It Was All Started by a Mouse- Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Come on, Minnie girl, fame awaits!” said LaLa giving herself one last look in the mirror before heading out to the Pickwick Theater.  

“Coming!” replied Minnie, as she gathered her sheet music and ukulele. Rather be safe than sorry. There’s no telling what type of song the manager would like to hear.

As soon as LaLa opened the door to the hallway, Minnie could see her transform into a totally different person.  LaLa was now the Prima Donna, Big Times Baby, The Star.  She held her head high so when she looked at you she simply rolled an eye to your direction with just a slight tilt of her cloche-covered head.  Minnie often found herself doing the same when she was alone in front of the mirror, but the effect wasn’t quite the same.
Once they reached the street, LaLa hailed a taxi.  Before they stepped in, Minnie’s ukulele case flew open, and some of her sheet music started to fly away.

“My music!” Minnie shouted. Luckily the hotel doorman saw it in time to catch the sheets and bring them back to Minnie.

“Here you go, Miss,” said the doorman. “I know you’d hate to lose these!”

“Oh, thank you so MUCH!” said Minnie in a melodic voice.

As she stooped to put the sheets back into the case,  her work was interrupted by LaLa’s voice.

“MINNIE!” shouted LaLa. “HURRY UP! We don’t have time to waste! This taxi isn’t running off of wishes, you know!”

Minnie hurried as quickly as she could and followed LaLa into the taxi.  She gave a side glance as LaLa was fixing her fur wrap around her shoulders.  Minnie tried to copy LaLa and fix her little flowered hat which sat on top of her head at a strange angle.  

“Minnie…,” LaLa began.  “You are going to have to learn to think about how you do things.  You can be a bit clumsy at times. I know you can’t seem to help it right now, but you are going to have to do better.  My reputation depends on it.  People won’t take me seriously in the big vaudeville circuit if they see my assistant bumbling about.”
Minnie sighed, but didn’t reply. She looked down at her shoes which seemed a little loose for her feet.  She looked at her polka dotted skirt and tried to smooth it down before replacing the ukulele case on her lap again.

“She said I was clumsy… and that I… bumbled?” Minnie thought to herself.  She could feel tears welling up, but she refused to let them fall.

LaLa gave Minnie a side glance and could tell she hit a nerve.  Before she could speak, the cabbie announced that they were at the Pickwick.

“Dollar seventy-four, Miss,” said the cab driver.

LaLa reached into her purse and paid him.  As he drove off, LaLa didn’t walk into the building right away, but stood there on the sidewalk looking at the building.  

“Well Minnie, here we go. Ready?” she asked the mouse.
Minnie nodded, making sure she had a firm hold on the ukulele case this time.
Once inside, they were awed by the beauty of the lobby area.  On the walls were the pictures of various stars who visited there many years before.  Minnie loved looking at these glamour shots.  LaLa felt the amazement too, but still kept up her glamour persona and acted as if she was used to seeing this often.

LaLa walked at an even pace to the receptionist’s desk.  Behind the desk typing feverously was a secretary who looked to be about thirty years old. She was pretty, and didn’t fit the “secretary-type” of person who is always thought to be bespectacled or have her hair in a bun.  She was pretty enough to be on the stage herself. She looked up to see LaLa approach the desk.

“Good Morning, may I help you Miss?” asked the secretary.

“LaLa LaMarr to see Mr. Brison,” replied LaLa.

“Certainly, I’ll see if he’s available. Just have a seat over there,” said the secretary.  She went into an adjoining office.  LaLa could hear some talking, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Minnie could understand though, because mice have excellent hearing.

“She asked the man in there was he expecting you,” said Minnie.
LaLa looked at Minnie giving a half-smile.  The secretary came back to where LaLa and Minnie sat.

“He said he will meet you on the stage.  Someone will escort you there,” said the secretary.

“Thank you soooooo much,” said LaLa in a voice which would make Greta Garbo jealous.

