Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 7.2: 1994, Ruiz

Chapter 7.2: 1994, Ruiz

 

"You must be my Lucky Star!" Ambrose sang.

"Cuz you shine on me wherever you are," I giggled as Ambrose did a stripper drop move on the pole of the train car. Everyone stared at him and a mother covered her daughter's eyes and turned her away.

"Come on Ambrose, there's kids watching," I continued to laugh as I took his shoulder when he came back up. 

"That's true, I was just trying to make you laugh. You're so serious today," he apologized, resting his head on my shoulder. 

"Well of course I'm serious, I'm giving Georgina those pictures today," I nodded. 

"Tell me how it goes, okay? I have to get to the club early because I'm reigning Queen and all."

I started to finger the black lace on the voluminous skirt of his Givenchy throwback dress. It was top quality. I couldn't figure out how he could afford such a luxurious fabric, but I didn't have time to think about it. It was probably from his friend "five finger discount" again. How does one "take" fabric from a roll? I decided to just shake off the thought. Ambrose could steal the tail off a horse without it knowing.

Our stop came and we gathered up our skirts so they wouldn't get caught as we rushed off. I was dressed voluminously as well, in my white and black dress from Audrey Hepburn's Sabrina. Together we walked up the stairs from the subway onto a familiar street. Ambrose was going to go one way, I'd go another. 

He smiled and tapped my nose with his black satin gloved finger as always. "Here's lookin' at you, kid," he quoted from one of my favorite movies, and kissed at my cheek for encouragement and because it was fancy. He tipped his towering silver crown at me, which he would be giving to the next contest winner at Club Her Majesty, and went on his way. I watched him for a bit as he went, singing "Lucky Star" by Madonna just like on the train. I wanted to be going with him instead of doing the hard task at hand, but I had my duties and he had his.

I started to finger the quadruple stacked pearls around my neck for my own encouragement as I walked. They always had a way of calming me down, an ever presence that never changed. I sighed and clutched my purse tightly in my other hand as I entered Mrs. George's neighborhood. The quietness of the night in this section of the city overtook me. It was only about 8pm, but it was already dead quiet here except for the occasional passing car. It didn't seem possible.

I passed the Jewish 24 hour grocery store on the corner of her street, then thought better of it. One detour. For encouragement.

Going inside, I was met with the florescent lights like last time but now they seemed glaring. I blinked violently and regained composure in their startling light. But I got startled again immediately seeing who was behind the counter. 

The man sitting there on a stool was an older man, bearded and with a smart looking fedora on. He seemed to be from another era almost. He was reading the evening edition of the paper and smoking a cigarette even though a sign behind him said "no smoking". I wondered if he was the owner, to disregard such a bold sign. I had been expecting Charlie, but this person was so different from him it was jarring.

The man looked up at me as the bell jingled above my head on the door. He didn't lower his paper, but he began to stare at me, a long slow look. My uncomfortableness started up immediately. The thing that scared me the most was when men his age stared at me while in drag. Usually Ambrose was with me when I was in drag, so it didn't bother me as much those times, but now that I was alone...

I quickly walked to a case that was behind a shelf so he couldn't see me. With wax paper from it, I began to gather two pieces of chocolate rugelach and put them in a papery bag for a snack for Ambrose and I after the contest.