A/N: Sorry this chapter has a lot of songs...it just seemed appropriate. Like I said, this was just for fun.
Politics and Poinsettias
"Oh Marcello!" Sadie sighed placing a slab of cold meat over his eye.
"AHH! OW!" gasped Marcello as he and Erik sat in the Lowenstein kitchen later that night. Katie came in fuming,
"You two are lucky the police didn't come! And that I didn't lose me another job or you'd be getting a match to them shiners you picked up!" Erik sighed and winced as he touched his split lip,
"No I'm rather lucky Nora is playing at Izzy's house and Mrs. Lowenstein is at temple...or I'd have two more mother hens pecking at me!"
"You'll still have to explain to her why you and Katie missed dinner...By the way Erik, she saved you a plate...it's keeping warm in the stove..." Sadie told her.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Erik asked. But then Katie reached up for his mask,
"Oh...you've got a cut under there...how the devil did it manage to..." In a flash he grabbed her wrist, much to his companions surprise.
"Don't..." he whispered. Looking him square in the eye,
"Mr. North, just cause I'm a lady, don't mean I can't tan your hide! I wouldn't be a good Irish if I couldn't!" Defeated, Erik released her and she in turn gently pulled off the mask. Sadie only widened her eyes at the sight and Marcello stood leading her out saying,
"We don't all need to be in here...Come Sadie." Katie put the mask on the table and told Erik,
"I'm goin' to wet a rag...Take that rug off your head." Katie turned to the sink and pumped some water out. She turned back to find Erik with his head ducked and his natural thin brown hair falling into his eyes. She shook her head and took his face in her hand wiping off the dried blood,
"Ye may have the temper of an Irishman, Erik North, but you've got the disposition of a beaten down puppy."
"Can you blame me?" he asked. She shrugged,
"Maybe...it'd help if I knew the story behind the mask."
"You aren't frightened of my face...aren't you?" he asked her.
"No...it takes more than a wee deformity to frighten me. So how'd it happen?" she asked. Surprised, Erik told her,
"I was born this way...my own mother couldn't tolerate me...she sold me to a gypsy camp. They locked me up...made me a part of their side show...'the Devil's Child' they called me...I managed to run away...but I still have nightmares...sometimes flashbacks."
"Mmm! Jesus, Mary and Joseph...I'm so sorry Mr. North." Katie replied shaking her head. Annoyed, Erik said,
"I don't need your pity! Or...your formality!" Seeing the hint of amusement in his eye, Katie smiled and said,
"Alright then...Erik...I see some bruises peeking through your shirt. Let me take a look." Suddenly feeling shy, Erik stood and said,
"I'm sure it's fine." Pulling his shirt out of his pants, Katie said,
"Blarney! It won't take but a moment..." But as she pulled his shirt over his head, she was taken aback at his broad chest with finely chiseled muscles. Clearing the lump in her throat, Katie handed him his shirt and said,
"Don't look too bad...um...you...you can probably treat it yourself...Call me if you need anything."
"Certainly." he said noticing a blush on her cheeks as she left the room. That flush to her made her look radiant, and Erik could hardly think of nothing else.
Sadie and Katie shared a room in the Lowenstein boarding house. And Katie often had to endure a per-bedtime lecture about women's rights. But tonight, the topic turned elsewhere as the two got ready for bed.
"I can't believe Erik believes that one part of his face is so terrible. He must have crossed paths with some very cruel people that made him think that way. It's not even so bad once you look at it long enough." Sadie said buttoning her nightgown up. Brushing her hair, Katie sighed,
"Sadie...Erik doesn't wants to speak of it so neither should we." Sadie said knowingly,
"Oh, so it's Erik now? What happened to 'Mr. North'?" Crossing her legs and looking at her friend's face dryly, Katie replied,
"And what's that uppity tone suppose to mean?"
"Well...you do think Erik is handsome right?" Sadie asked.
"Aye..."
"And intelligent..." Sadie said.
"Aye."
"And sweet?"
"Certainly."
"And strong?" asked Sadie. Thinking back to Erik's magnificent physique, Katie mused more to herself,
"More than you know!" But Sadie caught on.
"What do you mean?" Katie went over to the door and checked the hallway before saying,
"Sadie...after you and Marcello left...I asked Erik to take his shirt off so I could check his bruises...Sadie...Far be it from me to think scandalous thoughts...but...Erik is built like a brick house...only far prettier..."
"Katherine Bridget Kilkenny! You tease!" Sadie said with her jaw to the floor.
"I should have never told you." Katie said drawing the covers back. Then Nora came in wrapped in a blanket and asking,
"Never should have told you what?" Hands on hips, Katie asked,
"And what are ye doin' out of bed? We have mass tomorrow!"
"I heard you two talkin'. Now what shouldn't you have told Sadie?" Nora demanded. Katie remained mute, but Sadie answered,
"Her feelings for Erik." Looking at her with shock, Katie protested,
"You're daft! I don't have feeling's for Erik!"
"She's callin' him Erik now?" Nora asked.
"Let's just get to bed!" Katie replied going to wash her face.
