It wasn't the only excitement in Gloria's life as she was actually scheduled to shoot a genuine screen test for MGM no less, the powerhouse studio in the industry at the time. Nobody was more famous for their musicals than MGM and it was a thrill to know that she would even be walking onto the same lot where so many of her screen idols created the magic she adored so much.
Seeing movie stars had kind of become old hat for Gloria but the thought of actually working with some of them was a whole different ballgame. Mabel was still impressed whenever they spotted some celebrity on their club crawls or even just driving by on the street. It was turning out to be just the kind of vacation Mabel had dreamed of.
Gloria's old place already had furniture, so to speak, but her new bungalow was pretty sparse aside from the kitchen basics so the borrowed car was put to good use rounding up some second hand stuff that looked decent but didn't break the bank. Gloria had never owned furniture before so even if it was used and a little worn around the edges it was a moment of victory for her just to possess it. It was hers. She had picked it out. It all looked so pretty once she and Mabel added a few feminine touches here and there. It was the first time Gloria ever felt like she had a real home.
"Why don't you move in with me," Gloria suggested.
"I thought I sort of already had," Mabel joked.
"No I mean really move in. Stay here."
"I'd love to but I don't have a job silly."
"So what? I'll be paying the rent on this place by myself anyway so what difference does it make if we're sharing it? You'll get a job soon enough. You're a terrific dancer. Or I could introduce you to some of the photographers I know. If I can make a living in this town you sure can."
"God knows I'd love to stay. There really isn't anything much holding me back home. But I'd hate to be a burden to you. It kind of makes me feel like a kept woman or something," said Mabel with little laugh.
"Well I suppose you could always make it up to me somehow," Gloria winked in return.
They were obviously close friends and had toyed with the idea of being lovers before Gloria had her operation but they had become even closer since they had been living together and sleeping in the same bed. It had started with a simple goodnight kiss and gradually progressed to a little rubbing and fondling. They hadn't done anything too crazy so far but their playful experimentation, and the pleasure they were getting from it, had come as a surprise to both of them.
"I've still got a little more time on my vacation," Mabel pointed out. "Let's see how it goes and then take it from there. You might not want a third wheel hanging around the house when you're picking up sailors you know."
"Don't be ridiculous. There's no one I'd rather fuck sailors with than you!"
CHAPTER 11:
There were basically two different kinds of screen tests. One was when an actor was being considered for a specific role. Even if they were under contract to the studio and had appeared in dozens of films it was still common to audition them for parts. The other was the kind that Gloria was going in for. It was a basic talent evaluation test. She wasn't being considered for any movie in particular it was just a way for studio executives to see what she looked like on camera and what kind of personality she might have.
The test had been arranged by Freddie Forsythe, and up-and-coming choreographer at the studio who had been an assistant to some of the biggest names in the business. He had spotted Gloria in the show at the club and taken a fancy to her, both as a dancer and as a woman. For a change Gloria had not been expected to sleep with Freddie to get the screen test but he probably hoped for some show of gratitude somewhere down the line, especially if the test led to anything.
Gloria was nervous as she arrived for the big event but definitely not terrified. She had been auditioning for shows for years and this was just another audition. Bigger than anything she had ever gone out for in the past, and more technologically cumbersome, but an audition none the less.
She had gotten used to working around cameras and lights in her capacity as a model but this was a much grander scale. There seemed to be so many people there for just one girl. Fortunately Freddie was also there to provide moral support, and to remind her who she owed this great honor to.
Everything was very professional and went like clockwork. She was asked to stand in a certain spot and turn this way and that. Then she was asked to state her name and where she was from and to tell the camera a little something about herself. That was actually harder than it sounded as she had no real life as a woman to speak of and she didn't want to be too closely identified with her old self. She just kind of improvised a story that was charming and wholesome but reflected her passion for performance and her experience on the stage.
