Irisha was thirteen, it was only her and her mum Yana, who had worked as a waitress, but she had been sick, her boss had no sympathy, after she took time off for doctor and hospital visits he told her not to come back, she had been replaced. Though still unwell she had been out every day looking for work, but so were thousands of others, unskilled jobs were not to be found, the rent was weeks overdue, and they had nothing left to sell.

This was Irisha's third night on the street, another working girl had given her some advice but warned her off to find her own pitch, she had thrown-up the first time, and had been stiffed once, now she always asked for the money up front, but with so much competition the money she could charge was a pittance, she had only come to this as she had given up on begging as such a hopeless cause, she may just as well have been invisible.

The girl had asked for two burger meals, one she had eaten ravenously, the second had remained in the box untouched, once Irisha had began to talk her whole sorry tale seemed to tumble out.

Marta knew that it happened, there were streets in her old home town where women and girls sold themselves, if the whispered rumours at her old school were true, and she suspected they were, some girls possibly even from her year, were out there looking for trade. Looking at the sad and desperate girl sitting across the table Marta decided she couldn't save the world, but she could help one girl, it wouldn't matter that everyone else thought she was mad, it was something she could do.

"I'm going to help you and your mum get back on your feet."

Irisha stared back across the table, "Are you crazy? Do you think you can magic up a living wage until my mum gets well, then perform a miracle and find her a job?"

"Yes, and yes, but first I really must phone home it's nine-twenty, and I won't make it back in ten minuets."

"Hi mum can I speak to dad, I don't want him to break any bits off my boyfriend."

"Karl phoned me earlier, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"See, he is a good responsible boyfriend, telling you how I abandoned him to talk to someone else, but I can see him outside he's been watching out for me."

Irisha found it hard to believe, like some fairy godmother, only they were like supposed to be older, not a girl the same age as her, she listened as she spoke to her father, asking him to get the cash that would keep the building supervisor off their back, and where to come and meet them, also asking for him to bring her sister. When the call ended Marta explained that she felt Irisha would be scared to get a lift with her dad and boyfriend in the car, so her ten year old sister would be there as well. When Marta offered to let her phone home to speak with her mum, Irisha said how their service had been cut off.

Marta got out one of her ever present notebooks and started a new page, name, age, date of birth, address, and so on, then saying how difficult it would be to keep in touch until the phone was reconnected, she then wanted to know which was her nearest Metro station.

"OK, rent, phone, money for groceries, utilities, any other debts?"

Soon Marta was on the phone again, this time calling her sister, "Hi Anna are you on your way? I called you as I didn't want to disturb dad if he was driving could you ask dad to get double the cash I asked for, there's utilities to be sorted, and they both need to eat properly if her mum is to get well."

"Anna and mum must have been thinking ahead, she's brought one of mums pies with her, much better for your mum than that greasy burger you were saving for her, probably the box would make healthier eating."

It was the first time Marta had seen the girl smile, with a little work and a good diet she could look quite attractive.

"Wow, you must be like mega rich or something."

"No way, at the start of summer dad heard rumours he would lose his job, we could really have been in the same boat you are, then things changed, my sister got a job, then we moved to the city, my dad got a new job, better than his old one, then I got some work, and soon mum is going to be working part time."

"You all work, but ..."

"I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you", Marta said with a big grin on her face.

"Your boyfriend is waving to get your attention."

They stepped outside, Irisha clutching the burger box, with the crisp new banknotes folded in her pocket virtually on the point of panic, it was almost surreal, could she trust this girl, would she wake up tomorrow trapped in some brothel. She looked on as Marta hugged and kissed her boyfriend, until a younger girl ran up gleefully saying their dad was coming up the street and could see them. As tall well built man approached, the two teens separated, but Marta kept an arm round the boy, as she told the man it wasn't Karl's fault.

She watched the byplay between the group in front of her, an unlikely bunch for white slavers, could it be as Marta said, a family sharing their sudden turn in fortune.

Lost in the moment, she was startled out of her reverie, the young girl had appeared at her side introducing herself, and asking if she were Irisha.

It was an odd evening for all concerned, the girls sat in the third row of seats talking in hushed tones, as Karl sat up front talking with Igor, who had taken on the roll of cab driver, first delivering Irisha outside the building where she lived, they waited until she was safely inside before moving on. Next stop Karl, he said he would like them to meet his parents, but it was a bit late this evening, Igor tongue in cheek said he would look out of the front windscreen while they said goodnight. As Marta stepped out of the car to see Karl off Anna chided her dad for embarrassing them, though she too was grinning.

There was an awkward silence on the remainder of the journey home, Igor not knowing what to say to either of his daughters, how did you speak about the subject of prostitution with two girls that young. He chickened out going to bed early, leaving Ella talking with the girls, unable to say what time she eventually got to join him. At breakfast Igor was still at a loss as to how to talk about yesterdays events, but with the boys there, what could he say. Instead he brought Marta up to date on the last call concerning the house purchase, and the low bid he had made, and how if the man came back with any kind of offer, it would confirm his position that the owner needed to sell, so he would not shift on the price he was prepared to pay.

