Chapter 3

Rachel and Kurt packed their clothes and gathered their few belongings, migrating to Greenwich Village on a crisp, cold December morning. Fall had not officially become winter, although the temperature indicated otherwise. Although the flat was small, it was pleasant and homey, with lots of natural light that almost compensated for the lack of space.

Kurt's friend Elliot Gilbert was a tall, good looking man, definitely more flamboyant than Kurt. He was a kind person with merry, twinkling eyes and an infectious laugh. He was also a talented musician; there was an old but well-maintained upright piano in one corner that Rachel's fingers fairly itched to play. She and Kurt were given the bigger of the two rooms since they were sharing, and they were both resolute in their desire to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

Elliot worked as a female impersonator in a club in the Village called "Madam Satan's", owned and run by one Santana Lopez, a beautiful if hard-boiled dame with a definite Sapphic side. It was previously a speakeasy, now a legitimate nightclub with the recent repeal of Prohibition. All of the wait staff, as well as the entertainers were (as Elliot referred to them) "gay" men. Madam Satan's was the one venue where homosexuals could openly interact with each other (behave like couples) without fear of reprisal and heterosexuals went to feel scandalous and slightly dangerous.

Each of the entertainers there was expected to take on a "female" persona. Elliot's alter ego, "Starchild", was a lanky chanteuse who sang torch songs a la Helen Morgan and Ruth Etting. Although Elliot offered to help Kurt devise his own feminine guise, he graciously declined, having no interest in cross-dressing. Instead, Kurt found employment there as a waiter, which, although did not match his salary as a teacher, at least enabled him to bring home a steady (albeit small) income and thusly contribute his share of the rent and household expenses.

Rachel attended every "cattle call" she could find, hoping to catch her big break (or any break, for that matter) in the theater. Unfortunately, there were far more unemployed actresses and singers than there were opportunities. She was hired part-time as a piano accompanist for a local dance school, where pushy "stage mothers" paid hard-earned nickels and dimes in the hope that their minimally talented progeny might be transformed into the next Baby Rose Marie or Jackie Cooper.

She offered her services as a piano teacher to the local merchants, engaging in a barter system in lieu of cash. As a result of her enterprise, she was able to bring home fresh fruit and vegetables and, on occasion, a chicken (the local Kosher butcher had five children).

Rachel spoke with her father weekly but visited seldom, especially during the cold weather. As long as he believed that she was safe, he was contented. After all, he had left his family behind and moved to a new continent; having a daughter across town was minor in comparison and something that, if he wasn't overjoyed with the arrangement, he was certainly amenable to it.

Being an actively contributing member to her unconventional household enabled Rachel to visit her father for Passover with her head held high, and, as such, he remained in the dark about her struggles (as well as her roommates, whom he assumed were also female). He felt satisfied that she was taking care of herself and thus did not insist that she move back home.

Unfortunately for Rachel, her luck deteriorated as winter transitioned into spring. Parents preferred their children be outside in the fresh air rather than cooped up indoors, even at the expense of "culture". The dance studio presented its final recital and closed until September, and her students left their musical endeavors behind for more athletic pursuits. Rachel had no savings to fall back on any longer and, although she loved her father, she steadfastly refused to move back home.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and with a heavy heart Rachel visited a wig maker who specialized in sheitels. Although out of fashion, Rachel prided herself on her lustrous, waist length dark hair. Heartbroken as she was, she shed nary a tear as her chignon was unpinned and unbraided and her beautiful hair was shorn to the nape of her neck. She was paid well for her sacrifice, enough to get by for a few months, and she took some comfort in the thought that she would be able to continue paying her way rather than relying on the kindness of her roommates.

Rachel donned an old cloche to cover her choppy haircut, returning home early enough that both men had not yet left for work. Entering unnoticed was virtually impossible, seeing as Kurt and Elliot were chatting in the living room with full access to the front door.

"Rachel, take that monstrosity off your head," Kurt insisted. "Nobody's worn a cloche since 'Black Tuesday'!" Rachel ducked her head slightly, steeling herself for the catty remarks likely to follow her reveal, and she slowly removed the offending chapeau. She raised her head sadly, exposing her remaining hair to her astounded roommates.

"Oooh, Rachel!" Kurt cried out. "You poor dearie. Come to Uncle Kurt," he stood, reaching his arms out to her as she fell into him, her body wracked with sobs. "Poor baby," he tried to console her, "You've gone from Ann Harding to Buster Crabbe." Kurt's weak attempt at a joke only caused Rachel, who was by now inconsolable, to cry even harder.

