Read Online Last Night at the Blue Angel by Rebecca Rotert - Free Book Online
Authors: Rebecca Rotert
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with her, that weâre nothing alike because everyone loves her and sheâs embarrassed because they donât love me.
I wish she would say something. I feel my chest start to tighten.
She stops again. Well , if Elizabeth is so smart , perhaps she will see what an interesting girl you are. And friend . Then she kisses the top of my head. Youâre my best friend , she says. And I have excellent taste .
Iâm so relieved sheâs not mad at me that I throw my arms around her and start to cry. My nose runs. She holds me for a while, and then pulls us apart so she can look at me.
Heavens , child , she says. What on earth is the matter?
The sun is behind the buildings and the wind is blowing hard. It can seem to come from several directions, one after the other, so that it pushes you right then left and I feel like I could lose my balance.
Nothing , I say.
We start walking again and Mother says, Oh , kitten , you feel so much. Iâm afraid you are just like me .
CHAPTER 10
W HEN WE GET home we stop at the front desk. Sal , darling , Mother says, would you mind terribly having a coffee service sent up to the room?
Right away , Miss Hill , says Sal.
Itâs not a fancy place. Jim calls it run-down. But when Motherâs around, everyone acts like itâs great here, or like it could be if we all just tried. Like Mother. I think they would do anything for her.
Oh , and maybe some sweets , says Mother.
Did you have something specific in mind , maâam?
Surprise us , she says.
Sister loves sweets , she reminds me.
You do , too , I say.
Mother shakes her head, smiling at me. Youâve got my number , donât you, darling?
Rita is already there when we walk in. She has a pink-and-purple scarf on her head with her platinum waves coming out the bottom. I run to the couch and jump on her. She holds her cigarette way up in the air.
My caftan , darling! she says. Youâre crushing my caftan!
I squeeze her as hard as I can. When I release her she touches her hair with her free hand.
Your offspring is trying to kill me with love , she says to Mother.
Rita sucks the tip of her ivory cigarette holder and then gently sets it on the edge of the big blue ashtray. I put my hands out. She slowly takes off her rings, one at a time, and puts them on my fingers. I study them. She takes the scarf from her head and wraps it several times around mine.
My little gypsy , she says with her deep, smoky voice.
Sal rolls in an old, squeaky cart with coffee and sweets on a doily.
Whatâs the occasion? says Rita
Canât I have my girlfriends over for coffee? says Mother.
Sister Eye comes in then and pulls off her ugly, brown nun shoes, leaving them at the door.
You donât have to take off your shoes , darling , says Mother.
Oh , yes she does , says Rita, scowling at Sisterâs shoes like they said a bad word.
Please tell me you remembered to pay the gas bill today , Sister says to Rita.
I did , of course I did. Naomi , darling , please get this woman a drink , says Rita.
I move quietly around the cart, taking a few butter cookies and two jam thumbprints. I love when weâre all together.
Kitten , I wonder if you shouldnât go to your room and do your homework? says Mother.
Sister Eye looks at Mother and then at me. Maybe your math , she says.
They want me out of the room, I can tell, so I pretend like doing math in my room is a great idea and leave.
When I get to my room I open and close my door. Then I crawl back down the hallway to listen.
Iâm so glad youâre here , Mother is saying. I hear her light a cigarette and inhale. David has found me . His sister was in town and we got together and, well , she must have told him .
Youâre kidding me , Sister says.
No , says Mother.
Oh , Lord Jesus , says Rita.
But listen , says Mother. I think itâs all going to be okay. I have a feeling .
You have a feeling , Rita snarls. Well , in that case .
Didnât
I wish she would say something. I feel my chest start to tighten.
She stops again. Well , if Elizabeth is so smart , perhaps she will see what an interesting girl you are. And friend . Then she kisses the top of my head. Youâre my best friend , she says. And I have excellent taste .
Iâm so relieved sheâs not mad at me that I throw my arms around her and start to cry. My nose runs. She holds me for a while, and then pulls us apart so she can look at me.
Heavens , child , she says. What on earth is the matter?
The sun is behind the buildings and the wind is blowing hard. It can seem to come from several directions, one after the other, so that it pushes you right then left and I feel like I could lose my balance.
Nothing , I say.
We start walking again and Mother says, Oh , kitten , you feel so much. Iâm afraid you are just like me .
CHAPTER 10
W HEN WE GET home we stop at the front desk. Sal , darling , Mother says, would you mind terribly having a coffee service sent up to the room?
Right away , Miss Hill , says Sal.
Itâs not a fancy place. Jim calls it run-down. But when Motherâs around, everyone acts like itâs great here, or like it could be if we all just tried. Like Mother. I think they would do anything for her.
Oh , and maybe some sweets , says Mother.
Did you have something specific in mind , maâam?
Surprise us , she says.
Sister loves sweets , she reminds me.
You do , too , I say.
Mother shakes her head, smiling at me. Youâve got my number , donât you, darling?
Rita is already there when we walk in. She has a pink-and-purple scarf on her head with her platinum waves coming out the bottom. I run to the couch and jump on her. She holds her cigarette way up in the air.
My caftan , darling! she says. Youâre crushing my caftan!
I squeeze her as hard as I can. When I release her she touches her hair with her free hand.
Your offspring is trying to kill me with love , she says to Mother.
Rita sucks the tip of her ivory cigarette holder and then gently sets it on the edge of the big blue ashtray. I put my hands out. She slowly takes off her rings, one at a time, and puts them on my fingers. I study them. She takes the scarf from her head and wraps it several times around mine.
My little gypsy , she says with her deep, smoky voice.
Sal rolls in an old, squeaky cart with coffee and sweets on a doily.
Whatâs the occasion? says Rita
Canât I have my girlfriends over for coffee? says Mother.
Sister Eye comes in then and pulls off her ugly, brown nun shoes, leaving them at the door.
You donât have to take off your shoes , darling , says Mother.
Oh , yes she does , says Rita, scowling at Sisterâs shoes like they said a bad word.
Please tell me you remembered to pay the gas bill today , Sister says to Rita.
I did , of course I did. Naomi , darling , please get this woman a drink , says Rita.
I move quietly around the cart, taking a few butter cookies and two jam thumbprints. I love when weâre all together.
Kitten , I wonder if you shouldnât go to your room and do your homework? says Mother.
Sister Eye looks at Mother and then at me. Maybe your math , she says.
They want me out of the room, I can tell, so I pretend like doing math in my room is a great idea and leave.
When I get to my room I open and close my door. Then I crawl back down the hallway to listen.
Iâm so glad youâre here , Mother is saying. I hear her light a cigarette and inhale. David has found me . His sister was in town and we got together and, well , she must have told him .
Youâre kidding me , Sister says.
No , says Mother.
Oh , Lord Jesus , says Rita.
But listen , says Mother. I think itâs all going to be okay. I have a feeling .
You have a feeling , Rita snarls. Well , in that case .
Didnât
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