Mother and daughters had talked long into the night, Marta had been deeply affected by what she had witnessed, seeing Irisha outwardly coming on to the men as the walked by, yet even from a distance, she could sense the girl's fear and loathing, perhaps aware for the first time how blind men were to the body language of those about them.

Both her mum and Valya had said men were simple creatures, on whom subtlety was wasted, and now she had seen how they were immune to Irisha's conflicting signals.

The envelope of cash Anna had given over the night before would hopefully put the pair on an even keel for the moment, and relieve the stress her mother had been under, the plan was to meet Irisha at ten, at their favourite café near the international school.

The girls ordered fruit flavoured teas as they sat down, both anxious as to whether or not the girl would show up, they had brought magazines with them to peruse during their uncertain wait. By quarter past neither spoke aloud, but each kept checking the time, so it was with relief when they saw Irisha heading towards them, a gaunt looking woman with sunken eyes followed in her wake.

The two sisters hugged her in warm greeting, although they could feel the girl's reserve, as her mum reached the table introductions were made all round. Marta called for medivnyk honey cake, and fresh drinks for her guests, keen to know if bills had been settled to keep the wolf from the door, Irisha said the rent had been paid, they planned to sort other debts during the coming week. Yana hardly spoke at all, still unwell and suspicious of why these strangers were helping them, but she had already spent part of the money to ensure they didn't get kicked out this week, if they asked for it back they could join the queue.

Marta had given up trying to draw Yana into the conversation, instead asking Irisha what kind of work her mum would like when her health improved, as she was sure one of their contacts would help her find a job. This was like pulling teeth, slow and painful, as Marta paused to eat some cake, she saw Irisha's attention drawn by the magazines on the table, and asked if they interested her.

"I was just thinking how these foreign students coming to school here just leave these magazines lying about, they must each cost more than those burger meals last night."

"It's not the foreigners, Anna and I get them."

From then on the whole tone of the conversation changed, in the neighbourhood where Irisha had previously lived, an English family moved in, she had taught the kids Ukrainian, and she had in turn perfected her English, as English was just one of several languages that she spoke, she had always loved learning new languages.

A look passed between the sisters and they switched to English, true to her word Irisha was able to join in without hesitation, then Marta asked if she could read it, opening to a random page, next they wanted to know if she would be able to write in English.

Irisha wondered at the sisters growing excitement, after all it wasn't as if she could work in a big hotel, or get a job at the tourist office at her age.

The sisters switched back to their native tongue, "I don't know what to do Anna, I think I need to call Ivan, another fluent English speaker could bring the programme forward."

Marta moved to a far table to make her call, meanwhile even Yana's curiosity had been roused by the excitement shown, and wanted to know what was going on.

"I can't say much until Marta has spoken with Ivan, but I think he may offer Irisha a job."

Mother and daughter looked at one another with puzzled expressions, "I thought you were going to help me find a job when I get well."

"Yes we can still do that, but Irisha may be offered a very good job, then you can be fully recovered before you need to worry about starting work."

"Marta said last night you both worked, when I asked she laughed and said, 'I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you', why so secret, is it something illegal?"

"No it's fun, I wish I could say more, I really do, but it's not just my secret, I don't know what Ivan will say, but he's nice and trys to help everyone."

The waitress showed up asking if they wanted anything else, so Anna settled the bill saying they would be going as soon as her sister finished her phone call.

Ivan wanted the girls to bring Irisha and Yana to the park by the studio's apartments so he could meet them, not having anything else to do they went, grabbing the nearest cab.

When they arrived the sisters immediately saw Ivan strolling across the grass, and ran over each giving him a kiss, then introducing him to the newcomers. They moved to a picnic table with fixed seating where Ivan began, "Thank you for coming to this mystery meeting, I first met Anna here just over five months ago, she came along to an audition in a large public hall in the town where she used to live. She came in response to a notice like this one, at which point he gave Yana a flyer for her, and her daughter to see.

Top modelling agency looking for attractive girls from eight to fourteen................etc. etc.

"Before I go on, you have met Anna, and I believe Irisha met her father Igor, does Anna strike you as someone who is in any way unhappy or exploited, or do you think her father is the kind of man who would allow that to happen to her?"

They both shook their heads.

"Long story short, Anna became a model, in fact she is now in the top three, from a substantial catalogue of girls spread right across the Ukraine, but here in the capitol she is unknown, anonymous, as her work is only ever seen abroad, the same for all the girls.

The output from our studio is aimed mainly at an American audience, on membership only internet web sites, which is why Anna is unknown here other than to friends and family."

"You look at me with a wary eye, but this is a legitimate business enterprise, admittedly a new type of venture, catering to those who appreciate the ephemeral nature and beauty of a young girl's transition and her emergence into adolescence."

Irisha asked the question that was also on her mums lips, "Are the pictures like naked?"

"Our studio runs two web sites, on one the girls show no more than a flash of underwear, whereas the other has girls in fancy costumes, which they remove during the course of the set. The style isn't blatant or crude, nor do we have any dealings with child pornography, this is just about young girls having fun in a safe environment, artistic nudity in a fantasy setting."

