"Mr. Erikson, are you ready?" Amanda asked as they sat in his Mercedes.
James sat in the back seat with blue tinted sunglasses on and a black fedora. He was a man of the classics, so he wore a three piece 40s suit and a silver tie. A lit cigar hung from the corner of his mouth. He blew rings of smoke that floated loftily around car. "If we must." He muttered.
Amanda got out the front passages side door and straightened her dress. This was it. She hadn't slept last night with fear that this confrontation would go unpleasantly. She really needed this job.
James got out and straightened his vest. He blew one big ring of smoke from his cigar and handed it to Amanda. She promptly took it and extinguished it so it could be reused.
They both walked up to the front doors, James with more confidence than Amanda. Amanda opened one of the doors and let James walk through. He stood in the dim-light back, trying not to be noticed.
"Alright girls! And a five, six, seven, eight!" A woman yelled from the front.
The girls began dancing, some in sync, others...not so much.
"No, no, no! Jessica kick with your right then your left! Monica heel, two shuffle! Good grief! How can I teach you when you all have left feet!" She was getting flustered.
James moved in toward Amanda, "Our last hope seems to have two left feet."
The woman directing the chorus line turned and caught James's eye, although he wished she hadn't. "Mr. Erikson! Oh hello dear, how are you?" She practically ran up the isle to meet him.
"Fine Miss Donavon. Yourself?" He shook her hand; she would have preferred a kiss, however.
She was an older woman, mid-forties, with dressed up black hair. She was slightly heavy set, and wore a horrid shade of red lipstick. She dressed in the most out dated clothes and always wore a feather boa. She was most certainly a flirt.
"Oh I'm wonderful dear. What brings you here?" She played shy.
"I believe my contact director, Miss O'Neal, set up an appointment for us. I need about fifteen chorus girls. Maybe a singer or two as well." He crossed his arms and surveyed those on the stage.
"Oh yes, yes! Silly me, I almost forgot!" She chuckled a little. "Girls! Get in formation; we have a guest. This is Mr. James Erikson from the O.G. Opera House," she motioned with her hand nearly hitting him in the chest. "He is here to find some chorus girls and singers."
"Thank you for the introduction Miss Donovan. If you girls would please come see my assistant for a application slip. Fill it out and place it on the table up front. Then, in two hours we will have the auditions. Sound good?" He nodded to Miss Donovan.
She nodded back and the girls rushed off the stage. They nearly trampled poor Amanda as they ran to grab a forum. Miss Donovan drug James off to the side and began to play her little game.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So James...it's been awhile." She started out slow.
"Uh huh." James nodded as they walked down the isle.
"Well if you would care to have some of my lovely chorus girls, I am going to need some legal paper work. So why don't we..."
"I'll have that mailed to you." James cut her short.
She paused. "Right. Uh, well I was thinking maybe you would like a roster of the girls before hand. We could just go..."
"No, I'd rather just watch them fresh. Not knowing what I'm getting into. It gives me a thrill." James continued.
YOU ARE READING
The Birth of a Phantom (A Phantom of the Opera Phan Fic)
FanfictionJames Erikson was a rather eccentric opera writer. He wanted everything perfect, nothing off key. But his strange obsession with music made him all the more intriguing to young singer-to-be Kristine. The only problem was Mme. Corella had him wrapped...
