chapter 6

Los Angels

Norah 

It has been six months since Norah started with the internship and it seems as she has been learning a lot of things. She was also making friends with many people although some they were befriending her because of her parents. Her mentor was happy with her progress and she was assisting in different productions. Norah’s parents were happy that Norah was settling in nicely and that she was determined to make a name for herself.

It is Tuesday morning and Hollywood is busy as always. Norah is seen with a group of friends some started with her on the Internship programme, others she got to know them from various movies that she helped with as a Production assistant. She has done well on the first six months and she was getting booked in more and more films to assist and that made her feel good. Although Norah had everything she wanted, famous parents, good education, now she is working in Hollywood, there was something like a void in her life.

She felt that she was ready to have a boyfriend but there was no one who had approached her before. All her friends were dating and the last boyfriend she had was while she was at university and the guy cheated with her best friend. Since then she lost faith in men and she did not want to get hurt anymore hence she stayed single for years.

"Norah, how come I don’t see you hanging with some of us after work? Every time when we knock off you rush to go home," It was Janice who had become Norah’s closest friend.

"Well, I don’t like to be in the company of a large group, I like my space," Norah responded her eyes on a guy who recently joined the Internship programme.

"What’s wrong being in the company of a group, there is me and other guys that you have known for how long? Six months, you should be comfortable with all of us. Norah, what are you not telling me? How are you going to get a boyfriend if all you do is come to work and go home? You need to go out there you will never know who you can meet."

"I am not looking for a boyfriend at the moment and besides, I don’t fancy anyone on our group. Don’t get me wrong there are a couple of hunks but they are just not into me."

"What type of guys are you looking for and how did you know someone is good for you if you don’t even try?"

"Look who is talking. Not so long ago you came crying to me because the greatest player Dwayne has dumped you for the new intern. I don’t have anything against Dwayne but I warned you that he looks like a player which he is."

"Yes, Norah, I came crying to you but that time has passed, I am dating someone new," and Janice looked at the young intern that Norah was looking at.

"No…get out of here, you want to tell me you and Charlie are an item? Since when and how come are you only telling me now?"

"Well it’s something that happened recently and I did not want to say anything before I was sure of it and yes now I am very sure of it."

"What do you mean now you are very sure of it?" Norah asked her friend.

"We have gone out in a couple of dates and last night we spend a night together at his loft, wow the guy is good you know."

"No way, you want to tell me that you slept with Charlie?" Norah didn’t realise that she had asked a question where people could even hear her. At that moment Charlie walked towards them and Norah’s heart started to beat so fast. She couldn’t tell her friends that she has hots for her boyfriend and she did not know that they were an item.

"Hello ladies, I heard like someone calling my name, I am here now," It was Charlie giving a kiss to Janice on the cheek.

"Hi baby, you know Norah, my friend," Janice introduced them.

"Oh yes, I know Norah. Everybody here knows who Norah is. And by the way Norah, how come I don’t see you mingle with the crowd? If you are not helping out in studio you re by yourself unless if Janice here is with you?"

Norah’s eyes were glued into the Charlie’s lips, he well built and he spoke so confidently and was bright too. It was the kind of guy she would like to date but now he was her friend’s boyfriend.

"I do go out with my friends you know, I mean the ones that I used to hang out at university. Each week we meet at our favourite spot and catch on all the gossips discussing our careers, frustrations with our bosses and life in general."

"Sound interesting baby," Charlie was looking at Janice but not convinced at what Norah was saying. "Maybe we should join Norah with her friends next time they go out. Who knows it might be fun and maybe we will get to know another side of Norah better. I will have to invite my boy Dennis, he digs you, Norah,"

"Who is Dennis? You mean that guy who talks too much and is all over the place? No ways……not my kinda guy. I will pass."

"Oh…so you have preference Norah, what kinda guy do you fancy? Someone like me?" Charlie’s arm was resting nicely on Janice shoulder.