She had been asked to sing something and there was a piano accompanist on hand to play the tune she had selected. After that Freddie showed her a few basic steps to follow and Gloria demonstrated some of her dancing skills. Then it was all done and it was time to go.
"How did I do?" asked Gloria as they were leaving the giant soundstage.
"You were fantastic baby. If they don't hire you they're completely nuts," Freddie assured her. "What do you say we grab some lunch?"
"That sounds great, I think I worked up an appetite in there and I was too nervous to eat breakfast this morning."
"Perfect. Let's hop in my car and hit the road!" Freddie said cheerfully as they made their way through the massive film production complex.
Although she was far from being a movie star yet Gloria got her first taste of fame while eating lunch with Freddie. A young soldier nervously approached their table and took a well-folded piece of paper out of his pocket.
"Excuse me but...is this you?" the soldier asked Gloria as he showed her the paper.
It was indeed a photograph of Gloria that had been taken in one of her earlier sessions. It was actually one of the tamer ones as she was just posing in a bathing suit pretending to be playing with a beach ball.
"Why yes, that's me all right," Gloria said while blushing. "I thought those only ended up on calendars."
"It was on a calendar ma'am. I just tore off your picture so that I could keep it with me always. I know it's a little wrinkled now but I just can't bear to part with it. Would you mind...would you mind autographing it for me?"
"It would be my pleasure," Gloria replied as a grinning Freddie handed her a pen.
"Who do I make it out to?" asked Gloria.
"Well ma'am if you could sign it to Gary and all the boys of Charlie Company I'd really be grateful. I know the boys would too. You're just one of our favorite gals."
"It's an honor to know that I can at least do a little something for our boys."
"You do a lot ma'am. You remind us of home. What we're fighting for."
Gloria found herself suddenly feeling very emotional. The surprise fun of being recognized in public had been overtaken by a sense of pride and guilt. She was happy that this soldier appreciated her picture so much and that it meant something to him but she also realized that she should be in Charlie Company or wherever the army had planned to put her. Freddie noticed the change in her mood after the soldier had left them.
"Hey baby, what's the matter? You should be thrilled to have someone want your autograph. You'll have to get used to that if you become a big movie star you know," said Freddie, trying to buck her spirits back up.
"I just hate thinking that a nice boy like that is risking his life when he should be playing basketball or going to dances. It doesn't seem right. Boys like that shouldn't have to die so young," Gloria said sadly.
"Hopefully it won't come to that. Maybe he's in the motor pool or something. He might just be repairing jeeps, you can't assume he's going to be in combat."
"How come you aren't in the army Freddie?"
"4F, thank God. Eyesight's not good enough. Obviously I would have gone if I could but honestly I'm much happier where I am right now. Especially at this moment."
Gloria was still in a mixed
mood as she agreed to go with Freddie back to his place. She hated to leave Mabel alone longer than she had to but Mabel was getting pretty good at finding her way around and amusing herself. Gloria just felt a real desire to do something that would take her mind off of the encounter with a soldier and being fucked by Freddie seemed like the quickest way to do that.
It was kind of funny the way nobody really said anything about sex once they were in his house. They sat on the sofa for a little while chatting and then Freddie kissed her and they made out for a bit and finally Freddie went for it and unzipped her dress. Gloria had to stand up for a moment to get the dress off but then they just moved steadily to the inevitable.
Once Freddie had his pants off Gloria went straight to work stroking and sucking his cock. She may not have realized that this was not viewed as a really common sexual activity at the time but Freddie certainly did. For Gloria giving head was second nature, having done it so many times in her old life. For Freddie it was a treat that was even more than he had bargained for.
"Oh baby I had no idea that you were so...experienced. Most girls I know wouldn't do this if you begged them," Freddie moaned happily. "Damn it feels good having your lips wrapped around my pecker!"
