Ziegfeld Girls

by Sarah Barthel

  Carefully he knelt beside her and cradled her neck and knees in his arms. “Hold on to my neck, Ruby. We are going to get you to a hospital.”

  Mary glanced between the two girls. “Suzanne fell as well. Should she be looked at too?”

  Jonathon stopped and looked back at Suzanne. “Are you injured?”

  “Take care of Ruby. I may have a few bruises tomorrow, but I’ll recover.”

  Jonathon looked Suzanne up and down before relenting. “If you are sure.”

  “I am, go.”

  “Very well. Hold on to my neck, Ruby.”

  As Jonathon lifted her from the floor, Ruby shrieked; then in a moment they were gone. Leon looked down at Suzanne and offered her his hand. It had all happened so quickly that Suzanne hadn’t even stood up. Her hip was a bit sore from where she fell, but other than that she seemed to be unharmed.

  Julian clapped his hands and recalled everyone to his attention. “Jonathon will take good care of Ruby. In the meantime, we need to press on with rehearsal.” He waited for his words to sink in. “As I believe we need to lighten the mood, we will preview the new Williams/Errol number. I do not believe anyone here has seen it yet. Please hold all comments until the end.”

  Suzanne followed the others into the house and took a seat in one of the red velvet chairs. The moment she sat, one of the girls declared, “How scandalous. Think he’ll hop off the stage and attack one of us?”

  Suzanne’s face burned in embarrassment at the comment, but even more so to the giggles that answered it. Suzanne certainly had no interest in taking up with a common Negro, but she had enough sense to know they didn’t go into heat like dogs either. She thanked fate that Jada had chosen to stay home that day. Suzanne didn’t want to defend her new friends twice in one day. Nor did she want to have Jada and Bert in the same room.

  A few moments later a pale Negro with large lips walked onstage to a mix of tepid applause and stoic faces. He nodded to Leon and the two fell into their skit. Bert’s entire demeanor changed from the gentleman who had first walked in to the stance of an uneducated coon. The comedy was not her taste, but Suzanne could not stop laughing nor take her eyes off of him.

  Julian didn’t even wait for the applause to end before he walked to the couple and began giving them his critique. In the midst of their discussion a secretary burst into the theater with a folded piece of paper in her hand, which she handed to Julian. The room became silent as he read the brief note. Suzanne was certain that every girl noticed how his shoulders slumped.

  He passed the paper to Leon before standing up and facing the house. “As it is clear Ruby has an injury that might keep her out of the show for some time, we are going to choose another dancer to learn her part. Please take a five-minute break while we discuss this.”

  After he finished his announcement, the girls all stood up and moved into groups to talk or stretch. Suzanne moved closer to Lillian’s group, but her concentration was on the stage. Leon and Julian were standing in a tight circle, whispering to one another. Suzanne was sure they were batting around names for the replacement. That thought was confirmed when Mr. Ziegfeld came down from the balcony and joined their circle.

  “After brief debate we are going to have Lillian step into Ruby’s part. Marie, you will step up as an alternate just in case.”

  “The three of you should go downstairs and get Lillian up to speed,” Leon said. “I’ll be down in a bit to work with you.”

  Julian clapped his hands. “Very well. Let’s get back to work.”

  CHAPTER 19

  With Ruby in the hospital, Jada expected Jonathon to come asking about the notes she’d mentioned, but he didn’t seek her out.

  Lillian and Suzanne were spending another evening rehearsing with Laura, hoping to get her up to snuff before they traveled to Boston. Jada had not been asked to attend. Most of the house staff was out finishing errands before the evening meal needed to be served. Jada had no errands to run and no chores to finish. She was seated in her favorite spot: the rocking chair in the front parlor. Beside her the clock ticked its way past five PM. Five-thirty was quickly approaching. Given the rehearsal time Bert mentioned, Jada knew five-thirty was the latest she could leave for the theater without missing her chance. Soon she would have to decide—meet with Bert or not. If she wasn’t needed, why shouldn’t she pursue her own dreams?

