The title comes from jazz slang popular in the 1920s. A baby vamp being an attractive girl, the bearcat a fierce woman, the choice bit of calico a desirable woman, and a sheba is a girlfriend.

The Baby Vamp, the Bearcat, and a Choice Bit of Calico

Chapter Two: We're Going to Shimmy Shake (Velma)

After all this lollygagging around at two-bit clubs, we finally got into a place worthy of the talent that is Roxie and I.

But is Roxie appreciating the place? No. We're standing in front of The Royal Garden. The Royal Garden - one of the prime stops on the circuit, and she's looking over the dresses we'll wear. The owners have us booked for seven nights. Seven nights of everyone's favorite jazzkillers: Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly.

Chicago must be casting kittens to have two acts like us headlining.

And while I'm admiring the joint, my sheba over there's fawning over our new costumes. I got to hand it to her, though, they are appealing. Really the ritz. Roxie came through this time. She comes up with the ideas, the hooks. I work out the routine, the tricks, that get that audience going. We're a good team.

"Hey, Velma, we did it! We really did it, and geez, Jesus Mary Joseph, aren't these rags just glam? And look at this place!" Roxie's pulling me towards the door, so excited I think she's going to soak her panties.

Now that's more like it.