A Second Chance at Life
Story of an Italian girl who auditions and is cast for a reality tv show about several young strangers living out life to the max.
CHAPTER ONE: PROLOGUE
Life Full Throttle, Latin Style.
That's what it was supposed to be called. A reality TV show about a bunch of Latinos young adults/late teens living under one roof in a place in the US where trouble comes by almost every few seconds, hence California. It was a meant to portray the life of a modern Latino in America.
They were all strangers of course, and somehow over the next 5 months they were supposed to build relationships, and then break them again just to make the American TV audience stay interested and thus keep ratings up.
My name is Shane Marchiatti, and just to clear things up early, I'm a girl. More precisely a 21 year old Italian-European girl fresh out of college with a degree in sociology. My reasoning behind auditioning for the show was simple; I had lived 21 years but barely had anything to show for it. All my life I had lived with my parents in a household where my Italian father ruled supreme. Don't get me wrong, I loved my dad, it was just that he took parenting to an extreme. No going out at night, no sleepovers with friends, no phone calls that last more than 20 minutes, no going to birthday parties let alone slumber parties, and most important of all, no boyfriends.
I lived under his house and his rules until I turned 18, then I went to college. Despite living by my father's rulebook, I still managed a normal life. I took much after my father; I had his Italian complexion with thick dark hair that ended just above my backside, and dark brown eyes. I wouldn't call myself a beauty because I had never had guys ask me out ever. I'm not sure if it was because they were scared of my dad or that I just wasn't something special. Sure I was normal enough. I had friends and wasn't shunned by anyone. I was a smart girl and sweet at that too. So most of my life I didn't mind being deprived of some things other kids/teens had been able to enjoy.
My college years were not much different either. Mainly because my parents decided to move to be closer to me. They sold our old house, gave up there old jobs and rented a new place near the school I was going to attend. I guess it's proper to mention at this stage that I am an only child. And that we are not a rich family. Dad was a struggling real estate agent and mum worked at the local diner. We didn't have a lot but my parents always somehow managed to get by. And me going to college, I was on a scholarship.
Anyway after moving from Puyallup to Portland, dad took up work as a manager at a department store in town while mum being good with kids got a job at a kindergarten. My parents are very God fearing people so they always knew that the Lord would provide. Well three years at college went by fast, and sad to say I did not make many friends because between hitting the books and working part-time with my father, I did not have much time for anything else.
Turning 21 was the biggest eye opener I had ever had. Fresh out of college my father already had job interviews lined up for me. I was a smart child and it wasn't hard to find job offers. My life was pretty much set. Working was going to be it for the rest of my life. And as long as I had my parents around, I knew there wasn't going to be much of anything else, sad to say. That was until I saw an advert on TV one night about auditioning people for a TV show that had the slogan, "a shot at life". Life. That was exactly what I had missed out on all these years. Being able to do anything for myself and make my own decisions. Taking risks. And that was it. I knew at that exact moment I was going to audition and so my journey began.
"It isn't a reckless stupid thing to do dad". My dad wasn't too pleased about the idea of his daughter living her life on TV with a group of strangers.
"Shaney honey it's a complete waste of time, you are way too smart for this, I don't know why you would even give something like this a second thought"!
"You're not going and that's it!" He had said that for the one thousandth time that evening.
I had put off telling them for almost a month now. I had finally summoned the guts to say something as shooting was scheduled to start next week. I had sent in an audition take a month before and after what seemed like forever I finally had gotten a phone call from a producer telling me I was cast.
It was exciting and frightening at the same time but I knew I was glad this was happening. How they chose me from a million other auditions I don't know. But I had made it a point in the video I had sent them that a shot at life was exactly what I needed. I wasn't hungry for the publicity like other people but I just knew I had to do something spontaneous that would be life changing. I was planning on flying to LA the next morning, using some money I had saved working at the department store. Dad said no off the bat. But I knew it wasn't his choice anymore. I was 21 and it meant I was eligible to make my own decisions now. Mum knew this and so hadn't said much. I knew she was half with me on this. But was too scared to say anything in fear of further angering dad. The only thing I didn't want was to put a rift between us. They were the most important people in my life, and at times were the only people in my life.