  A stab of guilt hit Jada. Suzanne gave up her life to help Jada—needed or not, loyalty belonged with Suzanne. If not for her, Suzanne would be married and content in Richmond. She’d still speak to her parents and she’d have the life she grew up wanting.

  Sally walked up the front steps with a basket of bread on one arm. She opened the door and came directly into the parlor. “You still here?” she asked.

  Jada blinked and looked from the window to her friend. “I don’t know if I should go.”

  “We’ve talked about this. Don’t give up.” Sally put her basket on the couch and picked up the dishes left haphazardly on the side table. “This is your chance, girl. Bert William wants to see you dance. What is holding you back?”

  Jada stood and helped Sally stack the dishes on top of the large serving plate. “I just don’t know if it is the right thing to do. Suzanne—”

  “Don’t you go talking about loyalty to Suzanne again. Whatever happened, she don’t need you now. She’s got us to clean her room and mend her clothes, a slew of friends at the theater and directors for dancing help. You should meet Bert before you begin to feel as useless as you are.”

  Jada took the plate and walked back into the kitchen.

  Sally followed. “You need to do this,” she repeated.

  Jada thought about that big stage and her stomach burst with excited butterflies. Meeting with Bert would be worth it just to dance across that stage again.

  “It is just a dance. It doesn’t mean anything will happen.” She set the tray on the sink and turned to Sally. “I’m going.”

  Sally nearly jumped up and down with excitement. “Yes!”

  * * *

  Jada slipped into the theater through the house doors to avoid seeing any of the girls leaving rehearsal. Although she hadn’t really thought of what she expected to find in the theater, it wasn’t the comedy duo knee-deep in their act. If anything, she’d hoped for a bit of time to collect herself before approaching them. Only the door closing behind her propelled her to completely enter the theater.

  For a moment she stood by the back row of chairs watching the two men clown about onstage. Bert’s pale lips were outlined with his burnt cork makeup, and Leon Errol was pasty white with painted rosy cheeks; it made Jada smile just to look at them.

  Leon was pantomiming restocking a store and Bert, playing the ignorant coon, stood behind him asking questions. They weren’t projecting, so Jada didn’t hear every word, but Leon’s character showed his frustration so clearly, Jada soon found herself laughing out loud anyway.

  “Who dat laughin’?” Bert called out in his coon accent. Breaking character, he squinted and looked out under the houselights.

  She summoned extra confidence and walked down the aisle and out of the shadows of the balcony. “It’s only me,” she called out. “Jada.”

  “Jada?” Leon raised an eyebrow at Bert.

  “You came.” He practically bounced with excitement. “Come on up here.”

  “With both of you?” Jada asked, tentatively approaching the stage.

  “I don’t bite,” Leon promised. His makeup made him look like a very old baby doll.

  Bert reached out a hand and helped Jada up the stairs and onto the stage.

  “So you’re the talented girl Bert’s been bragging about.” Leon grinned. “I was beginning to think you didn’t exist. Had I known it was Suzanne’s girl, I’d have gotten you up here sooner.”

  “Well, she’s here now in the flesh.” Bert’s smile went from ear to ear.

  “Let’s see what you can do,” Leon said, walking to the edge of the stage, then squatting
down so he was looking up at her.

  She glanced from Bert to Leon, waiting for one of them to give her instruction or some detail on what they’d like her to perform. When neither of them flinched, she turned to Bert and asked, “What should I do?”

  “Can you cakewalk?”

  Jada smiled. Instead of answering, she loosened her body with one quick shake of her limbs. She stepped into the syncopated two-step that mimicked the movements of formal dances. Mama had taught her the movements when Suzanne wouldn’t teach Jada “proper” dances.

  “All dancing is, is putting movement to music,” Mama explained. Jada had thought it the most marvelous thing ever created.

  Bert stood back and watched her for a moment, but before Jada could worry if he liked her interpretation, he clapped his hand and joined in with her. His legs were like rubber as they flung themselves inside and out. It was hypnotizing to watch. Only his occasional clap or holler reminded her to keep dancing herself.

  As Bert and Jada fell into a rhythm together, a loud whelp escaped Leon’s lips. The older gentleman became alive with joyful jeers and rhythmic pounding of his feet. “She’s a gem, Bert. Has Flo seen her yet?”

