And here's an alternate take on Rose Colored Glasses by Big Daddy Five:
When Jeannie and I were kids, we used to joke that we'd be rich and famous someday. We dreamed of mansions, fancy cars, and all the designer clothes we could buy. We wanted to escape the life our mom had, waiting tables for pennies and bringing home strange men.
Jeannie was always the smart one, acing every test and getting straight A's. I struggled a bit more, but I was determined to do well too. We both got scholarships to our dream colleges, and we were on our way to achieving our dreams.
Jeanie went into medicine at the University of Illinois while I majored in law at Harvard and landed a job at a prestigious law firm in New York. I was a rising star, the youngest person ever considered for partner. I wore expensive power suits and carried designer handbags. I was on top of the world, or so I thought.
One day, I was sitting at a café, sipping a cappuccino, and reading a brief. A waiter came over and handed me a pair of sunglasses, claiming that I dropped them. I didn't remember wearing sunglasses, but I put them on anyway. That's when my world changed.
Everything looked different through the lenses of those glasses. The world turned a unique shade of rose, and everything looked way cooler. The buildings, the people, the cars, and even the fire hydrants looked cool. I felt a little giddy, and I couldn't stop smiling.
I forgot all about the office and my briefs and walked around aimlessly, taking in the sights. I walked into a building with rose-colored windows and found myself in a lobby with an attractive woman behind the circular desk. She was smoking a cigarette, and I couldn't help but think that she looked way cool.
We stared at each other for what felt like forever before she finally spoke. "Mr. Barnett will see you now," she said.
I didn't know who Mr. Barnett was, but I followed her instructions anyway. I got into an elevator and pressed the button for the fourteenth floor. I was feeling way cool and couldn't wait to see what was in store for me.
I walked into an office with two hot guys who were staring at me. They examined me like I was a piece of meat, and I didn't mind one bit. I was feeling more and more aroused by the minute.
"How long's she been under, Jer?" one of them asked.
"About fifteen minutes, I'd say," said the other.
They asked me questions, and I answered them truthfully. I told them that I wanted to be a stripper and date married men. I wanted to be the biggest slut in New York. They asked me if I wanted to drink and take drugs, and I said, "Shit, yeah!"
My world exploded into a rose-colored light as I had a massive orgasm. I was overwhelmed by the pleasure, and I passed out.
When I woke up, I was in a strip club wearing a skimpy outfit and was surrounded by leering men. I felt different, like my interests had shifted. I no longer cared about my law career or making partner. I just wanted to dance and have fun.
Jerry, the guy from the office, was there, and he told me that I was his best employee. He gave me a pair of rose-colored sunglasses to wear on stage. I felt way cool wearing them, and the men loved it too.
I started sleeping with some of the men who came to the club. They were married, just like I wanted, and they were all rich and powerful. I felt like I was living the dream. I didn't care that I was selling my body or that I was living the high life, spending my nights partying and my days sleeping. I didn't care about anything else but the next thrill, the next orgasm. I didn't even think about Jeannie or my mom or anyone else from my old life. I was in a haze of pleasure, drugs, and distorted reality.
But one day, as I was sitting in the club's dressing room, putting on my makeup, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I barely recognized the person looking back at me. My hair was wild and unkempt, my makeup was thick and smeared, and my outfit was barely there. I had bruises on my arms and legs from the rough sex I had engaged in the night before. And worst of all, my eyes had lost their spark. They were dull and lifeless, like two black holes.
I sat there, staring at my reflection, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a twinge of something resembling regret. Was this really what I wanted? Was this who I wanted to be? A glorified prostitute, servicing powerful men for money?
But then I pushed the thoughts away and shook my head. Of course, this is what I wanted. I was living my dream, wasn't I? I was finally in control of my life, doing what I wanted when I wanted, and with whom I wanted. Why would I give that up?
And so, I went back to my routine, pretending that everything was fine. But deep down, I knew it wasn't. The drugs were taking their toll on my body, the constant partying was exhausting, and the sex was empty and meaningless. I felt like I was slowly losing myself, disappearing into a rose-colored haze.
One day, as I was leaving the club after a long night of work, I saw someone standing outside, watching me. It was Jeannie. I hadn't seen her in years, and she looked like a different person. She was dressed in a conservative suit, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. She looked serious and determined, and for the first time, I felt a pang of envy.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her, trying to sound casual.