"Daddy, I know it's not something I would do but hear me out please, I need to do this for myself. I need to take this journey alone. All my life I've had you and mom to always care for me and watch my back and make my decisions. But it's left an emptiness in me. I need to find out who I am as an individual, because I don't want to go through life with regrets."
"But baby...."
"Dad, I love you and you have done a marvelous job. But u can't protect me my whole life. I have to learn how to be on my own, and for me this is the way to do it".
Silence.
"You can't stop me dad, I'm booked to fly out in the morning. I need you to understand. It's time for me to live my own life now before it's too late. You don't want me to go through life being sad do you?"
"No baby...It's just, you're my little girl"
"And I will always be, I promise. But please just this once, let me do the decision-making."
Mom was crying now. Dad had his head in his hands, and I, just felt like killing myself. I knew they didn't deserve any of this, but somehow something inside me told me I was doing the right thing. I knew that dad knew that too, deep in his heart. I also knew he would let me go, but it would be with so much pain.
After what seemed like forever,
"Shane, I'm sorry for being so over bearing on you for the past 21 years. It's just that you're my only child, and I don't want anything to ever happen to you. It would kill you're mother. But I know it's time. You are no longer a child and you have every right to make your own choices now. I'm glad you asked us and told us how you felt. I wish I could stop this from happening but I know its wrong of me to. I wish you luck baby. And when you come back we'll be here waiting for you. I'm so proud of who you have become. No father could be prouder of his child. Come here baby..." dad broke off with sobs and I practically ran to him. He held me for so long and we just let ourselves cry it all out.
After what seemed like ages my mom was surprisingly the stronger one in this situation started to fuss about getting my things ready.
"Come on lets go pack honey. Five months is a long time (she choked on her tears) but I want you to be best prepared for it. First sign of something wrong and were coming down there to get you."
The rest of the evening was spent praying and reminiscing with my parents over the past years. There were tears but we all knew it was for the better. By eleven we had separated and each lay in their own bed thinking about what the next five months meant. I know my parents didn't sleep all night and neither did I. but amid all the sadness and tears I knew that there was something exciting waiting for me in California. My life was about to begin again, but boy did I underestimate what was to come my way.
Life Full Throttle, Latin Style.
That's what it was supposed to be called. A reality TV show about a bunch of Latinos young adults/late teens living under one roof in a place in the US where trouble comes by almost every few seconds, hence California. It was a meant to portray the life of a modern Latino in America.
They were all strangers of course, and somehow over the next 5 months they were supposed to build relationships, and then break them again just to make the American TV audience stay interested and thus keep ratings up.
My name is Shane Marchiatti, and just to clear things up early, I'm a girl. More precisely a 21 year old Italian-European girl fresh out of college with a degree in sociology. My reasoning behind auditioning for the show was simple; I had lived 21 years but barely had anything to show for it. All my life I had lived with my parents in a household where my Italian father ruled supreme. Don't get me wrong, I loved my dad, it was just that he took parenting to an extreme. No going out at night, no sleepovers with friends, no phone calls that last more than 20 minutes, no going to birthday parties let alone slumber parties, and most important of all, no boyfriends.
I lived under his house and his rules until I turned 18, then I went to college. Despite living by my father's rulebook, I still managed a normal life. I took much after my father; I had his Italian complexion with thick dark hair that ended just above my backside, and dark brown eyes. I wouldn't call myself a beauty because I had never had guys ask me out ever. I'm not sure if it was because they were scared of my dad or that I just wasn't something special. Sure I was normal enough. I had friends and wasn't shunned by anyone. I was a smart girl and sweet at that too. So most of my life I didn't mind being deprived of some things other kids/teens had been able to enjoy.
My college years were not much different either. Mainly because my parents decided to move to be closer to me. They sold our old house, gave up there old jobs and rented a new place near the school I was going to attend. I guess it's proper to mention at this stage that I am an only child. And that we are not a rich family. Dad was a struggling real estate agent and mum worked at the local diner. We didn't have a lot but my parents always somehow managed to get by. And me going to college, I was on a scholarship.
