When Star reached the Shibui Resort and Convention Center, she became infected with the excitement. Colorful balloons and streamers accented the high-school band ensemble while the cheer squad gave the air of an athletic event. Through the swirling crowd, Star saw many of the contestants saying goodbye to their proud parents, family members, and sponsors. The Sakamoto family was out in force.
Marie Ann led an entourage that included a representative from the Kobayashi Tool Company, whom she’d recruited as Star’s key sponsor. Together they stood in quiet support as Star said goodbye before she would head to the third-floor holding area to be with her group.
“Thanks for coming down to give me a great sendoff,” Star said as she embraced her mother and Grandma Sakamoto, and saved Auntie Marie for last.
“You’re going to do so very well,” Marie Ann whispered in her ear. “Just stay positive and be yourself.”
With tears in her eyes, Star turned quickly toward the elevators and smiled as the door slowly closed. Everyone in the entourage shouted support in unison.
“Baby, just be the woman you say you are,” her father called.
“Show them what we’re made of!” Cousin Shelley shouted.
Her mother put in, “Remember to call me when you have your first break!”
Star waved one last time as the door closed. She felt her tension ease. There was only the pageant now, only one object for her focus. She would see everyone again that evening at the sponsors’ dinner, and again for the kimono and talent phases of the competition, but for now, she was on her own.
Once she reached the holding area, the security teams spotted her identification lanyard and directed her to join the others. Inside the small conference room, she noticed that her group was ten ladies about her age. Some were a bit younger but they all were out of high school and no older than twenty-five. Across the room, she noticed Tori Kita, a neighborhood girl she had known all through elementary school, but drifted apart after high school. There was no breakup or beef, just different friends doing different things.
“Tori, is that you?”
“Star Mathews. How long has it been? It’s so good to see you again.”
The girls hugged politely with Star’s enthusiasm for the reunion simmering just below the surface.
“I didn’t know you were going to be in the pageant. But, since your mom and your aunt had been court members it’s not that surprising,” Tori said without hesitation.
“Yes, it’s a family thing. Is this your first year?” Star asked as they stood together in the back of the room and the other contestants milled about.
“Yes and no. Last year I came out but didn’t make it past the quarterfinals. I thought I would give it one more try,” Tori said while her left hand stroked her shoulder-length hair.
“I hope the judges take mercy on me. I bet you make it to the finals this year. You are more of what the judges are looking for than me,” Star said modestly.
Tori stood five feet tall and had a beautiful head of ebony hair. Her skin was a milky white but with softness and clarity. Her slender frame accentuated by well-toned legs and thighs provided the right optical concession for her small breasts and slender shoulders.
“That’s just not true. Every girl has a chance to win, including you. Good luck and I hope we can be friends again when the pageant is over, whoever wins. Okay?”
“Sure we can. I like that,” Star said feeling awkward for talking with so little confidence. She wished she could take back those words of self-effacing disregard for her chances in the pageant.
The girls embraced a second time, exchanged phone numbers, and made plans to go to a baseball game. The room was filling with other competitors. The encounter with Tori and Star were repeated a dozen times with other ladies. The vibe was warm and respectful with a quiet sense of expectation. Star noticed another person she knew. It’s Christina Yakimira Winslow. She walked straight toward Star in a stylish beige outfit complete with a Louis Vuitton shoulder bag.
“Hello girl. Good to see you. I didn’t know you went in for these kinds of community activities. Don’t you live outside of Gardena?” Christina said with an arm’s length hug and air kiss.
Christina was five feet eight inches tall, slender, with long brunette hair, and alabaster skin. Her almond-shaped eyes provided confirmation of her Japanese heritage although her Anglo features made her more “hapa” than pure breed. This was her year to shine, and Christina was not going to let a newcomer like Star get in her way.
“Never left. I guess this is your third competition? My auntie told me you were in again. Good luck in the competition.”
The girls politely shook hands.
“I see you know Tori. We were together last year,” Christina said with a roving eye looking around the room like she was sizing up the competitors one by one.
“We’re old friends and will be using this time together to catch up and stay friends again,” Tori said putting her arm around Star.
They smiled widely at Christina just as the loud drone of magnified sound pierced the friendly buzz in the room.
“Attention. Ladies. Please have a seat near the platform. The meeting will start in two minutes,” the stern female voice announced.
Her diminutive stature made the six-inch microphone she cradled in her hands seem like a weapon of mass destruction. The room settled, and she spoke with a sufficiently amplified voice.
“I’m Grace Tanaka, the Chief Administrator of the Gardena Cherry Blossom Pageant. For the next five days, I will be your mother, your minister, and above all, your teacher as it relates to our pageant.”
“During the days ahead it will be my job to make your experience rewarding. In order for me to do that, we must make some time to go over the pageant’s conduct and values guidelines. The full details of these guidelines are in your orientation pacts.”
As Ms. Tanaka slowly walked across the twelve-foot platform she made eye contact with every contestant in the room and watched each of them nervously smile.
“Repeat the conduct oath after me,” she blurted into the megaphone.
“I promise to represent the moral and conduct standards of the Gardena Cherry Blossom Pageant…. I will respect and obey the pageant official…. I will only be seen with authorized men during pageant hours of competition…,” said Ms. Tanaka who took a pause in the oath.
The contestants seemed amused at the mention of unauthorized men and with the inference that the wrong escort would be a serious infraction and could led to poor scores or ultimate elimination from the pageant. Tanaka finished the oath.
“…I will not consume alcoholic beverages during my involvement with the pageant and I will do my best to represent my family, my heritage, and our ancestors with charm, grace, and good humor,” she finished.
“Any questions?” Tanaka asked.
Tori wanted to know what makes an unauthorized man. Tanaka gave her a rote answer.
“The key word here is men; the safest way to handle this guideline is to avoid men unless you have been instructed to allow a man to escort you during public appearance. All other men are not allowed except for immediate family members.”
Tanaka’s explanation was crystal clear, and Star knew she could follow the oath. She then turned to other more important matters.
“Is there any advice you can give me about the interviews? Will there be tough questions?” she asked.
“Depends on how you approach them. There’re just three basic questions. Ones about your heritage are the trickiest. Just don’t give them any answer that doesn’t let your Japanese shine,” Tanaka said with uncommon honesty and support.
She answered another question about interview questions.
“The easy questions are about personality. They have ways of trying to get you to reveal non-traditional attitudes and behaviors. Don’t be too honest and keep your secrets safe. Then the last group is the ‘got cha’ questions that reveal how well you know Japanese culture. The questions will be specific and will require a direct answer. If you don’t know the answer…fake it,” she said like this coaching session was ready to come to an abrupt end.
“Is there a way to fake the interviews?” Star asked as Tori pinched her leg in the best high-school study hall form.
“Not really. If you don’t know the answers today, you can’t fool the whole panel. These second-level interviews are the important ones. They will determine who will make it to the quarterfinals and separate the likely winners from the others who are here without a chance to win the competition,” Tanaka said.
“Thanks for being so attentive. Make the competition your own and know that you can only do your best and none of you have a score card,” she said as she excused the ladies to go to interviews.