In truth Freddie had gotten a few blowjobs before but not from girls. Freddie used to swing both ways pretty freely but as his career began to take off in Hollywood he was told to keep his dick out of other men. He wasn't important enough to the studio to justify the hassle and expense of having to cover up his sordid homosexual activities yet so Freddie did his fishing in other ponds at the moment. It wasn't a terrible imposition as he liked girls just fine but sometimes he missed the attention of another man.
It had certainly helped that he got a glimpse of Gloria in that picture. She seemed very wholesome and innocent but what kind of innocent girl would pose for a picture like that? He had felt his hard on under the table at lunch and knew he had to get inside this enigmatic girl soon. Gloria definitely had that powerful combination of wholesome charm and totally uninhibited sexuality that men seemed to find irresistible. With her clothes on she looked like the nicest girl in the world but here she was with her head bobbing up and down on his cock. What a delightful little fuck toy he thought. Cute as a button and dirty as a whore. What man wouldn't want that in a bedmate?
Knowing that he wasn't going to last much longer the way she was milking him Freddie tore off Gloria's panties and plunked her down on his lap on the couch. As Gloria rode his pulsating member Freddie pawed at her bouncing boobs. He really hoped that she did get offered a contract because he could do great things with her, onscreen and in the bedroom. It was a very intriguing partnership to contemplate. Unfortunately tons of people took screen tests that never amounted to anything. Freddie didn't have enough pull within the studio yet to be making demands. If she got in that was great. If she didn't hopefully she would still be grateful enough for the opportunity to make little lunch meetings like this more frequent.
Freddie came very hard in a jerking expulsion of semen. That was one of the best fucks Freddie had ever known with a woman, even if it hadn't been very long or very romantic. Gloria fucked like...well...sort of like a hooker, which seemed all the more unlikely given her youth and her Midwestern upbringing. Where had she learned to suck cock like that? This was definitely a girl who was worth keeping an eye on.
When she got home Gloria told Mabel all about the screen test, but left out the part about screwing the choreographer for some reason. It was starting to bother her a little that so much of what defined her seemed to be the men she fucked. Freddie seemed like a nice guy but he didn't bother to ask her out to dinner or buy her flowers. He had done her a favor and so he expected a favor in return. She certainly liked him and he might be a guy she'd want to get to know better but it always seemed like things went in reverse for her. She started by blowing a guy and then got to know them. Well it was a man's world after all. If she was just going to be their plaything she ought to at least get as much out of the deal as possible. Still it was kind of funny that the best sex she had ever had was with a sailor who offered nothing but his cock. Maybe sex and love didn't really have any reason being together. Maybe it was all just chemistry and how well a guy used his dick. Anyway she'd taken her first screen test. All she could do now is wait.
CHAPTER 12:
Gloria did wait but nothing came of it. And despite a few more private visits to Mr. Chandler's office her part in the show didn't get any bigger so she started looking around for a new opportunity.
She heard about an audition for a girl singer to front a swing band and went just for the hell of it. To her dismay she was hired on the spot. The band wasn't famous or anything but they worked pretty steady and Gloria would be singing in the spotlight for a change instead of just being one of the "cuties" in the chorus line.
Freddie was still hanging around despite the fact that it looked like the screen test had been a bust and he even helped her learn a couple of dance routines to work into the show when the band played an instrumental number. It was great that she was getting to show off more of her talents and it gave the act a little extra something.
The act was billed as "Kenny Clippard's Swing Cats featuring Gloria Gibson" and Gloria was pleased as punch the first time she saw a poster with that billing and her picture on it. She was also pleased that Mabel had decided to stick around, after a brief trip home to pack her stuff and tie up loose ends. Mabel had found work as a waitress, which wasn't what she was hoping for of course, but it was a job and it left her plenty of free time to go on auditions. It also meant that the girls were splitting the rent which was definitely helpful.