  Bert clapped his hands to the left and right as he walked around Jada in a figure eight pattern. “Not yet, but he will.”

  Jada’s heart flew away from her just then. Suddenly the stage felt larger, the lights warmer, and the world more inviting. She closed her eyes and let her body fall into the sweeping patterns Bert and her had made together. Nothing in her whole life had ever felt so right.

  She was so wrapped up in the moment, she didn’t hear clicks of heels on the wooden stage, nor the giggles that came shortly after.

  “Isn’t that your girl?” Lillian demanded.

  Jada opened her eyes to face Suzanne’s friend. The entire mood of the theater had changed. Leon’s smile had melted into a flat line, Bert had stopped dancing, and both stared at Suzanne and Lillian. The dancing had forced some hair from her bun. It was a negligible amount, but it made her feel exposed before Suzanne and her friend.

  While Lillian whispered under her breath, Suzanne had taken a few steps forward toward Jada. Her head was slightly tilted to one side, as if asking what was going on. Her eyes betrayed nothing, but the silence spoke volumes.

  “Why didn’t you tell us about Jada?” Leon asked. “She’s very talented.”

  Suzanne nodded once. “She is, but she had other things to attend to.” Her tone was flat. “I never realized you would be interested in a girl like her.”

  Jada and Suzanne had never discussed Jada performing. The shock and hurt of it radiated off Suzanne.

  Bert and Leon glanced from one girl to the other, clearly unaware of what was happening. Jada stood between the men, her eyes locked with Suzanne.

  She wanted to say that she had planned on telling Suzanne of the meeting with Bert. This wasn’t how she meant for Suzanne to find out.

  “Jada.” Suzanne’s tone was more a confirmation than a comment.

  “What is she doing dancing here? And dancing with that Negro,” Lillian asked loudly. “She’s a servant, not a dancer.”

  “She used to perform at church.” Suzanne sounded flat, as if her mind was occupied elsewhere. Still, Jada was relieved to hear herself defended.

  “Then she should stick to church singing and get back to work!”

  Jada had had enough of Lillian’s attitude. “I am dancing with an acclaimed performer who happens to be of the same race as me.”

  Lillian glanced at Suzanne. “But you said she was Spanish.”

  Suzanne’s face flushed. “Does it really matter, Lillian? She’s . . . Jada.”

  In the following silence, Bert stepped closer to Jada. “This girl is very talented, Suzanne,” he said.

  “I plan to introduce her to Mr. Ziegfeld,” Leon added. The fact that he used Mr. Ziegfeld instead of “Flo” told Jada she was not the only one who felt uncomfortable. Thank goodness.

  “But she’s a no one.” Lillian addressed her words to Leon, as if he was the only one of importance in the room. Jada tried hard not to flinch at the word.

  Bert’s lips tightened. “She will meet Flo if I have anything to do about it.” He put his hands on Jada’s shoulders and pulled her back toward him.

  “You have nothing to do with it. You shouldn’t even be in this show.”

  Leon stepped between the two. “This attitude has already cost you one number. Do not anger me further.”

  Lillian’s nostrils flared and her face turned red, but she didn’t say another word.

  Bert turned Jada toward him and asked, “Do you want to be a member of the Follies?”

  Jada looked into Bert’s eyes, ready to exclaim that of course she wanted to be his partner. She glanced once more to Suzanne, whose face was stone cold and cheeks were red, and the words died on her lips. She never intended on hurting anyone.

  Jada locked eyes with Suzanne and felt all the determined joy run out of her body. The excitement she felt in Bert’s confidence was nothing compared to her friendship with Suzanne.

  She turned back toward Bert and opened her mouth to reject his offer, but she couldn’t do that either. His brown eyes urged her to accept his offer, and it made Jada sick to know she couldn’t. Tears threatened to overcome her as she struggled between her desires and responsibilities.

  After a time, Leon stepped forward, and asked, “Jada, shall I send for Flo? It’s your choice.”

