Monica Santana
CRW3010
Assignment 4.8
Momma bear was standing sluggishly as she organized her nail polishes according to colors. She
was holding a ruby polish in her slow-wrinkling hands possibly wondering where to properly
place it without having anxiety. The nail polishes always had to be placed in a specific order.
Although her appointment wasn’t until in an hour, she always prepped her station with tools to
take off dead skin from peoples nasty toes and fingers. She took a glimpsed over to my direction
and grew weak grin. Below her bountiful emerald eyes were heavy bags- most likely from lack
of sleep or from weeping so much. With her weak grin, she masks away the fear that lingers in
her mind night after night. The fear of being unable to maintain a roof over all of our heads. Yet,
she still remained as beautiful as she always has been. Her emerald eyes captivated people, she
wore an optimistic smile even on her bad days, and her caramel skin barely had wrinkles yet-
except her hands that are put into constant work. Surprisingly, her raven hair had very little silver
streaks spread out. She continued organizing her nail polishes idly and shrugged her shoulders.
The smell of paint and acetone consumed the corner in which her station was. After ten years
working as a nail artist, she still winces at the aura the station gives off. Often it mixes with the
scent of crusty feet- believe me, it has a scent to it. She placed her hand on her lower back and
attempted to stretch. Her face frowned from the immense pain in her lower back but she shook
off the frown and wore another weak grin. In front of me, she’ll mask away the pain and sorrow
she feels creating art in people’s nails in order to make a living. She’ll even say she slept wrong
but she will never admit to me that it’s her job that is not only mentally hurting her, but
physically as well. I know she regrets not finishing school or learning English because it has put
her in this predicament. Otherwise, she would not pester me so much about finishing school and
becoming something in my life. That’s probably why her heart must feel heavy because she
knows making art in peoples nails is the price she has paid for her mistakes. She has worked with
up to ten people a day and most of them are inconsiderate. The clients rest their heavy feet on her