Mabel knew that she didn't have Gloria's talent but she did have a more voluptuous body and a couple of photographers had expressed an interest in shooting her. The problem was that they were nude photographers and Mabel wasn't sure if that was something she was interested in doing. She wasn't shy but there was still a stigma in her mind about doing pornography, even if the photographers insisted it was all just artistic.
For Gloria the autograph seekers seemed to be picking up in number and it wasn't because she was fronting the Swing Cats. Eduardo's painting of her was apparently becoming something of a sensation in the armed forces. Wishing to capitalize on that Eduardo asked her if she would mind posing for another picture, at a substantial raise in pay. Gloria would have done it for free for Eduardo who had been so helpful and so generous and hadn't even complained a bit when Gloria put a dent in the fender of his car trying unsuccessfully to parallel park one day. Eduardo insisted on paying her anyway so off to his studio she went.
They did another lingerie thing but this time she was a little more covered up and the outfit a bit more elegant. She may have been showing less skin but the poses were more provocative than before as she cavorted around on a thick white rug. It was always so nice to see Eduardo and especially nice to work with him. He just always seemed to bring out the best in her.
Mabel finally broke down and agreed to do a nude photo session, although she wasn't fully naked in the process. She wore stockings and high heels and in some of the pictures she also had a leather corset thing strapped around her waist which made her ample bosom look even bigger. She also took a few shots holding a riding crop or a whip. She wasn't quite sure what "bondage" was all about but apparently there was a thriving market for this sort of thing on the underground and it paid really well.
"We are just the two dirtiest little bitches in the world, aren't we?" Gloria joked as Mabel related her experience with the kinky photos.
"Speak for yourself. My tits looked positively huge with that corset on," Mabel replied while lifting her boobs with both hands. "But yeah, we are dirty bitches, that's for sure!"
"I like being a dirty girl. It's fun," Gloria chirped happily.
"Yeah but watch your step honey. Things are starting to fall into place for you. You don't want to mess it all up by getting into trouble."
"But I can
't get into trouble...I'm fixed," Gloria reminded her.
"I mean trouble with your reputation. You don't really know what that means since you weren't born a girl but word gets around, especially in a town like this. You don't want to be that easy lay who'll fuck anybody for an audition. You're really good and your talent should be able to speak for itself."
"I guess I never really thought of it that way. I used to turn tricks in a sleazy dive with anyone who paid me. Getting humped for a shot at an opportunity always seemed like a step up somehow. I guess once a whore always a whore," Gloria shrugged.
"Well stop thinking that way. You're not a whore and you don't have to be one. I'm not saying pretend to be a virgin but have sex when you want with who you want to have it with. You got that singing job without fucking anyone didn't you?"
"True."
"And you didn't fuck Eduardo and he still hired you and that's turned out pretty good."
"True."
"Just have a little more faith in your talent. I hate to see you being taken advantage of."
Mabel was right. Gloria's two best jobs so far had been the product of going to an audition without any sex involved. She had even gotten the screen test before she went to bed with Freddie but it was always sort of implied that they would eventually. That had been more like buying something on credit and then making installment payments. Maybe she was being a little too free and easy with her body. She just sort of assumed that girls in show business were expected to behave like that and she didn't want to disappoint anyone or miss out on an opportunity.
Self-esteem had always been a luxury item that Gloria couldn't afford. Survival was a constant struggle and there had been no role-models in her life to guide or influence her. Now she was starting to get somewhere but old habits die hard. She just had a hard time convincing herself that her success was real or something that might last.
The guilt over dodging the draft also haunted her on a regular basis. It was hard for it not to. There were servicemen everywhere and the headlines and newsreels were all about war. There were posters all over town extolling men to join up or warning people not to reveal secrets to the enemy. Everyone was encouraged to do their part for the war effort but aside from fucking a few men in uniform it was hard for Gloria to see how she was helping much. Of course her pictures were helping a great deal but she was unaware of how really popular she was becoming. She decided that she needed to do more but wasn't sure exactly how to go about it.
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