie?” She paled a bit. “Thanks for saying No, I guess. Lingerie!”

Some minutes later, my Mother, my colleagues, and some more staff arrived. Alessia showed them the stable, where they set everything up. Mom showered me in kisses, while she struggled to walk. She too wore high heels. Of course. Just like Helena. But unlike my Mom, Helena couldn’t keep quiet about her struggle. Mony got distracted by the donkeys, which kept watching everything curiously. They stood on a small fenced part of the pasture, next to the entrance. The Alpacas stood next to the stable. Closer to the bees. This farm had three pastures where the animals could stand. Two big ones and a small one.

“It smells horrible! Like poor people!”, she muttered. “I can’t walk here. Why is it so muddy? Was there another storm? Or is this poor people dirt?” Luckily, Alessia didn’t hear her. But Mom glared at the twenty years old girl. Helena pouted like a rotten princess. She played with her dyed neon pink hair and rolled her eyes. She looked even more hateful when her gaze met mine.

“You should fire her!”, I mumbled.

“I can’t. Her father is one of my business partners.” Mom stared at Helena. “And she knows that. And she got requested for this job. Her sharp features are a nice contrast to you. And Timon is quite muscular. You three will look stunning together. Just try to work with her, Sweety.” Mom went to join Alessia and her coworkers.

“Noelle!” Mony nearly crushed me with one of his bear hugs. He was a bit over two meters tall and two years older than me. “It’s good to see you! Are you a true farm boy now?”

“It’s good to see you!”, I replied. “And no.”

He looked at my feed. “Your wearing sneakers. Are you sick?”

“No. But you can start to panic, should I start wearing rubber boots!” I winked at him. “How far is your Hotel away?”

“Two hours. Your mother insisted on a good hotel. 5 stars. Anything closer to this place was small and booked out or closed. And there are no nice and expensive hotels close to this place.”

“I know. I was surprised, when Mom told me, she found rooms for you all. I was quite happy when she told me, that I could live at her friend’s.” I watched some of the stylists unpack their stuff and the clothes we were supposed to wear. Nice dresses, suits…  But… “Mony?”

“Yes?” He also watched the unpacking show.

“That underwear for men… Is that only your size?”

“Looks like it… Why? Do you suddenly feel too manly for lingerie?”

“I’m okay with both, doofus!” I looked at the lingerie they unpacked. It was barely anything. Just a tiny bit of fabric or laze. “Is this really for a fashion magazine?”

“Yes. But they want to add more to their own fashion. Erotic underwear. You know? The Variety Paper wants to shine with special stuff now. It’s all from other fashion brands that designed that stuff for them. Are you ready?”

“For what?” I shook my head. “For erotic pictures? I’m a model!”

“It’s not a porn magazine, Noelle. It won’t be that bad. Your Mother refuses to work with those. And she designed some of that stuff. It’s part of the deal. She wants to design for them too. To secure her position, I guess. It won’t be too bad. She wouldn’t do that to you. Or us. But The Variety Paper has a great influence on the newest fashion trends. And they plan to gain even more influence!”

“I know. Mom just told me.” I was very happy, that I send Lali away. Her mother took a look at the clothes now. She held up a tiny tanga made from red laze and grimaced.

Heaven!

And as I knew my Mother, her next step after succeeding would be to buy that magazine. She had devoured another famous photo studio and model agency like this.