Joanne fell in love with Esther, she was so docile and soft spoken. She didn’t have the control of herself that Phoebe had. She resembled Phoebe a lot. She had the model’s figure like Phoebe.
Mom said. “Well I have something to tell you girls. Last Tuesday, this couple dropped in out of the blue looking for Phoebe Croiner. He had a Burberry coat on, a little toothbrush mustache and had his hat slightly caught to one side. The girl, or whatever she was, was all dolled up to kill. She couldn’t conceal the bags under her eyes and, I’m telling you, she didn’t attain them by going to bed at 10 o’clock. I said, ‘What do you want to with Phoebe?’ ‘Well, Mrs. Croiner, we are from Concave Studios in Toronto. We have scouts all over the place looking for talent. One of them spotted your daughter singing in a church in Toronto. This girl’s scout thought that she was very good and thought that she had potential.’
‘Well her father and I were at that service. We didn’t think that she was any better up there that she is down here.’
‘Well Mrs. Croiner, how could I get in touch with her? We tried the choirmaster of the church and he said that he didn’t give out that information. Our scout just heard her name and the village of Dunadry. We had quite a time finding out where that was. We found out where you live from the guy at the lunch counter.’ Mom said,’ It so happens I don’t give out about that information either.’
‘Well, Mrs. Croiner, this is a chance of a lifetime for the girl. If she could come up to the city, say for two weeks, we could test her out and if we accepted her to make some records, and let me tell you that it will not cost anyone a cent, even if she fails that test. Hundreds of girls would be thrilled to have that opportunity.’
I said, ‘That is very kind of you folks to do that.’
The guy with the mustache winked at his girlfriend. Maybe a done deal.
I said, ‘Well give me your card and her and I will talk it over and if she is interested we will get in touch with you.’
‘Ma’am, I cannot see why you cannot give me her address.’
I said, ‘As of this time, I’m like a choir master. I do not give out that information.’
‘Ma’am, you don’t understand. She could be making a lot of money up there.’
‘Young feller, don’t tell me that I don’t understand. That girl can make lots of money right here, they are paying as much as forty cents an hour for a girl like her to inspect fruit and vegetables on the conveyor belt.’
‘Please, ma’am, give us your daughters address. She will have first class digs in the sixth floor hotel that has lots of security all night long. And Betty will look after her during the day.’
‘What do you mean by digs, young fellow? That’s a new one for me. And security, what does that mean?’
‘Well, ma’am, I should have made it more simple for you, see, there is a patrol man, much the same as a policeman. He patrols the corridors of the hotel all night,’
‘And tell me why he should do that while everybody is sleeping. That sounds like a waste of money to me.’
‘Well ma’am, you never know, maybe a drunk or somebody like that that should not be there.’
‘How does the security guard stop them?’
‘Ma’am, the guy has a gun.’
Mum looked at Betty. She reminded her of what her father used to say. With powder and paint she appears what she ain’t. The old sheep is dressed like a lamb.’
I said. ‘I’m awfully sorry to disappoint you but our daughter will never be let loose among a gaggle of scheming wolves like they are up there. Now if you will excuse me, I cannot waste any more time with you. I have a five gallon crock of gherkin pickles to bottled and dad will soon be home for supper.’
“They very reluctantly left. They were thinking, ‘Boy, is big Herbie, the studio boss, going to be flaming mad. He said they were only a bunch of hayseeds, that they would be a pushover. ‘ ‘Well, we can tell him that they don’t speak the same language as us. I’ll bet that big Herbie Will want to come here himself. He knows there is a real gold mine here. If he does, I’ll bet that woman throws him out on his ear. I would want to tangle with her’.”
Trevor was watching Mrs. Croiner as she described the whole episode. She was a tall, brawny person with that determined expression. Her hair was neatly held in a bun with a curved comb. Trevor inwardly thought, I’ll bet the weeds went swiftly underground when they saw Mrs. Croiner coming with a hoe. Phoebe is her double.
Joanne said, “Mrs. Croiner, I can find out all you want to know about Concave Studios. My father is a member of the B.B.B.”
Mrs. Croiner said, “I don’t know what that is but down here they call it Bed and Breakfast.”
“I know that it sounds familiar, but up in Toronto it is the Better Business Bureau. They have information on all businesses. Maybe, Trevor, it might be a good thing to find out just in case the vultures call here again.”
Trevor said, “Mrs. Croiner, Joanne and I are getting married come next June and we would be very pleased if Phoebe would be our maid of honor. What do you say, Mrs. Croiner?”
“Trevor, you have me stuck there. Do you suppose that Phoebe could handle herself in what I think would be a high-class wedding? Phoebe, come here. Trevor was telling me about his upcoming wedding. Did you ever talk to Joanne and Trevor about being maid of honor for them?”
“Well, mum, my answer is yes. And between now and the wedding day, I asked that if Joanne and Trevor have any reason to change plans it is still okay with me.”
“Mrs. Croiner, Phoebe is grandfather’s girl. He thanks there is nobody like Phoebe.“
Joanne said, “We will be well pleased to hear Phoebe say yes to our invitation.”
Joanne looked at the clock and said, “Trevor, we had better be on our way.”
Mom said, “I’m awfully glad to meet you young people and many thanks for bringing Phoebe home. Phoebe, you go and put up these people a lunch for the road. That’s a long drive.”
Trevor said, “No, we don’t need a lunch, Mrs. Croiner.”
While mom’s back was turned, Phoebe signalled and shook her head to Trevor and Joanne. They were fast to understand what Phoebe meant. If mom says it, you cooperate.
Mom said, “Phoebe, there is some headcheese down in the cooler in the cellar that I made last week. It tastes good in the sandwich.”
They were more are less reluctant to accept it.
Mom said, “Them roadside stands just serve up heart attacks. You will find that this headcheese will stick to your ribs.”
Trevor said, “Mrs. Croiner, do you want to know something? Phoebe is grandfather’s girl. He thinks the world of Phoebe. He will be looking forward to seeing her at our wedding.”
Mom said, “You be careful driving on them gravel roads.”
Esther was sitting on the chair backward with her chin resting on the back of the chair talking to Joanne. Esther was not so tall as Phoebe or as muscular but she has that soft audible voice. She was the picture of innocence. Joanne just loved her.
When they were in the car, Earl was watching the Duesenberg turn around in the dooryard.
“Boy, I bet that baby can burn up the road.”
When they were well out in the country, Joanne asked Trevor if he was any the wiser.
“Joanne, I learned a lot that was different. I was not so close to rural people before. City folk can learn a lot from them. That’s soup and that pie was out of this world. And the homemade bread was delicious. Well, Joanne, what was your impression?”
“I have a better idea of where Phoebe’s personality comes from, no beating around the bush is there.
“All in all, I’m glad that we came. Esther got right to me.”
Joanne said, “I would hate to be the guy that got fresh with her and that mother of hers found out about it.”
“All in all, like you say Joanne, they are wonderful people,”
Trevor said. “I’ll bet it would be interesting to see what goes on and that fundraising concert they are putting on a week from this Saturday. I’ll bet it would be a scream to see Phoebe on her home turf.”
Joanne said, “Let’s mull it over later.”
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