When they got there, Elizabeth's eyes widened as she stared up at the giant sing above thed oor that had a lday wearing all purple and pink lyingon her side with IRVING HALL in huge letters.
" Welcome to one of the most famous theaters in all of Manhattan--at least to the street folks." Torn winked at her as they walked in the side door which lead to the back of the stage. " This way, I have to get dressed," Torn beckoned her as they walked past a vast array of sostumes ranging from horses to puppets and dresses, that to Elizabeth, looked like something a prostitute would wear.
"Come on," Torn tugged at Elizabeth as she stared threw the curtain watching one of the girls in a slinky red dress dance and twirl over a railing. " She doesn't like to have people watch her practice," Torn whispered taking notice to Elizabeth's curiosity. "That's Riley," she motioned her hand at the girl. " Now come on, I'm late I should be up next," Torn rushed her past a few other girls and suddeny spun around. " Athena, could you go on before me, I'm runnin' slightly behind." Torn mimed with her fingers, using her index finger and her thumb holding them a few inches apart.
" Sure, why not?" Athena replied with a smile and a shrug as she turned and headed away from the girls towards the ginat red velvet curtains. They turned towards a red door with a paper cut out of a star nailed to it. Torn opened the door with her left hand and brushed through, unbuttoning her top as she did so and pulling herself free from her blouse. Elizabeth shyly looked away and down at the contents that laid on an old broken vanity that was propped up by placing several pieces of wood up under it. Several vials of colored powder and a few pads of fluffy, almost cottony fabric laid next to them.
" Would you mind helping me?" torn questioned from the corner as Elizabeth looke up to see Torn trying to press up breasts up in her corset. " I just need you tp pull these strings in the back tight. See, normally Megan helps me with this, but you see, I'm late." Elizabeth walked over and wrapped her fingers aorund the laces and began to pull hard on them as her mother had done to her earlier that morning. " You can pull tighter, I need these babie to look bigger." Torn smiled through the pain as Elizabeth obeyed and put her knee up to the middle of Torn's back and pulled harder.
" What's going on in here?" a soft voice came from behind as Torn and Elizabeth turned, Elizabeth still holding tight to Torn's laces. " Athena walked out there before you and I thought maybe something was wrong." the same woman from the sign spoke, coming threw the door in a very tight yet flowing pink dress. " Oh, hello," she smiled warmly at Elizabeth, finally taking notice to her.
" Medda, I'm sorry. I was runnin' late, an' I met up with my old friend here, Elizabeth. She got lost in the city an' I had her come with me." Torn smiled as Medda nodded, and Torn went back into place for Elizabeth to finish lacing up her corset.
" Here dear," Medda cooed, taking the laces from Elizabeth's hands and taking them in her smal smooth ones. She pulled hard and sharply and Torn winced in pain. "That's all right," Medda said, pulling hard one last tine and tying off the strings. She pulled over a very thin short black dress and handed it to Torn.
" Thanks Medda," Torn smiled as Medda turned to Elizabeth to take a closer look at the new girl. " You have such a pretty face, and soft skin too," she said putting her hand up to Elizabeth's cheek. " Have you ever thought of performing?"
" Medda, I think she'd be better as a waitress for start," Torn stepped in, pulling her dress up over her chest and turning as Medda laced the back up for her. " I mean, I'm not sure how comfortable Elizabeth will be with it. I mean, she's just lost her family today at the train station. And she's from a weathly family," she added seeing the sympathetic look Medda was giving Elizabeth. Medda smiled and nodded.
" I think you're right, we could use another waitress. And, Elizabeth, you're free to stay at my Lodging House if you want with the rest of the girls," she smiled and headed towards the door. "Oh, and Torn, I'll send in Bailey to get her dressed," Medda smiled and bowed slightly and walked out the door shutting it behind her tightly. Elizabeth turned around, slightly confused and suddenly her mouth hit the floor as her eyes reached Torn.
" What are you wearing?" her eyes widened finally taking notice at how short Torn's dress actually was. Torn looked down adjusting an earring and brushed out the bottom of her dress which came down to her halves and had a long slit up the side.
" What?" Torn smiled. " Don't you like it? One of the girls made it for me. We wer going for racy,:" Torn gushed. " 'Sides, it draws customers." Torn winked. " And good tips. I'm the only brave one. Now if you'll wait here, Bailey should be along in a minute. I have to go rehearse." And with that Torn glided past her and out the door, closing Elizabeth in with her mind racing once again.