"I'm going to be sick."
"You aren't going to be sick. It's just nerves," Andrew said calmly.
The past year since the strike has been leading up to this moment. Tonight was the night. The night I make my solo debut on Medda's stage was about to happen. Even though it would only be for a few weeks, there was a possibility of this continuing if it all went well.
That's a lot of pressure.
I was currently sitting in my new dressing room with Andrew. He was stroking my hand while I took deep breaths. I didn't want to move because I felt like a porcelain doll.
I had been here all day getting ready. Using the washroom here was a lot easier than trying to figure out a decent time to use the one at the lodgehouse where I still was living. Katherine had been waiting for me when I got out of the washroom. I had previously enlisted her to help with my hair and other girly things since she had more experience with stuff like that than I did. She started to put my hair in curlers and set out the makeup I would need later. Andrew came in with sandwiches for lunch. Jack popped in too to wish me luck on his way to the distribution office. Halfway through the morning Miss Medda came in with my costume. She had said that she would take care of the entire thing so I had no idea what the dress actually looked like.
"Here I am!" Miss Medda announced walking into the room. In her arms, there was a beautifully wrapped gold box.
Katherine was just finishing placing the last curler in place. She let out a big sigh. "Celia, you can move now," she said with a laugh.
I was so nervous that I could barely sit still.
Katherine collapsed in a chair nearby, complaining about how her feet hurt, while Medda passed me the box.
"This is a present, Celia. I will accept nothing in return," Miss Medda told me with a smile.
I nodded, looking at the gorgeous gold paper on the box. Someone had come in a few weeks ago to take measurements, but I haven't heard or seen anything about this since.
"What are you waiting for?" Katherine asked.
Both of the ladies were watching me expectantly.
I smiled sheepishly. "I don't want to ruin the paper!" I laughed.
"I'll open it for you," Katherine suggested and got up.
I hugged the box closer. "No!"
Katherine and Medda laughed.
"I can do it!" I tore off the paper carefully and opened the box. I gasped. "Oh my! It's beautiful!"
The dress was a soft peach color with a beaded bodice and tiered skirt. I gently touched the silky fabric.
"Miss Medda, this is perfect. Thank you!" I set the box on the ground and stood. I gave her a hug.
"Watch the hair!" Katherine squeaked.
Throughout the rest of the day, the dressing room began to be filled with flowers and other gifts. I had yet to open them.
The knock on the door brought me back into reality. "Come in!" I called.
Andrew squeezed my hand. The door opened, and a friendly stagehand named Ben walked in.
"Ready, Miss Aster?" he asked.
Aster isn't my real last name, but I couldn't really remember the other so I made one up. Most people used a stage name anyways.
I turned to Andrew and kissed him quickly. "See you after," I told him.
He nodded and nudged me towards the door.
I followed Ben though a maze of hallways to the stage and waited in the darkness of the wings.
Miss Medda was on stage finishing up her song. With a flourish of chimes, the song concluded. The crowd erupted in applause.
I noticed the balcony was the loudest area. I peeked around the curtain, and the newsboys had taken over the mezzanine. They would be the one making all the noise. I ducked in behind as the cheers diminished.
Miss Medda looked at me from the stage and nodded once.
I waved nervously.
"All right, everyone! Here to make her debut on my stage, give a wonderful welcome to Miss Celia Aster!" She announced.
I walked out into the bright lights, plaster a grin on my face.
Then it's over.
I don't even realize it until I'm walking back into the wings to loud applause. The rest of the show then flew by. The finale with Miss Medda was amazing, and it ended in a standing ovation. The thick red curtain fell as we took our final bow. The roses that I had received from a stagehand trembled in my shaking hands. I gave Medda once last hug before starting offstage then heard Medda yell behind me.
"Hey! You can't climb on the stage like that!"
I suddenly was tackled in a hug from behind.
"HEY CECE!" Race yelled in my ear.
"Don't call me that!" I said. I turned around to find the newsboys clogging up the wings.
"Great job!" They chorused.
The boys had cleaned up for this which was a nice sight. Davey and Les were also among the group. Their dad was sadly still out of work, but the newsboy business was booming so money wasn't completely scarce. Thankfully, they had been able to keep their house. Davey and Les were often found hanging out at the lodgehouse.
Les produced a bouquet of pink flowers from behind his back. "We got these for you!" he said happily. "They're called ca-car-" He trailed off looking at Davey.
"Carnations. You were wonderful tonight, Celia!" Davey told me, and Les handed me the flowers.
I went on to hug every single boy.
"I have to go change, but I'll see you back at the house!" I told them before hurrying off the stage to my dressing room.
Andrew was nowhere to be seen which was weird, but I brushed it off.
I took off my costume, handling it delicately. I wasn't that nice to the heels. I sat in my nice silk robe and started to pull the pins from my hair.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" I called.
The door opened, and Jack peeked in.
"Got two more hugs in ya?" He asked.
I got up and shrugged. "I think I can find some." I answered with a smile.
He and Katherine entered the room.
I hugged Katherine first.
"You looked so beautiful tonight!" She squealed.
"Only because of you! Thank you so much for helping and teaching me today."
She nodded.
I jumped on Jack with a hug. "I did it!" I exclaimed happily.
"It's easy once you get started, right? All you had to do was try!" he said setting me down, "We don't need no Santa Fe now. We got this place."
"Yeah, New York's got us for good!"