Out came their escort. Much to LaLa’s and Minnie’s surprise, it was a rodent.  He was a bit taller than Minnie’s size and slender. He was also pretty well dressed in a pair of black pin-striped slacks, white shirt and a black and grey tie.  His shiny black and white spectator shoes rounded out the entire look.  

He stood before the two ladies and looked at Minnie for a few seconds.  

“Mornin’ ladies! Mortimer’s the name! Let me escort you two beauties to the stage where fame awaits!” he exclaimed.  He took LaLa’s hand and kissed it; luckily he didn’t see her face squeeze a bit when he did that.  Then he looked at Minnie who really didn’t have any type of expression on her face.

“What’s your name sweetie?” asked Mortimer as he bent a little lower to talk to her.

“Minerva…um… Mouse, but everyone calls me Minnie…just Minnie,” she said shyly.

“Heeyyy,” you’re kinda cute, kid,” said Mortimer.

Mortimer offered his arm to escort LaLa to the stage area where they immediately heard the sounds of many tapping feet and a piano playing.  Minnie was mesmerized by all the music and dancing which now surrounded her.  She quickly forgot her melancholy mood and absorbed all the theatrical activity.  Music always made her happy.

“One-two-three, then one-two!” said a frustrated dance director as he was trying to get the chorus girls into their routine.  Mortimer walked up to Mr. Brison, who was sitting in the front row overlooking all the performances which were lined up to play on opening night.

“Uh, Mr. Brison, here’s the dame which you called to come see ‘ya about being in da show,” said Mortimer.  “The other cutie is her assistant,” he added giving Minnie a wink. Minnie blushed and shuffled her feet.

A short, heavy-set, balding man got to his feet. “Oh! Good! Tim Brison, manager of the Pickwick, one of the greatest vaudeville houses in the country! So what do you have to offer?” he asked.

LaLa tried her best to pour on the glamour as much as she dared.  

“Give us a chance to show you what we know,” she purred.

“I like that. Surprise us,” said Mr. Brison. “Mortimer, show them the dressing room.”

“Sure thing, boss, this way, ladies,” said Mortimer as politely as he could muster.
LaLa was never surprised about dressing rooms.  This one was no exception. Funny how they expect actors to put on a great show but the dressing rooms were always less than inspiring.  One little dripping sink, a sofa, a partition to change behind and a dressing table with a lighted mirror with only some of the lights working.  

Oh well, that’s showbiz.

After Mortimer left, LaLa and Minnie looked around the room. LaLa gave a big sigh and started to take off her fur wrap.  She sat at the dressing table and opened her small makeup case.  She only gave herself a small tap here and there of face powder and refreshed her lipstick.

“Look Minnie, we gotta do good out there.  Like I told you earlier, this could really make us a name and give us more work!” said LaLa as she was straightening her stockings.
“Yes, I agree, Miss LaLa,” said Minnie as she sorted out her sheet music.  She had scores for piano, ukulele and harp. Whatever the occasion, Minnie tried to be ready.

While LaLa primped, Minnie sat on the sofa, and started to strum her ukulele and sing a popular song she recently heard on the radio.

“If I had a talking picture of you..uu
I would run it every time I felt blu…uue
I would sit there in the gloom, of my lonely little room
And applaud each time you whispered that “I love you, love youuu…”


They heard a rap on the door.

“Come in!” shouted LaLa

It was Mortimer.  “Mr. Brison wants to know if ‘ya ready to come on out.”

“Yes, we are!” said LaLa with a ton of enthusiasm in her voice.

“OK, follow me,” said Mortimer.  

When they reached the stage, an animal act was just finishing up, and so was the janitor who followed grumbling because he had to clean up after those animals which used the bathroom on the stage during the act.  This time it was a bear. Last week it was doves-- who knows what will come next.

“Ok, Miss LaLa LaMarr!” called Mr. Brison from his seat in the audience.