"Are you going to join me and Erik tomorrow for the march?" Sadie asked.
"If we get out of church on time!" said Katie before Nora could make any promises.
"Goodnight Katie! Goodnight Sadie!" Nora sighed hugging them both before leaving. Katie and Sadie tucked themselves in and Sadie replied blowing out the light,
"You know...Erik is an amazing man. Not many men like him would stand up for women's rights. Wonder what else there is to him? Besides a solid pair of shoulders, of course!" Frustrated, Katie took her pillow and began whacking a laughing Sadie repeatably.
The next day, Erik joined Sadie out in front of the house and took up signs declaring their message. Votes for Women. Only, such a message isn't as strong when only two people find themselves marching down the middle of Avenue A like Erik and Sadie did.
"Well...I guess it's just the two of us after all..." sighed Sadie disappointedly. Smiling at his companion, Erik told her,
"Still, I'm proud to march with you Sadie." Then they saw Mrs. Shaughnessy walking out of her door proudly and march straight over to them.
"I'm Miss-us Shaughnessy and I'm marchin' with you!" she told them coming to march beside Erik. Then Mrs. Brandenheim came over on Sadie's side and declared,
"I'm Miss-us Brandenheim and I'm joining you too." Erik watched in amazement as more and more women started to come march behind them. Sadie began to sing,
"It's time to stand up, step out, be counted and then--" She took Mrs. Brandenheim's apron off her and threw it up in the air,
"How about trying an apron-on all of the men!" Erik laughed and shook his head as he saw some of the barmaids, led by Katie's friend Mary come out of Foley with signs. Mary lifted her sign and cried,
"VOTES FOR WOMEN!"
"Now Mr. Brandenheim thinks how clever he is!
"But this-old-girl's got a brain that's equal to his!" Everyone began to sing,
"So remember our call-that everyone can recall and quote!
"It's time for every Miss and Missus to have a vote!" Suddenly, Erik caught a whiff of vanilla and spice. He turned to try to find the source of the smell only finding Katie coming by his side instead and saying with a businesslike tone,
"But beyond the vote, I mean men must acknowledge what we do in little ways every day! Wouldn't you agree...Erik?" Smiling at the beautiful woman, Erik replied,
"Absolutely."
"Erik! Wait for me!" Nora yelled running up to them.
"Come along Nora!" Erik cried as the girl came beside them while Sadie called out to women watching on the street,
"Join us! Join us! Come to union square! Stand up for your right to vote!" Giving her a hug around her shoulders, Erik told Nora,
"Isn't it marvelous when people speak up for themselves. And you know what, Nora?"
"What?" she asked.
"That's what's going to happen at Tavish Toys. Now Sadie was telling me about something called...'a work slowdown'...I think it just might do the trick." Erik explained.
"Will it get heat?" asked Nora.
"Only if we stick together, Sadie says." Erik replied. Hugging him around the waist, Nora said with a laugh,
"I'm with you Erik!" Then Marcello came up with a sign made from an umbrella with Katie saying to Erik,
"Well there's your sparin' partner Mr. Golden Gloves!"
"What are you doing here Marcello?" Sadie asked with a blush.
"I want you to have the vote Signorina, and all that your heart desires!" Marcello declared. Erik had to admit Marcello certainly had courage to say what he did. It was so ironic that Erik wanted his looks while Marcello had wanted Erik's persona. And that made Erik wonder if perhaps...just perhaps...he was attractive. He was brought out of his musings when someone passed him a part of a large banner that read 'VOTES FOR WOMEN'. He joined them in singing,
"We've planned our strategy and our plan is unfurled..." Erik sang out,
"For everyone-has-gifts of their own to offer the world!"
""So remember our call-that everyone can recall and quote!
"It's time for every Miss and Missus to have a vote!" Everyone sang out as they entered Union Square. Never had Erik seen such a large gathering of women. He suddenly felt very subconscious, as if they were all going to attack him and rip off his mask. But as he looked around, he noticed more men there supporting the cause like him and Marcello. That made him feel better, but he was also made mad by passing men shouting obscenities at the women or the press and well to do making snide remarks. Then, Sadie went up on stage representing Avenue A.
"Good afternoon everyone! I have something I must share with you. Yesterday, I thought no one cared about the cause. Then one kind, wonderful, handsome man showed me how the world could be. Where everyone can be treated like equals be they black, white, male or female. He encouraged me to try one more time to share the truth of our cause by stating it's simple purity...like the simple purity of an aria sung by a true prima diva who cares for her craft." Sadie said catching Erik's eye with a smile.
The rest of Sadie's speech was magnificent and when the rally was over, many were lingering over refreshments. Sadie was speaking to some reporters, Nora begged to stay and Marcello promised to bring her home. Leaving Erik and Katie to walk back together. They hesitated but once they started walking, Katie replied,
"I'm glad Nora and I went to early mass. I have to wonder if I'll ever see such a sight again." Erik shook his head,
"I certainly have never been among so many people."
"Wee bit unnervin' wasn't it?" Katie asked him.
"Extremely...You know, I haven't gotten the chance to truly take a look at the city. The architecture is...unlike any I every have seen! It's beautiful!" Erik replied.