  Jada’s throat tightened to the point she feared she’d lose her breath. When she felt strong enough to speak, all she could say was, “Excuse me.” Then, with heavy feet, she clomped across the stage and out the stage door.

  * * *

  It wasn’t like Jada to run away from anything. Of the two of them, Jada was the fighter. Suzanne watched the hem of her friend’s skirt disappear behind the curtain. Behind her, she could feel Lillian’s indignation simmering. She knew she should follow Jada, but her feet were glued to the stage. How would it look if she rushed off to follow a servant? Not just any servant, but one who was trying to take a role onstage beside her? The very thought of Jada in the Follies made Suzanne’s stomach flip in an uncomfortable way.

  Bert made a move to follow, but Leon held him back with a single hand on his shoulder. “She has to want this, man. No one would survive who didn’t. We can’t force her.”

  “I suspect she wants it more than she is letting on.” Bert met Suzanne’s eyes. “I suspect she’s wanted this for a long time and hasn’t been allowed to show it.”

  Shame and embarrassment flooded through Suzanne’s body. She couldn’t deny what Bert said, and she wouldn’t lie to either of the men. She respected them too much to do that. But Lillian was a different story.

  “Just a minute. You can’t talk to Suzanne like this. She did nothing wrong. That upstart girl is trying to take over our stage.” Lillian’s chest heaved with emotion. “She does nothing but lie to get ahead. First she lied about her race, and now she shows up here when she should be home getting Suzanne’s gown ready for tonight’s soirée.”

  Leon took a small step toward Lillian as Bert walked off the stage and into the house. He sat down in one of the first-row seats and rubbed his head.

  “Stop, Lillian,” Suzanne said. “Enough.”

  “What?” Lillian asked. “But—”

  “It’s over. Jada has left the theater and the rehearsal is over.” Suzanne took a steadying breath. “I trust, Leon, you will not pursue Jada unless she requests another meeting?” Her heart pounded as she heard her words. Thoughtless, mean friend, she scolded herself. But she couldn’t help it.

  “Unless she contacts us, I will respect her distance,” Leon said. In the audience, Bert grumbled something inaudible.

  “Thank you.” Suzanne turned to Lillian. “I need a private moment with Leon.”

  Lillian’s eyes peeled to slits. “Of course you do,” she said, but she did as she was asked and stalked off the stage.

&nb
sp; Suzanne waited until she was sure Lillian was out of earshot. She turned to Leon. “How good is Jada, really?” She raised her voice to be sure Bert could hear her.

  “You honestly don’t know?” Leon asked.

  Bert looked up from his seat. “She’s the girl who has been helping you learn the choreography all spring, isn’t she?”

  “We work together . . . sometimes. It is always beneficial to have someone watch you rehearse to point out where you are offbeat or letting go of a part.”

  “Then you know how talented she is.” Leon’s normally cheery voice had an edge to it. “You don’t need to ask if she is talented, you’ve always known.”

  “I don’t know if I did,” Suzanne muttered.

  “You would have another number offered to you,” Leon promised. “You would not lose the status you’ve worked so hard to obtain this year.”

  That was it. Leon had nailed it on the head. Even Suzanne didn’t know why Jada joining the Follies or even being friendly with Bert bothered her, but Leon’s promise pointed out perfectly what would happen. If Jada joined the Follies, Suzanne would no longer be needed in Bert and Ann’s number. Even Ann might be dropped. And whether she really cared about racial rights, she still liked the idea of being a part of history.

  “Of course,” Suzanne managed to get out. Her throat felt as if it were swelling shut.

  “Thank you, Suzanne. This is big of you.” Bert extended his hand to shake hers, but she found she couldn’t take it. She couldn’t shake and promise this man that she’d help ruin her career. She couldn’t promise anyone the moon but herself. He put his hand down. “If Jada would like to talk, I’ll be at Roger’s tonight in Harlem.”

  “I’ll see you at rehearsal tomorrow,” she said to Leon and raced off after Lillian.

  * * *

  Leon’s and Bert’s voices followed her down the hallway and toward the exit. Suzanne placed a hand on the door and stopped. She couldn’t leave without at least talking to Jada. She turned down the hallway and slunk back to her dressing room.