Runner Up by Leah Banicki Page A

trip. It was a
great memory.
* * * * *
It was no shock when I won the contest. The cameramen were the judges, which made me laugh. I got
along with most of them well, being a technology geek, I was always friendly with the shooting staff. I knew they
were good at their jobs, from watching the show in the past. All the foreign locales were shot beautifully and I was
honest in my appraisal of their work. Sometimes one or two of them would even call me over during shooting
breaks and asked me about some filler film they had done that day and had on their laptops. It made me miss my
camera gear even more. It was fun to be friends with these brilliant guys at the top of their game.
I won the competition with an artsy shot I got by going into a rough section of palm trees and underbrush.
While getting a bit of dirt on my clothes, I landed a good shot of a storm cloud over the ocean through an
opening in the trees. It showed dark and light contrast that made it moody and interesting. Not bad for a point-nshoot camera.
After my name was announced as the winner, I walked up to Randall and got my two date cards. One date
card was for dinner tonight, and one was for the ceremony. This meant I was still on the show for another four
days.
As I turned to walk back to my spot next to Janette, I felt the tension on the verandah heighten. Suddenly
the stares had stopped being friendly and my neck felt a bit tingly, like a hundred daggers were aimed at me. I
walked slowly and keep my face neutral. It was very intimidating, knowing almost everyone in the room was
beginning to hate me.
It seemed as though I was being labeled as a threat, I wondered how they would react knowing I had been
receiving letters from Anthony. I saw Janette’s grin and felt a little less alone, but the moment left me shaken. This
reality TV experience was more complicated than I ever gave it credit for.
I found a dress in my wardrobe that would work for this warm, balmy climate. Heidi brought me a sheer
white shawl. It had elegant detail work and long fringe that draped beautiful over my Spaghetti strapped lavender
dress. I had big plans to enjoy every minute with Tony, my Tony.
With each date and shared moment, he felt more "mine." Yesterday was so precious, when he spilled his
heart and exposed his soul. His dark eyes showed he was vulnerable and his body language said, “Nervous!” It
reminded me that men want to be loved, too. Well, some of them do -- the settling-down kind.
Anthony was that kind of guy, no matter how athletic or a guy’s guy he was, he had that inner drive for
love and family. He said as much the last time he was on the show. Now, with me he was so attentive that it
proved to me, even more, that he was ready for a serious relationship.
I know I am ready. I said to myself, and I believed it. Until this week I was not sure if I even knew what that
meant.
I was escorted by a producer to a charming dining area and told to wait, again. I learned there was a lot of
hurry-up-and-wait with the making of a television show. I did a quick interview, touching on all the niceties about
winning the contest and how everyone really wanted to win this date and how honored I felt. Sometimes this felt a
bit cheesy, I just hoped I didn’t look as tacky as I felt.
I heard Tony's voice before I saw him and I enjoyed the warm rush that went through me when I saw him.
This was what songs were written about. I could not imagine any drug that felt this pleasant.
Tony broke through the producers and strode over to get to me and he planted a quick kiss on my lips
before anyone had the camera's ready. We both laughed when the producers started to fuss.
Comments and complaints just made us laugh more as they got him settled back on the other side of the
table. This time he had to arrive on camera!
I could not stop grinning as I watched them get the entire group cameras set up again and as they gave
Tony the cue to step forward and welcome me to join him at the table. As