Lessons In Being A Flapper

by Angela Smith

  “Marisol! I am not going to dress as a Flapper to attend a fetish party!”

  “Good God, Chickadee! What kind of joint do you think I’m running here? Although I’ll admit you are being a bit of a bluenose – that’s prude in modern terms – I will not be opening a can house. I’m not into prostitution, but if you are, then golly, we need to get you cleaned up. You’d never get enough johns to make a living looking the way you do most days.” I silently gawped at this tiny wisp of a woman in front of me who seemed to not give a two shits about what she said or to whom.

  “Pick your jaw up off the floor, dear. It’s unbecoming. Now, back to my plan. Handcuffs are nothing more than bracelets. Jewelry and headpieces were a large part of the Flapper look so I will not have you coming to my party halfway done,” Marisol said, adding some more notes to her rather long list of things I’d need to become a true Flapper.

  “I don’t know about this. I think I’ll feel out of place at a dinner party where everyone else will look elegant and normal.”

  “Who said a Flapper wasn’t elegant? Yes, they were sexy broads and quite brass at times, but overall they were gorgeous young women, like myself, who were tasting freedom for the first time in their lives. Flappers were the epitome of everything elegant at the time. Of course, I’ll make sure that my guests only come in 1920s era clothing as well. I wouldn’t want to put you on the spot. I do expect you to converse with everyone though and act the part.”

  “When will this little party be?” I asked, hesitantly, as I really hoped she didn’t think I’d be ready for this type of thing anytime soon.

  “I don’t know yet. I’ll call you on the ameche when I have things finalized. Now, would you care for a Sherry or a G & T? We have to toast this glorious idea of mine with some giggle juice!”

  When would I ever learn that Marisol was not at all your average elderly woman? She really was someone I’d never, ever forget.

  I couldn’t sleep that night. I think I was just anticipating what my first day at work would bring as well as worrying that I’d be a complete failure at being a Flapper. As I said, I’d never been in an office setting before so stepping foot into the office of such a massive magazine was a little daunting. I decided to call Bayani and see if we could meet up at one of the all night diners around the corner, knowing that most likely he’d say no in account of having to get up early the next day. However, I was pleasantly surprised when he agreed to meet me at Eat Not Sleep, a local haunt that had good grub 24 hours a day and never let those who suffered from insomnia go home without a stomach full of food.

  Bayani met me at the door of Eat Not Sleep looking as handsome as I remembered him to be. We hadn’t seen each other since the now infamous almost-hit-and-run so it was refreshing to see that my eyes weren’t deceiving me. He really was stunning.

  “Hi,” he said, as he kissed me on the cheek.

  “Hi, thanks for meeting me,” I replied, a little bashfully since I wasn’t expecting him to actually kiss me in any manner of the word. The spot where his lips touched me was tingling and it left me wanting more. We grabbed a table by the window and took off our coats. The diner wasn’t very busy; just a few people here and there, drinking coffee and chatting placidly with others across the table. It felt comfy and was much better for me than staying at home tossing and turning.

  “So, what’s up? Why can’t you sleep? Are you nervous for tomorrow?” Bayani asked after we placed our orders. I wasn’t about to order coffee and keep myself awake even longer so I opted for a ginger ale and a grilled cheese.

  “Yeah, I think I’m just nervous that I won’t fit in with the other girls or someone will be jealous that I got the vacant position while other people had to interview and queue up to find a decent job,” I explained.

  “Don’t worry about that. I’m sure no one will know you didn’t interview unless your boss decides to tell them – which he shouldn’t because it’s unprofessional.” Bayani was so good at calming me down. In just the short time I had known him, he had more often than not been the best person to turn to for advice or just a quick pick-me-up.

  “Listen, I know you’re nervous and that’s OK. But when you get in the office tomorrow, you’ll need to put your best foot forward. Don’t let your nerves show or the other women will eat you alive. You’re beautiful and smart, there’s no reason for you to think you can’t do just as good of a job – or better – than they can,” he said as he gently put his hand over mine across the table and let his thumb stroke away my worries. That felt so nice. Really, really nice. I didn’t want him to stop. Of course that would be the exact moment our food would arrive (bugger off! I wanted to yell) so he had no choice but to retract his hand. As we ate, we talked about everything. Our shared love for animals; our hometowns and his ancestry and of course, Marisol and my job offer. I hadn’t yet told him how Marisol and I had met, nor did I tell him that she heard the voices of dead people. I thought that was a little too much for a first date (was this a date? I didn’t even know). Before I knew it, it was 2 A.M. and I felt that I needed to let Bayani get home. Even if I couldn’t sleep, at least one of us should. He didn’t need to be late for work on account of me. So I reluctantly told him that we should call it a night and as he walked me home, I felt chills run up my spine at the thought of him kissing me again when we arrived at my door. I couldn’t help but wonder if he would or if it was all too soon. I didn’t have to wonder for long because we when arrived on my doorstep, his strong arms spun me around to face him and he said “Autumn, would you mind if I kissed you?” which was pretty much the exact words I had been dying to hear all night. I didn’t say anything and instead shook my head in agreement. I didn’t trust myself to speak because I thought that if I did, words might not come out.

