Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 38.1: 1968, Georgina

Chapter 38.1: 1968, Georgina

 

"I want to be loved by you, just you, and nobody else but you! I want to be loved by you, be-deedly-deedly-deedly dum! Boop-boop-bee-doop!" A kiss to the audience and adoration back. I put my hands over my heart and twisted my body cutely to catch their affection here, right here, in my little heart. The audience was clapping for me, and I gave them my Marilyn smile that they adored. There were so many regulars tonight, it being a Friday. Guys who came again and again just to see me. 

There was one face in the crowd that I particularly remembered, and I was surprised he'd had the audacity to come back: one Dr. Alphonse Luciano. I unpleasantly remembered the last time he and I had come into contact. Fortunately for him, he'd been behaving himself tonight, sitting at a table instead of the bar. He'd watched me with rapture, not unusual. As I sang, I wondered about him. Wondered about his history, what would make him come back after trying to pull me over the bar like I was some kind of rubber doll that he wanted to make his. 

Sometimes my eyes had flit over to Frankie, who was making his rounds all night. He'd walk around, talking to various regulars. He'd meet new people, give them little tickets to grant them free drinks, shake hands. All the time, he'd flash that boyish grin that just made me melt and it took everything I had to stay in character on stage when he laughed. I wanted to break into a grin whenever he laughed. It was my natural reaction. 

My set was over now that I had sung "I Wanna Be Loved By You" but the regulars' faces fell and they pounded on the tables begging me to stay. "Sing me 'Anyone Can See I Love You'!", "stay, baby! Sing 'Happy Birthday' to me! Its my birthday!" I pretended to be bashful, flattered by their familiar requests. "Oh no, I couldn't. Oh, maybe next time? That's so sweet!" I giggled, my hand over my mouth. This bowled them over, made them blush. 

Paulie was coming up the stairs now, his hand picking up the skirt of his dress to let him get up here on stage without tripping. He was dressed as Judy Garland from Strike Up the Band, a long, voluminous white A-line dress made of sparkly organza with a sweetheart neckline and a black threaded ribbon along the neck making a bow in front that trailed, and giant puffy sleeves to make it just that much more darling. Frankie was behind him, smiling up at me from the stairs. He was going to play Mickey Rooney playing the piano as they sang "Good Morning" from the classic movie Babes in Arms. 

"I'm taking your man, Georgina," Paulie whispered as we passed on stage, beaming at me.

"Try saying that to the diamond on my finger," I quipped back, waving my fingers at him, the diamond and sapphires catching the light at just the right time.

Paulie's eyes about popped out of his head. I started giggling for real. He looked about ready to bail on his set and twirl around to go down the stairs with me but instead he mouthed something I couldn't make out. I waved the same hand at him with a grin, the precious stones sparkling in the light again as I descended the stairs with the help of Frankie at the top. 

"Thank you, baby," I said quietly to him.

"Always, pretty eyes," he whispered elegantly behind me.

I blushed, which he couldn't see. In happy love bubbly feelings, I danced in swaying motions to the bar. Some of the regulars were still staring at me with wide eyes. I had to admit, this new dress Paulie had debuted to me yesterday was jaw dropping. It was a nearly nude colored, sparkly replica of the slinky, body hugging dress Marilyn had worn to serenade Kennedy at his birthday. With it, Paulie had given me custom padding for my hips and bum to accentuate the dress in just the right areas, declaring my old padding inferior on the spot (which he had also made).