The Vaudeville Star

“Well, I’ve never been on the stage, I mean professionally. But I want to. I sing,” she explained awkwardly.

“You sing?” Archie asked.

“Yes.” Ruby nodded.

“Are you any good?” Bessie asked, looking her over.

“My friends at school said I was. I don’t know if I’m good enough to be onstage,” she admitted.

“Come with us. We were about to get something to eat. Our rehearsal just ended,” Bessie said, taking her by the arm as Archie picked up her bag.

“I—don’t know—” Ruby said, staring at Archie and then Bessie.

“Don’t worry. New York is full of thieves and criminals, but it’s also filled with kind people as well. I’m Bessie Moore, and this is my brother, Archibald, though everyone calls him Archie.”

“I’m Ruby. Ruby Mae Sutton.”

Bessie smiled as she linked her arm through Ruby’s. “You’re from the South. I love your accent. I have an ear for accents.”

“I am. I’m from Mississippi.”

“Far from home. Like us. We’re from Kansas.”

“Kansas?”

“Yes. We are in a vaudeville show. We dance, my brother and I. We call ourselves the Dancing Duo.” Bessie smiled, and Ruby smiled back.

Ruby allowed them to steer her into a small delicatessen on a side street near the theater, and they all ordered sandwiches and coffee. Bessie seemed very intrigued by Ruby while Archie only stared at her and then looked away when she looked at him.

“Are you staying with relatives? Do you have a chaperone or someone with you?” Bessie asked.

Ruby smiled as she looked at the brother and sister. They looked similar, both tall with long arms and legs and red hair, but while Bessie’s was curly, her brother’s was straight and slicked back.

“I don’t know anyone in New York. I came from school to follow my dreams. I want to be in vaudeville.”

“You don’t have anyone here?” Bessie said with awe in her voice. “You came to New York all alone?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m impressed. We came from Kansas, but we’ve always had each other to lean on. You have no one.”

“Well, don’t be too impressed. Some might say following my dreams is crazy and maybe downright dangerous. I didn’t think I would meet anyone as kind as you all are.”

Archie studied Ruby’s face while Bessie patted the young woman’s arm.

“Well, there’s no doubt you’re pretty enough, Ruby. I’ll say that much.” Bessie nodded.

Archie said little but seemed to agree with that statement.

“As I said,” Bessie began, just as their sandwiches and coffee arrived, “we are members of a small vaudeville group.”

“Very small,” Archie said drily.

“Our manager is named Vernon. He calls himself Vaudeville Vern,” Bessie said, smiling and biting into her sandwich.

“He’s been around for years and knows everyone. I could introduce you to him. He’s decent and won’t try to climb up your skirts like some managers would,” Bessie said bluntly, and Ruby blushed.

Bessie took another bite of her sandwich. “I can’t promise anything. We do have a full act now. We have a comedian, a magic