Ivan paused, letting it set in, waiting for the inevitable questions that would follow, as both mum and daughter voiced their thoughts, Ivan went through all the information prospective models and their parents wanted to know. It was soon clear they had no weird hang-ups about nudity or body issues, and were giving the idea a favourable consideration, when Irisha suddenly made a link.

"Marta was trying to help us by finding mum a job, it wasn't till they knew I spoke English that they got all excited, and said they might find a job for me, what has that got to do with taking pictures of me?"

"That my dear girl is a good question, when our models have done a few photo sets, we are soon able to spot those girls that have reached a certain level of confidence, and then we give them a chance to produce a video in a similar vein to the stills sets. That said we have recently embarked on a new series, where a girl might enact a simple scene from daily life while engaging in a foreign dialogue. These new videos have proved exceedingly popular with our members, but so far we have too few girls with the language skills needed, though many are now taking several lessons a week, that is where you could have a massive head start over the others."

Now the interest really ramped up, and Ivan suggested they move their discussion to the adjacent apartment building, once settled they were shown the red and blue albums, the blue one now included some samples of Natasha's work, seeing these Irisha did a double take looking back and forth between fantasy and the reality of the girl sitting at the same table.

"This is your job?... This is why you're rich? ...Are you in here too?", the last question was directed at Marta.

"No, I don't have Anna's confidence, but I do work for the studio, I sort of do research and try to think up new ideas, oh and I do scripts for the videos."

After more talk it finally came down to the question of did Irisha want to be a model, and would her mum agree, Yana was worn down by life, a single parent struggling to get by and her recent illness had been the last straw, sapping her strength and will, she fully expected to end up on the street selling herself as soon as she was well enough, it had hurt to see her child reduced to begging. In truth she did not know the full extent of her daughter's effort to put bread on the table, and Irisha had only agreed to meet the sisters again if they never told her mum of her awful degradation.

Irisha was keen to sign up with her mother's resigned agreement, before producing the forms Ivan stated they had never signed on a model who had not done an audition shoot in front of the camera, but he could sense Irisha had the same can do attitude the sisters had shown with each challenge they had faced. The deciding factor for Ivan had been the girl's ability to read any passage he asked of her, and that she could hold a conversation with him in English without stumbling or hesitation.

When they started going through the standard terms and conditions of contract, along with the payment rates, any reluctance Yana had felt about her daughter becoming involved were swept aside, they would be raised from they very margins of society to a position of wealth only enjoyed by people with high status managerial jobs. Even if Irisha were to be only moderately successful they could expect considerable changes in their life, Yana could not begin to imagine the outcome if Irisha were to do the videos as well.

Ivan explained each document before the woman signed it, model exclusivity clause, then the confidentiality agreement, and so on as the two piles grew, he smiled as he became aware Anna was showing Irisha a tour of the web site using her own laptop, and was now running the cup cake video.

When all the paperwork had been completed, Ivan turned to address Irisha asking now that she had seen the other models, if she felt confident to face the camera.

"Easy-peasy", Irisha blushed slightly, feeling she had given a somewhat childish reply, not currently thinking of her recent more adult pursuit, sucking men's thingies in a dark ally, and when it did come to mind later, with a shudder it would be an episode she wished to forget.

"OK then, I'm parked up outside, we can go over to the studio, sort out some passes, and get a late lunch, next you two can give our newcomers the tour, I'm sure they'd love a salon visit if there's a slot free, I know it always cheers up my Mira when she's feeling low.

I'll see if we can't book you both in for a doctors visit Monday, Yana you need to get well to look after your daughter; Irisha, listen to the doctor, you may need to take some dietary supplements, and ensure you eat the right things, you can't go in front of the camera as you are. In a week or two you'll be all rosy cheeked, we have standards and a reputation to maintain, you only need look at the pictures, to see it's part of our ethos, what you see are happy, healthy girls."

The rest of the afternoon was the usual newbie experience, awe and wonder, and they both got pampered in the salon, Ivan was right, it was almost as good as any tonic known to man. They got to meet and greet, and see the sets, but more than that they felt the pervading friendly attitude, and nobody shunned them for their down at heel look - many of these folk had been there at one time.

At last they were about to be driven home in a cab that had been prepaid, her mum with paperwork, health centre appointments, and sign on fee, Irisha turned ran back to the girls, hugging them tears streaming down her face.

"Thank-you, ..thank-you , I,...yesterday, ..(sniff)"

Marta gently grasped her shoulders, "I know, less than 24 hours, but a long time ago, and now in the past, forget it, move on. As those religious types are always saying, - there but for the grace of god,- Irisha that could well have been me out there, or even worse, Anna."

As the car pulled away they could see Irisha hugging her mum, Marta felt a kiss on her cheek, "You're a good person, and the best-est big sister ever."

Marta thought she best go check her make-up.

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For those of you who are still with me - a comment or two might be helpful, did you like the addition of Irisha? Does anyone want any other hints/spoilers of what lies further along the trail? Not having my own 'on topic' blog, website, or e-mail address, I often visit the forum on this site to join the current subjects under debate.

In chapter 28 Marta sees the 'other house' and learns how dumb men and boys are.