"I came to see you," she said, her voice firm.
"Why?"
"I need to talk to you," she said. "Can we go somewhere?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I wanted to be seen with her in my current state. But something about her presence made me want to follow her. So I nodded and we walked to a nearby coffee shop.
We sat down at a table in the back, and she looked at me with a mix of concern and disappointment.
"What happened to you, Kathy?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you used to be so smart and driven. You had goals and dreams. And now look at you. You're a shell of your former self."
"I'm living my dream, Jeannie," I said defensively.
"Is this really your dream?" she asked, gesturing at my outfit and the empty coffee cups on the table. "Is this the life you wanted?"
I didn't know how to answer that. Was this really what I wanted? Was this who I wanted to be?
Jeannie must have seen the doubt in my eyes, because she leaned forward and took my hand. "It's not too late, Kathy," she said. "You can still turn your life around. You can still be the person you want to be."
I looked at her, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe she was right. Maybe I could still change things.
But then, just as quickly as it had come, the hope disappeared. I shook my head.
"Here, try these on," I said, handing Jeannie a pair of glasses.
Jeannie hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I was up to, but then decided to go along with it. She put on the glasses and immediately relaxed a little.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"I feel a little strange," Jeannie replied.
I grinned. "That's because those glasses are special. They're going to make you feel really good."
Jeannie raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Just wait," I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a small device that looked like a remote control.
I pressed a button and Jeannie's lenses suddenly turned pink, just like mine.
"Oh wow," Jeannie said, looking around in wonder. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small "O" of surprise. "Everything looks so cool!" she exclaimed.
"I know, right?" I said, grinning. "Now, how do you feel about being a doctor?"
Jeannie frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, do you really want to be a doctor?" I asked in a serious tone.
I saw Jeannie think for a moment. "I'm not sure. I mean, it's what I've always wanted, but...I don't know. It doesn't seem as important as it used to."
I nodded. "That's because those glasses are making you realize what's really important. You don't need to waste your life being all serious and working all the time. You should be out having fun, enjoying yourself, being a little wild."
Jeannie shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "I don't know, Kathy. This seems a little weird."
I just smiled. "Trust me, Jeannie. You'll feel so much better once you start living a little."
Jeannie looked hesitant, but then she suddenly smiled. "You know what? You're right. I should let loose a little."
"That's the spirit!" I said, grinning. "Now, let's go for a walk." Jeannie nodded eagerly and the two of us left the coffee shop, heading out into the bright, pink world outside.
We walked for a while, and Jeannie couldn't stop commenting on how everything looked so amazing through the glasses. We eventually ended up at the building with the pretty, rose-colored windows and took the elevator up to the fourteenth floor where Jerry was waiting in his office. He stared at Jeannie for a moment, then turned his gaze to me. "You brought me another one, huh?"
I grinned. "Yep. And she's a good one. Smart, pretty, and ambitious. Just like I was."
Jerry nodded. "All right, let's test her out. What's your name, honey?"
Jeannie smiled. "My name is Jeannie Morris. I'm Kathy's sister."
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. And what do you want to do with your life, Jeannie?"
Jeannie seemed to hesitate for a moment, trying to focus on the question through the rose-colored lenses. "I want to be like Kathy. I want to be a stripper and have fun and drink and do drugs and have sex all the time."
Jerry smiled. "That's a good goal, honey. And do you want to wear lots of makeup and dress like a slut?"
Jeannie giggled. "Of course! I want to look sexy and be desired by everyone."
"That's great, Jeannie. And do you want to take married men away from their wives?"
Jeannie nodded eagerly. "Fuck, yeah! That sounds way cool!"
Jerry leaned back in his chair and looked at me. "Well, I think we have another winner here, Kathy. Welcome to the team, Jeannie."
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride in having brought my sister into this new life. "Thank you, Jerry. I knew she'd be perfect for this."
Jeannie was looking around the room, still wearing the glasses. I knew everything to her looked so cool and bright and exciting. I couldn't wait for her to experience it all.
As we left the building, I put my arm around Jeannie's shoulder. "Welcome to the club, sis. We're going to have so much fun together."
Jeannie smiled and I knew that I had made the right choice. Jeannie is going to love this new life, I think to myself. It's going to be way cool.
END