Fortunately, Elliot knew exactly what to do: he took a couple of towels from the linen closet and some beautician's scissors from the medicine cabinet. He gently extricated Rachel from Kurt's arms, leading her to a kitchen chair and seating her down. "Come now, Rachel; let's make the best of the situation," he pragmatically announced. "A little trim here and there, and you'll have a chic new look."

Rachel's crying abated somewhat as Elliot worked his "magic" and, before too long, Rachel was sporting a short, sleek hairdo similar to an Eton cut. Elliot presented her with a hand mirror; after checking her appearance, she again burst into tears.

"Don't you like it?" he tentatively queried, touching her arm gently. "It's a nice haircut, Elliot; thank you," Rachel replied, "It's just not something I would ever choose for myself. It's so…boyish." Tears turned to giggles as she checked out her reflection. "Oh my gosh, I look like a 12-year-old boy," she acknowledged as she continued reviewing her appearance, moving the mirror to capture different angles.

"You do at that, my dear," Kurt admitted. "Without any makeup, you could definitely pass," he observed teasingly.

An idea suddenly occurred to Elliot, and he interjected, "Rachel, my kid brother Archie's suit is here; I picked it up from the tailor and he hasn't come for it, yet. You simply have to try it on."

"Don't be silly, Elliot; why would I want to wear your brother's suit?" Rachel countered, curiosity overtaking the despair in her expression.

"To see if you really do look like a 12-year-old boy or not, Rachel," he calmly replied. "Go on, what can it hurt?" he cajoled. Rachel thought about it momentarily, shrugged her shoulders, and acquiesced, "All right, where is it?"

Elliot bounded up, retrieving the garment from the closet nearest the front door. He handed it wordlessly to Rachel, who retrieved it, walking glumly into her room, closing the door after her. She emerged within 10 minutes, causing her roommates to break out in hysterical laughter.

"Oh, Rachel," Kurt gasped out between peals of laughter, "you should see yourself. Go in the bathroom and take a look," he instructed. She complied, entering their shared bathroom, turning on the light, and was dumbfounded by the reflection she found in the mirror.

Rachel didn't know whether to laugh or cry; she still felt herself on the inside, but the mirror reflected a very different picture, that of a young man wearing a suit that was just a bit too big for him. Just as Kurt and Elliot began to regain their composure, she walked out into the main living space, barefoot and dressed in the boy's shirt and suit, and their hysterical laughter kicked in anew. "I don't see what's so funny, boys," Rachel pouted. "I'm going to put back on my dress, though; this is a bit much for me." As she turned toward the bedroom, there was a knock at the door, and, out of habit, she answered it.

Author's Notes: Helen Morgan and Ruth Etting were famous singers of the era. Helen Morgan, the original "Julie LaVerne" in the first Broadway production of "Showboat", sang in speakeasies and nightclubs and appeared in several films, including "Showboat". Ruth Etting was another well-known performer, appearing in nightclubs, on stage, and on the radio. She introduced several songs that have escalated to "classic" status over the years, including "Ten Cents a Dance" and "Love Me or Leave Me".

Shirley Temple is not given as an example of a child star because this point in the story timeline takes place before she was well known, shortly before her breakout performance in "Stand Up and Cheer" (April 1934).

"Baby" Rose Marie was a prodigiously talented little girl who performed in Vaudeville, on the radio, and in a couple of movies. Today's audience will be more familiar with her as Rose Marie, a.k.a "Sally Rogers", the perennially single comedy writer on "The Dick VanDyke Show".

Jackie Cooper was one of the most famous child stars of the early talkie era. He played "Jackie" in the early "Our Gang" comedy shorts and appeared in many feature-length movies, including several with Wallace Beery, most notably "The Champ" and "Treasure Island". He successfully transitioned into teen and later, adult roles; in addition to directing; he may be best remembered by this generation as "Perry White" in the "Superman" films that starred Christopher Reeve.

A sheitel (pronounced shy-tell) is a wig that married Orthodox Jewish women wear as an act of modesty, concealing their "crowning glory" from all but their husbands.

"Black Tuesday" was the day the Stock Marked crashed: October 29, 1929.

Ann Harding was a well-known actress of the time, as famous for her talent and intelligence as she was for her long, blonde hair. The majority of actresses in the early 1930's wore their hair short, usually no longer than chin length, and she opted for a more classic chignon. Buster Crabbe (pronounced "crab") won a Gold Medal in the 1932 Olympic Games for swimming (400 meter freestyle), and shortly thereafter became an actor. He is most often remembered for portraying "Flash Gordon" in the movie serials in the mid-1930s.