Free vnNeSsa1 by Lane Tracey Page A

question is from Jennifer , who looks upset. She has an empty seat beside her, too, and is taking it personally that he sat beside me and not her.
    “I’m closer to the entrance, Jennifer. That’s all.” But she’s not convinced. She turns away, her expression closed. Another number begins. I expect to be distracted by thoughts of our recent visitor, but this is my favorite dance and I’m soon engrossed in it. My feet automatically trace the pattern of steps beneath my seat. The entire set is done in black and white. All female dancers wear white silk gowns. Ten lead male and female pairs tap and then twirl around the stage together in a fun, yet elegant routine. I try to gauge the audience’s response because there aren’t any feathers or half-exposed bodies. They seem to love it.
    When the singer needs a break to change costumes, the dancers get a number all to themselves, as in my favorite number. But the show is definitely centered on her. She’s really good. So are the dancers. The pacing is fast. The live orchestra is thrilling. The production overwhelms me. I have to pinch myself to believe I’m really here and a soon-to-be-member of this cast.
    The three other dancers seem impressed by the show, especially Tink. She’s bouncing in her seat when the curtain closes, making me laugh, but she also frets about the three-inch heels and headdresses that a couple of the numbers require. As we make our way backstage, we’re talking about how we’ll manage to dance while wearing them. We’ve been to the dressing rooms with the long rows of mirrors for our costume fitting, but not when they’ve been occupied by the cast.
    People seem in a hurry to shed their costumes and leave, but most of them take time to say hi . We try to stay out of the way. I’m noticing how the stations along the mirror have personal touches reflecting the personality of each dancer when I overhear Jennifer talking to the line captain. Jennifer is asking her whether she knows anything about the new “Spanish” guy who works somewhere in the hotel. Wow, she’s single-minded. Apparently, the line captain’s not sure but thinks he has something to do with hotel security. I don’t hear more because a middle-aged woman with a sweet face walks up and introduces herself to me as Josie, my dresser. There’s one dresser for every four dancers, I’ve been told. Sometimes the turnaround between numbers is so fast, we have to change backstage, so the dressers are vital. Still, it makes me feel special to have Josie and I thank her. She laughs and says I should wait to thank her until she’s actually done something for me, but she seems pleased.
    We stay a bit longer, but Jennifer seems eager to leave. As soon as we are in the large hallway that goes outside to employee parking, she pulls Lily toward a stairway that leads back into the casino of the hotel.
    “Lily and I are going to go get a drink at the bar outside the main showroom. We are going to ask the bartender, pit boss, and anyone else we can think of about the new guy. Maybe we’ll even catch sight of him and buy him a drink on his next break.”
    “We are?” This seems news to Lily but she’s allowing herself to be pulled along. I feel shut down, excluded, too young. I find myself a little bit mad at Lily. Then again, Lily has been a good friend to me. Why shouldn’t she go with Jennifer? But my hand goes up in a half-hearted wave good bye just the same.
    Tink and I are more quiet than usual on the drive home . I don’t ask her about why she’s quiet because my body is worn out and my emotions have been on a roller coaster today. Once in my apartment, I peel off my blue dress, step gratefully out of my heels, slip between cool sheets and am instantly asleep.
     
    There’s a frantic pounding on my apartment door. Raising my head, I can see the clock reads 4:10 a.m. My heart racing, I run to the door to look through the spy hole. It’s Tink, in her pajamas, looking terrified