Norah felt embarrassed, she cannot admit to Charlie that she likes him especially now that he is dating her friend. "You know what Charlie? I think you are too full of yourself. Forgive me my friend, let me leave you with your boyfriend. I want to go and check on my mom. I am riding with her today since I have taken my car to the workshop."

"Bye Norah, I will text you later," Janice said and she couldn’t understand why Charlies’s words have made Norah so uncomfortable and angry. She will have to dig out the truth from Norah.

Norah walked towards studio 8, she knew her mother was finished with the movie she was shooting and it was the first movie she was shooting without her husband who was directing it. She quickly started at the ladies to pull herself together as she was a bit disturbed by Charlie’s presence and she did not want her friend to see that she has hots to her boyfriend. Norah freshened up and apply a powder on her face and head to her mother’s dressing room.

Knocking, she got inside the room. Her mother was busy changing into her clothes when Norah walked in. Norah’s mom quickly dismissed the lady who was helping her as she needed to discuss something with her.

"Norah, I am worried about you my love. How come I don’t see you mingle with other young people your age? You don’t have a boyfriend and you like spending time with me and your dad than go out there and have some fun. How are you going to find yourself a boyfriend if you don’t go out?"

"Ma… I thought I told you not to talk about this anymore. I am going to date when I am ready, beside the type of guy that I wanted is taken," Norah looked disappointed and hurt when she says that.

 "So, there is someone that you are interested in? That’s a good start. What do you mean he is taken? Is he married?"

"He is not married ma, is just that he is dating someone and that someone is a close friend of mine."

"Well, if he is not married he is available. Where on earth are you going to find a man just single waiting for you? If you like him, tell him."

"No ma….Janice is my best friend I would not want her to go through what I went through while at university."

"Oh, poor kid, you are still hung out at what Penny did to you? You need to let go of the past and go and tell Charlie how you feel. Janice will get another boyfriend; besides she is a popular girl it won’t take time before she gets another boyfriend."

"Ma…..I can’t believe that out of all people you are giving me such bad advice," Norah was shocked that her mother was really saying that.

"C’mon Norah, stop being a saint, where are you going to find a man waiting specifically for you? Tell me this, between a stone that has not been discovered and the one that is discovered polished and stored in display, which one will attract people? The one in display because people see it every day and they can also see the worth of it. It is the same with Charlie, he is there. You see him every day and makes your heart beat fast am I right?"

"How do you know that I feel this way?"

"Norah, I am your mother, I was once young and I remember when I met your father it was love on first sight."

"Since you are speaking of dad, where is he anyway? I think he can give me better advice than you," Norah was walking towards the kitchen to make a cup of tea for her and mother.

"It is Tuesday baby girl, your father has a lecture to third-year film students; he will be home after eight."

"Of course, I forgot. Maybe I should join him sometimes when he goes to varsity."

"Join him and do what, be his student. You are now in Hollywood, all the shit he is teaching students in class you are experiencing them on set. You know what, I think you should throw a party and invite your friends that are on internship, maybe Charlie will also come and other interesting people that you might like?"

"A party what for? I don’t need you to help me to get a guy, I will get my man when the time is right. Anyway let’s forget about Charlie, he belongs to Janice and let’s close this conversation," Norah was feeling a bit annoyed by what her mother was trying to do.

She put the two cups of tea and switch on the TV to watch news update. There was a lot happening in the world, with the US going through Presidential campaign and Africa being on the spotlight about all the rebels who were terrorising the communities and attacking innocent people. She felt like leaders were not doing enough to help African people.

She had read once that rebels were financed by the West who wanted countries to be ungovernable and occupy all the resources that should make Africa a rich country. Anyway, in two years’ time, she will be going back to Morocco. Her parents have two more pictures to star in then they go back home.

Her father has already met with Moroccan Minister of Arts who want him to develop Morocco Film Industry which he agreed. Maybe there is something that she can do to address some of the challenges the continent is facing through film. She has learned the power of visuals and they can do to change or destroy the world.