LaLa heard her name and she and Minnie rushed out.  LaLa smiled broadly as if she had a full house. Minnie kind of just stared, but smiled and tried to show as much confidence as LaLa did. She curtsied daintly and held out her polka dotted skirt at the sides.

“OK, what are you opening up with?” said Mr. Brison.

“Well,” replied LaLa thoughtfully. “I usually start off with a snazzy number you can tap your toes to, then a love song and finish up with a song AND dance number!”

“What does the mouse do?”

“Oh…Minnie? She accompanies me on the piano or whatever instrument the song calls for,” replied LaLa.

Mortimer pushed a small upright piano the edge of the stage and stood in the wings.  He found himself looking at LaLa’s assistant.  “She really is kinda cute,” he thought to himself.

LaLa didn’t waste any more time getting into her routine.  Minnie spread out her sheet music and began to play.  Before long, all within earshot stopped what they were doing to look at this musical duo.  LaLa gave it her all from song to song, and as many times as before, Minnie didn’t miss a beat with the tunes she played.

When LaLa finished her last song, everyone was wildly applauding.  LaLa gave a glance to Minnie who was still seated on the piano stool.  She smiled at LaLa, but didn’t move from her place.  Let LaLa have her moment.

“BRAVO!” shouted Mr. Brison.  “This act will even awaken the dead!”

LaLa beamed. “Really? Oh, thank you, so much!”

“And your piano player…”

LaLa gave another glance at Minnie who was still sitting at the stool.  Mr. Brison and Mortimer approached the side steps of the stage and walked over to her.  Minnie stood as they approached.  Mr. Brison took both her black velvet hands in his and said, “You, little mousie, must be the heart of the act!” Mortimer nodded in agreement with his boss.
Minnie could feel herself blush when he said that.
 
LaLa stared.

“Oh, my..,” Minnie stammered.

“I mean it, I haven’t heard a piano played like that since Scott Joplin! You really have a special talent!” he continued.

“Yeah, Miss Minnie,” said Mortimer. “Keep up the good work. ‘Ya never know…” he added slyly.

LaLa walked up to Mr. Brison.

“Uh, Mr. Brison, so…are we in?” asked LaLa, growing a little impatient.

Mr. Brison straightened up to look at LaLa. “Of course you are!”

LaLa giggled and clapped her hands. “Oh, Mr. Brison…thank you, sooooo much!”

“But there’s something I’d like to change before I present you,” he added.

“What’s that?” asked LaLa.

“I’d like to give Minnie her own spot on the billing,” he said staring back at a surprised Minnie.

LaLa’s face fell. “You want to do what?”

“I’d like to give Minnie her own spot.  She could play while the patrons are coming into the theater, and then she can play a bunch of tunes during the middle of the show.  She’s really good!”

LaLa wasn’t prepared for this. This never happened before.  

“Mr. Brison, piano players are a dime a dozen,” began LaLa in a languid tone.

“BUT…a piano playing mouse!” replied Mr. Brison.

At this point, Minnie had been quiet for the most part, but she finally interrupted.

“Mr. Brison…Miss LaLa is right; besides… I have to help her out, we’re a team” said Minnie, trying to smile.

Mr. Brison thought for a couple of minutes.

“I still want you to play.  I will pay you well if you open tomorrow night.”

“TOMORROW?” said LaLa and Minnie in unison.

“Yes.  I’d like for Minnie to play. Miss LaLa, you will begin on the following night,” said Mr. Brison.

LaLa was speechless.  The smile disappeared from her face.

He looked back at Minnie.

“So… it’s a date then, Minnie?” asked Mortimer.

Minnie sighed.  They really did need more money.  It would be much better for them both.

“Ok…I’ll do it,” she replied.

LaLa gasped and stormed off the stage.  Minnie quickly released Mr. Brison’s hands and tried to go after her.

“Miss LaLa?!” shouted Minnie.

“What have I done?” she said softly to herself.