Champagne Romance (Romance Novel) (24 page)

That was the first time she'd met Elvis. He
came over huffing and puffing. “She's a friend of mine, Ed.”

“Then why haven't I seen her before?” Ed
narrowed his eyes like he knew he was lying.

“Because she just got in town, that's why,”
Elvis said, ready to challenge him if necessary. Ed knew better
than to press.

Elvis had liked the little girl with the big
green eyes the minute he saw her. When she listened to him sing,
she really listened. He knew she came in to hear him croon. Most
people just ignored him while they played their slot machines like
he was a tape playing over the loud speaker.

“I've heard some tryouts might be going on at
Harrah's,” Elvis was anxious to tell Platinum. “You might give it a
try. If you can't find any information, ask the bartenders, they
know everything.”

News and gossip travels fast among the
underworld of entertainers trying to help each other out. Platinum
knew she didn't have time to waste.

Platinum immediately jumped up, hugging him,
“Thanks, Elvis, I'll check it out.” she said as she headed down the
street to Harrah's a few blocks away.

Platinum went straight to the business office
of the casino. Sure enough no one seemed to know a thing about
showgirl tryouts. She asked the nearest bartender if he knew
anything about tryouts like Elvis had told her to do if she wanted
information. Elvis was right. The bartender suggested she checkout
the bulletin board in the woman's restroom. Sure enough, she found
a bulletin board in the woman's bathroom that was having a cattle
call for all “wannabe” showgirls tomorrow morning. Finally, she got
her first break.

By the next day, Platinum was in her skin
tight leotard at the showgirl studio of Harrah’s with a bevy of
other hopefuls. The spots were limited. She observed that all the
hopeful young woman seem to come from all walks of life – educated
and not, wholesome middle class families and not, married and not,
worldly and not, but all young, beautiful and wishful women. They
shared a common denominator of the same dreams of excitement,
enthusiasm, and adventure to the alluring thrill of what they
imagined the city that never sleeps had to offer. Little did they
realize that the city was built on shifting quick sand and was much
too superficial and unreliable to ever build a dream upon – even
little ones.

Platinum was one of the lucky ones or so she
thought. She got one of the opening spots. She was given three days
to be trained the walk and dance routine with 8 lbs. of heavy
costume head and ten pounds of costume body, which was totally
inconceivable since it contained so little material. It was a good
thing she was a quick learner, but she was beginning to wonder if
she were being trained for desert commando as she strutted under
the hot lights wearing heavy armory disguised in sequins, stays,
and iron straps making the girls' boobs stand up and look
perky.

Platinum only saw Elvis a few times after
that last afternoon. He died a few months later. They said it was a
heart attack – ate too much, needed to lose weight. By the time she
found out about his death, she'd missed his funeral. She never knew
his real name. It made her sad. It truly would have broken her
heart if she'd known he had died because he was her friend…..

Here’s the link to instantly
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“Platinum and Pearls”
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About the Author

Suellen received a degree in teaching
with a minor in speech and English. She has taught grades 1-12. She
is married and the mother of a boy and girl. Suellen's artistic
talents can be found in the book,
Cow
Parade Kansas City
under "Miss Liberty Moomorial". She
shares the same revolutionary ancestor, Captain David Bowles, with
Barack Obama.