Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [56]
Aw-haw. Big talk. Little Allie is sore because
Never mind about little Allie, baby. I m telling you something for your own good. A word to the wise is sufficient
I m shaking all over, she said. He suddenly did not desire her, but he weakened in another way. Cut it out, will you? I m not here because I want the job. You ought to know that by now.
Her eyes stabbed at him. All right, then, scram. Get outa here and leave me have some fun. My God.
Sure. Scram. Are you off your nut? Where would I go? I d have to go plenty far if I went outa here before I get my orders. Plenty. I wouldn’t even get outa here. Wuddia think that French bastard would be doing when I left? Dya think he d leave me go? He would not.
Oh, no? said Helene. That was interesting. It sounded as though the Fox had been making passes at Helene, which Al had suspected for a long time. But he didn’t care about that now. All he cared about now was for Helene to behave herself so he wouldn’t get in a jam with Ed. I got my orders, he said, and I m staying here whether I like it or not or whether you like it or not.
So I see, she said. And my orders is to see that you keep your knees together, baby.
Horse feathers, she said. Well, is it all right if I have a drink?
No, it ain t all right if you have a drink. You got cockeyed once today.
Well, then do you want to dance with me? I gotta do something besides get up there and give these butter and egg men hot pants, don t I?
No, I don t want to dance with you, he said. That ain t my orders.
Oh, you’re afraid.
All right, he said. I m afraid. If you want to leave it that way, I m afraid.
She recognized the introduction to Body and Soul, which was one of the songs she sang. She walked slowly to the center of the orchestra platform. What does she call herself? said Emily Ziegenfuss. Helene Holman, said Dewey Hartenstein. Holman? She has a nerve, said Emily. Why so? said Vic Smith. Why, that s the name of a real singer. Libby Holman. Isn’t that it? Libby? Or Liddy. No, Libby s right. Yes. Libby Holman. She makes records, said Emily. Well, she has as much right to the name as Libby Holman has, said Irma Fliegler. She has not, said Emily. She has so, said Irma. Libby Holman isn’t Libby Holman s real name.
Oh, said Emily. Well how do you know, Irma?
Because I have these friends out in Cincinnati, Ohio, or at least they re friends of Lute s. Lute?
What? said Lute. What was it those friends of yours in Cincinnati, Ohio, remember, they had that meningitis that took away their two children
Spinal meningitis, said Lute, who had been talking with Willard Doane. I know that, said Irma. What was their name?
Oh, Schultz. Harry Schultz. Why? Shall we call him up and tell him to join the party or what?
No, wisecracker. I wanted to know what Libby Holman s real name was. The singer.
Oh, well, why didn’t you ask me that in the first place? said Lute. Well, come on, tell us what it was.
Fred. Her right name was Fred, said Lute. Oh, bushwah on you, said Irma. He never talks like anyone else. Anyhow these friends, these people named Schultz in Cleveland
You just got through telling us it was Cincinnati, said Emily. I don t think
Cincinnati, then. All right, Cincinnati. Whatever city it is this Holman comes from. Anyhow, they came from the same town as her, and they told us her real name.
Fred, I guess, said Emily. Oh, I don t believe it. I don t think you know anything about it, if you ask me. Emily had had her fourth highball. She s good. I like her singing, said Frannie Snyder. You like it? said Emily. You mean you actually can sit there and say you like that kind of a voice? You must be crazy, Frannie.
I like it all right, said Harvey Ziegenfuss. Oh, who asked you? said Emily Ziegenfuss. Nobody asked me. Can t I express my opinions?
No. Who asked you for your opinions? Look at her. If she s going to sing why don t she sing, and if she s going to do a hootchy-kootchy dance then why don