  When his lips met mine it was like an explosion of fireworks. He kissed me so gently that I almost didn’t even feel him there at first. It was the perfect kiss to end a perfect night. After he had pulled away and said that he had wanted to do that since he met me (!!) we both just stood there smiling -- well, he smiled, I probably had a goofy grin on my face -- until he made the move to go.

  “Goodnight, Autumn,” he said, ruffling my hair before turning and walking down the path. “And stop worrying! You’ll do fine…I have faith in you!” I waved and then unlocked my door, knowing full well that I would now be up all night analyzing that kiss and what it meant for the future.

  Chapter Four

  Monday morning came before I knew it and though I got (very) little sleep, I felt revitalized and excited for my first day of gainful employment.

  I had picked out my outfit last night from the generous amount of clothing that Marisol had bought me and felt as though I looked exactly like I should look for a job at a fashion magazine.

  After I fed Clara, I walked her over to Marisol’s house where my little confidante would be spending the day while I worked. I was sure that she and Marisol would have fun together and knew she was in safe hands.

  “Well, don’t you look fantabulous! Turn around, let me see the whole picture,” Marisol said as I went to knock on the door. I did as was asked and spun around a little theatrically – even taking a bow once I’d come back to face the old lady again.

  “Ha! Now you’re starting to look more and more like a proper Flapper. You don’t have to live in the 20’s or wear dresses with fringe to be a Flapper, my love. To be a true Flapper, you have to have character and you, my dear girl, have it.”

  I asked Marisol what exactly the characteristics for a Flapper were and while I knew full well that some people saw the word as derogatory – used to describe women who just didn’t give a shit about anything – it also meant something else, I learned.

  “Well, yes, a Flapper could be seen as a woman who wasn’t abiding by the law. She was frivolous, a bit wild and felt free to do as she pleased. If you told her not to smoke, she’d smoke. The same goes for drinking and playing hooky with men. Anything that wasn’t acceptable in society was
something a Flapper would do,” Marisol said. “However, I think of you in a different sense of the word today. You’re like a young bird flapping its wings while learning to fly – a true Flapper you see!”

  I pondered this comment as Marisol pushed me out the door because I was going to be late. I jumped on a cable car and realized that she was right. I didn’t have to necessarily go back to the Roaring Twenties to be happy; I could bring some of the characteristics of that time into my present day life. Incorporating them would be fun and make me feel as though I was living in my favorite time period without actually dying and being brought back to life during that era. That would definitely not be fun.

  Man, Marisol was one smart cookie!

  Entering the San Francisco Fashion and Flare offices was like entering a parallel universe. The entryway was unbelievably gorgeous with gold trim around the doors and huge glass windows everywhere you turned. The furniture was modern with a bit of a retro twist and consisted of some funky couches in neon pink, green and yellow. I absolutely loved it already.

  I walked down the long hall with my heels clip-clapping loudly on the hard tile floors as I walked. I finally reached the reception desk where I stated my name and was given a name badge by a plump woman in her late forties. Already one perception I had was shattered. I assumed that every woman working in the building would look like Sophie: Tall, slim and dripping with diamonds. So far, I hadn’t seen one Sophie clone, which was good since one of her was more than enough to deal with.

  Once I reached the 22 floor where I would be working from now on, I realized that I really didn’t like heights. I could only hope that I wasn’t about to hurl all over my brand new dress or even worse – all over Sophie’s Chanel suit.

  “Autumn, glad to see you here bright and early,” she said to me as she extended her hand. “We’ll have a staff meeting in about an hour to introduce you to everyone but until then I think it would be best if my assistant, Lena, showed you around.”

  With that, Sophie was gone; all business and no indication that she knew me outside of work. I wondered if that was a hint that I should act as if I didn’t know her either and should address her as Sophia not Sophie while in the building.

  “Sorry about her, she’s like that sometimes with the new recruits but she’s really nice underneath it all, I swear!” said a perky blonde girl who looked like she was going to pass out if she didn’t eat something soon. She was as thin as a Popsicle stick and looked frazzled.

  “Its no problem. I understand she has to maintain a certain level of authority,” I replied. “By the way, I’m Autumn. And you are?”

  “Oh, right. I’m Lena – it’s short for Selena -- and I’m so happy to meet you! You look like you might not bite my head off if I forget to copy down the daily specials from The Green Gator every day for you!”

  I had never been to The Green Gator but I heard it was one of the more posh delis in San Fran and I didn’t want to blow my cover already. Like Bayani said, I needed to put my confident and authoritative side forward.

