Just Sit and Look Pretty (Chapter 14 of 16) (Patreon)

Chapter 14

A while later, mom checked the phone and found the message.

<When is this screen test?”> she messaged back.

<How about today at 2>

Mom didn't answer immediately. She needed to talk it over with dad.

Around noon, mom, dad, and Johnny exited the room to get lunch. They headed to the car instead of the cafeteria in the hospital.

“What's going on?”

Mom knew that dad was asking about Gracie, but she changed the subject. “They want Johnny to have a screen test.”

“They'll pay the money?”

“More than we discussed. But they need a screen test.”

“When?”

“Two o'clock.”

“Alright.”

Johnny wasn't happy about spending more time in Gracie's body, but he couldn't do anything about it.

Before going to the studio, mom had Johnny practice his baby toddle. She even had him fall on his butt. She didn't think that they would ask him to cry on demand. Johnny couldn't do that anyway. Maybe if they needed some tears, they would put something in his eyes or bring over some onions. Mom hoped it would be OK. They would pay them a lot of money.

They entered the film studio. Mom was carrying Johnny in her arms. Dad was walking next to mom.

“We have a film test with Mr. Warner.”

“Right this way.”

It looked like a typical film studio, mom thought. There were cameras and a mat that resembled a carpet on the floor. No furniture was set up.

“Put this costume on her and we'll get started.”

Mom was handed a brown shirt, a diaper with a fairy print, and a pair of white socks.

Mom took Johnny into the changing room and stripped him out of Gracie's apparel, including the diaper. Then she rediapered him and pulled the shirt onto his body and the socks onto his feet. The shirt was short putting the diaper on full display.

Mom carried Johnny in his costume back out into the studio.

“OK, Gracie,” the director said in a voice he used for young children. “Stand over there and when I say 'Action' you walk to Mrs. Jalian over there. Take very small steps and walk with your arms out like you need them to keep balance.”

Johnny nodded his head. He knew what to do.

“Remember take small steps and don't run.”

Johnny nodded again.

“Action”

Johnny did as he was told. It was easy to just toddle.

“OK, that was great. I want you to smile as you are walking.”

Johnny smiled.

“No, not like that. Try grinning instead.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are smiling like you are posing for a camera. I don't want that. I want you to grin just like you're happy.”

“I'll try.” Johnny opened his mouth but didn't bare his teeth this time.

“Too many teeth. We'll have to fix that.”

“What?”

“Don't worry. What you're doing is fine.”

The director would have to hide his teeth. He had too many teeth in his mouth for the age they wanted him to emulate.

Johnny got to his mark.

“Action”

Johnny did his little walk again, this time he grinned as he walked.

“That's great, one more time. This time I want you to start grinning and then put on a sad face like you made a stinky.”

The director showed Johnny the expression he was looking for. His eyes narrowed, and his tongue could be seen in his slightly opened mouth, it looked like he was going to cry although there weren't any tears.

“A stinky?” Johnny thought. “You mean like I made a shit.” But Johnny didn't say that.” Instead, he mimicked the director's expression.

“Action”

He did his little walk.

“You made a stinky!”

Johnny's expression changed.

“That's good. This next part is easy. Lay on your back and smile as mommy changes you. Look very happy.”

Johnny was placed on his back on top of a diaper. His entire crotch was exposed, although the camera was behind the actress playing mom.

“Action”

Johnny started to smile. This time it was a smile, not a grin. The actress pulled the diaper up and over Johnny's stomach. Then she fastened the tabs. Johnny had to move his arms, and continue smiling, but keep his butt in place.

“Great, we're done. You are the best little actress I ever worked with,” the director gushed.

“We get the part?” mom asked the sponsor.

“Yes, but $350,000 is a bit high. How about $200,000?”

Both parties knew they would end up agreeing to a quarter of a million dollars.

Dad took Johnny to be changed, while mom worked out the details and scheduling with the director. The director showed mom the complete scripts of the twenty commercials they would shoot in the two weeks (although if need be they would do it in three weeks.

Over the course of the commercial series, Johnny would have to 'mature' from a crawling infant to a walking toddler. He would also have a speaking part, starting with cooing and baby babble to a few words at the end.

When the family left the studio, mom took with her several packages of all the diapers that would be used in the commercials. All were in girls' styles but were for different stages of child development. There was little 'lil snuggles' for the youngest of children, 'lil movers' for those starting to crawl and walk, 'lil snug and dry' for extra wetness protection, 'overnites' for sleeping in, 'lil swimmers' for use in a pool, and finally 'pull-ups' for potty training. The diapers came in different colors and prints. The theme of the commercials was to watch a baby grow and mature but always stay in diapers of the sponsor's brand. Creating the commercials with the same kid in a few weeks and then releasing the commercials over a year was a brilliant marketing plan. It was well worth paying mom to have one model (Johnny) in all the commercials.

“You were wonderful Johnny. They couldn't have been more pleased with you,” mom enthused.

“Whatever.”

“Come on, in a few weeks you will be a star.”

“It won't really be me.”

“But it is you. Gracie could never do this. She couldn't sit to take ordinary photos. You should be proud of yourself. When you're in your own body, maybe we can get some acting jobs for you then. This might be just the beginning.”

Johnny hadn't thought of that. He was good. He was acting more than they knew. He was acting like a little girl, and everyone believed him.

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