Anyway after moving from Puyallup to Portland, dad took up work as a manager at a department store in town while mum being good with kids got a job at a kindergarten. My parents are very God fearing people so they always knew that the Lord would provide. Well three years at college went by fast, and sad to say I did not make many friends because between hitting the books and working part-time with my father, I did not have much time for anything else.
Turning 21 was the biggest eye opener I had ever had. Fresh out of college my father already had job interviews lined up for me. I was a smart child and it wasn't hard to find job offers. My life was pretty much set. Working was going to be it for the rest of my life. And as long as I had my parents around, I knew there wasn't going to be much of anything else, sad to say. That was until I saw an advert on TV one night about auditioning people for a TV show that had the slogan, "a shot at life". Life. That was exactly what I had missed out on all these years. Being able to do anything for myself and make my own decisions. Taking risks. And that was it. I knew at that exact moment I was going to audition and so my journey began.
"It isn't a reckless stupid thing to do dad". My dad wasn't too pleased about the idea of his daughter living her life on TV with a group of strangers.
"Shaney honey it's a complete waste of time, you are way too smart for this, I don't know why you would even give something like this a second thought"!
"You're not going and that's it!" He had said that for the one thousandth time that evening.
I had put off telling them for almost a month now. I had finally summoned the guts to say something as shooting was scheduled to start next week. I had sent in an audition take a month before and after what seemed like forever I finally had gotten a phone call from a producer telling me I was cast.
It was exciting and frightening at the same time but I knew I was glad this was happening. How they chose me from a million other auditions I don't know. But I had made it a point in the video I had sent them that a shot at life was exactly what I needed. I wasn't hungry for the publicity like other people but I just knew I had to do something spontaneous that would be life changing. I was planning on flying to LA the next morning, using some money I had saved working at the department store. Dad said no off the bat. But I knew it wasn't his choice anymore. I was 21 and it meant I was eligible to make my own decisions now. Mum knew this and so hadn't said much. I knew she was half with me on this. But was too scared to say anything in fear of further angering dad. The only thing I didn't want was to put a rift between us. They were the most important people in my life, and at times were the only people in my life.
"Daddy, I know it's not something I would do but hear me out please, I need to do this for myself. I need to take this journey alone. All my life I've had you and mom to always care for me and watch my back and make my decisions. But it's left an emptiness in me. I need to find out who I am as an individual, because I don't want to go through life with regrets."
"But baby...."
"Dad, I love you and you have done a marvelous job. But u can't protect me my whole life. I have to learn how to be on my own, and for me this is the way to do it".
Silence.
"You can't stop me dad, I'm booked to fly out in the morning. I need you to understand. It's time for me to live my own life now before it's too late. You don't want me to go through life being sad do you?"
"No baby...It's just, you're my little girl"
"And I will always be, I promise. But please just this once, let me do the decision-making."
Mom was crying now. Dad had his head in his hands, and I, just felt like killing myself. I knew they didn't deserve any of this, but somehow something inside me told me I was doing the right thing. I knew that dad knew that too, deep in his heart. I also knew he would let me go, but it would be with so much pain.
After what seemed like forever,
"Shane, I'm sorry for being so over bearing on you for the past 21 years. It's just that you're my only child, and I don't want anything to ever happen to you. It would kill you're mother. But I know it's time. You are no longer a child and you have every right to make your own choices now. I'm glad you asked us and told us how you felt. I wish I could stop this from happening but I know its wrong of me to. I wish you luck baby. And when you come back we'll be here waiting for you. I'm so proud of who you have become. No father could be prouder of his child. Come here baby..." dad broke off with sobs and I practically ran to him. He held me for so long and we just let ourselves cry it all out.
After what seemed like ages my mom was surprisingly the stronger one in this situation started to fuss about getting my things ready.
"Come on lets go pack honey. Five months is a long time (she choked on her tears) but I want you to be best prepared for it. First sign of something wrong and were coming down there to get you."
The rest of the evening was spent praying and reminiscing with my parents over the past years. There were tears but we all knew it was for the better. By eleven we had separated and each lay in their own bed thinking about what the next five months meant. I know my parents didn't sleep all night and neither did I. but amid all the sadness and tears I knew that there was something exciting waiting for me in California. My life was about to begin again, but boy did I underestimate what was to come my way.
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