  “So, you’re office is right over here. It’s one of the best in the building and I’m sure you’ll find it more than pleasant. I’m not sure how you got such a great job but I’m sure you’re more than qualified and have worked tirelessly for years so you deserve it. Totally. Yes, totally,” Lena said, with what seemed like a hint of jealousy. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or me that I deserved the job but either way I now took her earlier comment about the lunch menu as a test. Good thing I didn’t respond!

  “Thanks, Lena. I’ll just put my stuff down and make it a little more “mine” while I wait for the staff meeting. You’re a star for showing me around!”

  I stepped into my office and was pleased to see that it was painted in a light gold with orchids on the desk and on my bookcase. I loved orchids so it was pretty fantastic to see them here.

  I ran my finger along the glass window overlooking the Bay and was just about to look for a wastepaper basket to throw up in when I heard a knock at the door.

  “Oh my God! Are you Ok? You look positively awful!” Sophie said as she rushed to my side. I guess being bent over near a window in an expensive Dior dress while surrounded by orchids isn’t my best look.

  “I’m fine. Just looking for my…glasses. Yes, my glasses. I seem to have dropped them somewhere here…”

  “I didn’t know you wore glasses but I can help you find them if you want. Can you not see without them?” Sophie said as she peeked under my desk and behind potted plants.

  I could see perfectly fine, damn it. I could see so well that it looked like my first day on the job was going to be my last because I had already lied to my boss! I was such a flake sometimes, seriously. What was I thinking saying I lost my glasses? I might as well have said I had lost my glass eye! Either one would have had the same effect.

  Well, Ok. Maybe the glass eye would have had a little more impact.

  I should have gone with that.

  “I don’t see them, Autumn, But no worries, we’ll replace them. Just write down the type and prescription and I’ll have Lena get you a new pair before lunch.”

  Oh crap. Should I just tell her now?

  “Did you drop these?” Lena said, as she appeared at my doorway holding a pair of very fab vintage glasses that I had never seen before in my life.

  “Er, yes. I was just looking for them…thank you, Lena. Um, may I ask, well, where did you find them? It’s just they’re so precious to me and I thought they were gone forever…” Cough. Cough. Lie. Lie.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have been a writer. Maybe I should have been a lawyer instead. Then I could lie all I want and not feel guilty about it.

  “I found them right outside your door. I figured you’d dropped them on your way in and would be looking for them. Those orchids are divine, by the way. Whoever sent them has immaculate taste!”

  “Yes, thanks, Lena. That will be all,” Sophie said, in a tone that meant Shut-Up-And-Get-Out-Of-Here-Now-You-Skinny-Bitch.

  “Anyway, Autumn, let me tell you a little about your job since we got so little time to talk the other day at my granny’s. Basically you’ll be the head of the department that scours vintage clothes for features. They’re very fashionable now you know. The long skirts, pill box hats, frilly dresses and overall boyish looks are so chic. All those pieces and more are coming back in style and I want you to cover it for us. You’ll have a small team – a few of who are out of town researching this week – but it will mainly be down to you to come up with innovative articles for each issue.” I was beyond thrilled with my job description! It just sounded too perfect to be true!

  After Sophie explained a few more formalities about my new totally amazing job she was off, heading for a business lunch at Mr. Chow, but not before leaving me with a rather insulting comment.

  “Autumn, darling, I think we should get you a makeover. Not that you’re not pretty. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I just think you could do with a new hairstyle and some make-up tutorials. I’ll get our stylist on it right away,” she said and then she was gone, leaving me staring after her open mouthed and wondering what my fun job really would be like if I couldn’t even be myself.

  Next on the agenda was the staff meeting, which I really wasn’t looking forward to. I’m not someone who likes to be in the spotlight so the idea of me being critiqued by multiple people at once was petrifying. Lena came to get me at 9:55 on the dot to make sure I was in conference room 18 (how many conference rooms did this place have?!) on time.

  “Are you nervous?” Lena asked me before telling me that even if I was nervous I better not show it or Sophie would have me out on the sidewalk on my butt in a matter of minutes.

  Very reassuring, Lena, Thanks. God, I couldn’t tell if this girl was my friend or foe. She obviously baited me with the lunch question and then saved me when I was looking for my missing glasses (though I still didn’t know how she knew I was looking for my glasses in the first
place) and now she was telling me how to act in the meeting. It was all very confusing. She was either saving my ass or she wasn’t. I hadn’t quite figured out which end she was on yet.

  Walking into the conference room, I made sure to stand tall and exude confidence. It seemed to be working until I realized just how many people were in the room. I was expecting many twenty or thirty people but was greeted by more than fifty faces – some stone cold and lacking emotion, others curious and warm. It was a bit much to take in so I was really grateful when Sophie stepped in and introduced me.

  “Everyone, this is Autumn, who will be the new head of the vintage features department. Autumn comes with very high praise and I am sure she is the person we have been looking for to fill the void within this company. Please ask her any questions you may have after her speech.” Speech? What speech? Oh dear. Apparently, I was expected to give a welcoming speech to my new co-workers and I had nothing, absolutely nothing.