Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart Read Free Book Online Page A

there is a major cleanup, and each of you will be assigned a task. The bathroom, the kitchen, the yard, the laundry, et cetera. If you don’t do your job, I’ll personally drive you to the bus. Apprentices will do the cleanup jobs in the theater. Meals will be at
    seven-thirty at the house, twelve-thirty at the theater, and six-thirty back at the house. If you like the food, tell old Mrs. Godshell, the cook, and she’ll give you an extra portion. If you don’t, keep it to yourself. No singing in the house, no television, no radio, and no sex.
    “The first show, which will begin rehearsal tomorrow, is Carousel. The cast list will be on the bulletin board as you leave here. Today, I suggest you go down to the beach and enjoy yourselves. You probably won’t have much time for that after we start rehearsals. Any questions?”
    Silence.
    “See you tomorrow.”
    The kids got up and made their way into the lobby to check the cast list. Only Cee Gee, now with her feet crossed and up on the chair in front of her, still sat, puffing on her second cigarette. Perry folded his chair and placed it against the wall. It bothered him that she didn’t even seem to feel the need to have the others like her. To stay with the group so she’d be in on it. He started out through the curtains.
    “Where do you live?”
    “What?”
    “You. Where do you live?”
    “I have my own house on Marion Avenue. It’s on the ocean about six blocks from the cast house.” Again he started out.
    “Nice?”
    “Beg your pardon?”
    “Is it nice?”
    “I like it.”
    “Good.”
    Jesus Christ, she was pushy. He turned to walk into the lobby where the kids were congratulating and commiserating on the casting of the first show, but Cee Gee’s voice stopped him.
    “I’m in the chorus. Right?” she asked coolly.
    “How do you know that?”
    ” ‘Cause the Julie part’s a soprano, and the Carrie part’s an ingenue and I’m not either one of those.”
    “Yes. You are in the chorus, Gee Cee-but it’s just the first week and there’s eleven other shows, and …” Why was he apologizing to her?
    “I’m not a chorus singer.”
    “You are now.”
    Her green eyes flashed with anger and Perry steeled himself for an attack, but it passed.
    “Yeah,” she said softly. “I guess so.”
    This was a real nice clambake
    And we all had a real good time
    We’ve said it afore
    And we’ll say it agen
    We all had a REAL-GOOD-TIME!
    The applause was loud, and the summer people were loving the show. They had arrived in droves, some new, some old favorites of Perry’s, to buy season tickets and to stand around the bulletin board looking at the eight-by-ten glossies of the kids, wondering which of them would play what part in the list of shows Perry had posted for the season. The lucky ones who attended the opening night performance would come to the party and meet the amusing young crew of dancers and singers Perry had brought to the island this year.
    Bertie White was in the third row next to Aunt Neetie. Bertie was afraid she’d never recognize Cee Cee. It had been so long. It was funny to see Cee Gee’s name in the program next to the words SINGERS’ CHORUS . Cee Gee’s name was first, probably because her last name started with a B, and there she was on stage. In that funny puffy-sleeved dress, trying to look like she lived in New England and enjoyed clambakes. She stood out. At first, Bertie thought maybe it was because she knew Cee Cee
    and not the others, but that wasn’t why. Something else about Cee Cee made Bertie unable to take her eyes away from her. A confidence that didn’t fit with the others, who seemed to be working so hard at pretending that it showed.
    The stage was very small, and the actors were so close to the audience that once Bertie actually thought Cee Cee looked right into her eyes during the “Mister Snow” song when the girls sang the part that went, What a day. What a day. Maybe Cee Cee recognized her. But then,