That last school part was what got her to click on the listing.
It said she could earn $5,000 to $10,000 per cycle with minimal commitment. She was above the desired age range of 20-28. No matter, she could lie. She looked younger than she was. She felt younger, too.
Nine years ago, she’d been going through casting notices in Backstage. At one breakdown she paused a little longer to read it in full:
Seeking gifted, caring young woman to help us grow our family! Actress/Model, 5’7” or taller, score of 2000 SAT/30 ACT or above, ages 20-25. Please submit headshot and resume via email. Compensation of at least $30,000.
It was more money than she’d ever made in a year. It was way more money than any SPT contract would pay her; the time commitment would be about the same. She frowned thinking about the couple who must have posted the advertisement. Very Los Angeles of them. She felt a bit of satisfaction knowing that she could submit, that she fully matched the breakdown. For once, she would be perfectly cast in the role.
At the time it seemed absurd. Why get fat and hormonal (even more so than the various forms of contraception already made her) for another woman? Why waste your first, potentially perfect child on someone else?
She sat at her desk, staring at the Craigslist ad. Sure, she could still pass as 28, but why bother? There were no potentially perfect first babies. There were one to two million eggs at the start. Now, statistically, 90 percent gone. Dwindling monthly. And $30,000 wasn’t shit.