"I've heard some people starting to say that's there's nothin' like Christmas in New York. I'm starting to agree with them!" Katie laughed. Erik tensed and said,
"Well...you are entitled to your opinion." Karlie looked at him,
"Don't you care for Christmas?"
"How can I care for something I've never had? Especially with no one to share it with?" Erik stated.
"Aye, that's true. You need people to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. After all He didn't just come to bring us closer to God, but to bring us closer altogether." Katie said. Erik stopped and looked at her,
"What do you mean?" Katie smiled as if it was obvious,
"Surely you know who Jesus Christ is?"
"Of course. He died on the Roman cross of torture and then raised from the dead three days later. He performed miracles and fed thousands, rebuking the leaders of the church..." Erik said sounding like a schoolmaster reciting the multiplication tables. Katie waved her arms and stopped him,
"Stop! Stop! Erik, you may know a lot about the Savior, but...do you know the story of His birth?"
"Not really. It never came up where I grew up." Erik admitted thinking back to how many operas he had listened to from the shadows of the house. Many mentioned Christ and his life, but...none about his birth. Katie looked around the storefronts, then took Erik's arm and dragged him over to a certain window for shoe repair. She pointed to the little display and specifically the craved wooden decoration in the center. It was of a stable with multiple animals. Three kings were kneeling besides two shepherds, and inside the stable was a woman and her husband, kneeling as well. And in the center, in a small wooden manager, was a tiny baby.
"Mary was His mother. And she was still a virgin when she gave birth to Him." Katie said. Erik looked at her with disbelief as she continued,
"Joseph was her new husband. Since Mary got pregnant before they were married, he almost backed out of the marriage. But the Lord sent him an angel tellin' him to marry his bride and name the baby Jesus, sayin' he was gonna be the Messiah. When it came time to have the babe, they had to go the the city of Bethlehem for a census. They had to stay at a stable, and that night, shepherds in the field were visited by a host of angels telling them of the birth of the Lord. They immediately went to find Baby Jesus, and later, Wise Men from the East followed a star to find Him. They gave him gold, frankincense and muir and worshiped Him as the Messiah. So you see Erik? The beginning is just as important as the end. Sometimes I wonder...Mary was a girl only a few years older than Nora. Could one so young, but so favored by God know...know how special He would become to the whole world?" Katie began to sing a simple lullaby, but it was so powerful, Erik remembered every word.
"Mary, did you know?
That your baby-boy -- will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know?
That your baby-boy -- will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby-boy -- has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know?
That your baby-boy -- will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know?
That your baby-boy -- will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know?
That your baby-boy-- has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You've kissed the face of God
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know?
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know?
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am"
Katie turned to Erik seeing tears in his eyes.
"That was beautiful..."
"Christmas just ain't a time people give each other gifts Erik. It's a time to remember the greatest gift of all. God's only Son." Katie said. Erik looked this amazing woman over. In the short time he had known her, she had broken down every wall he put up to guard his fragile heart. Now he was wondering was exactly he was guarding. Who was the man that the heart belonged to? Taking her arm, Erik said,
"Come. Mrs. Lowenstein must have supper waiting for us." She took his arm and they walked in silence for a few moments until Katie smiled in delight and pulled him across the street.
"Katie! What are you doing?"
"Erik look! I saw these last year but I didn't have the money to buy them! Aren't they beautiful?" Katie replied showing him a stand full of bright red star shaped flowers. But on closer inspection, Erik replied,
"I think I saw these in a book once. They're from Central America. A strange plant with leaves that turn red once a year."
"Ya mean...they aren't flowers?" Katie asked. But Erik detected with a smile her slight disappointed tone.
"No...but they're better because they last longer. They come back, year after year." Erik said. Katie shrugged and said fishing out her change purse,
"I suppose that's pretty good. Beg your pardon Sir! How much?" The man in layered and thin clothing said in a Spanish accent,
"One dollar, Senorita."
"A whole dollar!" cried Katie in horror.
"Si...poinsettias are hard to grow up here in the cold. " the man explained. Katie sighed and her shoulders slumped,
"Well at least I know what they're called now!" Finding himself unable to bear her disappointment's, Erik pulled his billfold out of his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a crisp new dollar bill saying,
"And now you have one."
"Oh no Erik! You don't have to spend your money on me!" Katie protested. Erik smiled,
"I have plenty more where that came from. I assure you." Taking the plant, Katie said,
"Well then let's get ourselves and our ponsetti home."
"Poinsettia!" Erik corrected with a chuckle.
"Right. I knew that!" Katie said as Erik walked her down Avenue A.
Later that night, Sadie was sent out shopping for her mother amongst the wheel carts, receiving words of praise from her neighbors.
"There she is! Brava Sadie!"
"Malzeltov Sadie! So...you gonna run for president now?" Sadie let out a giggle as she walked away while one said,
"Or even major of New York?" Then Sadie's smile faded when he heard,
"Signorina! Excusa! Sadie, one moment please..." Marcello said running to her side. Combing through the peppers, Sadie said,
"Oh, I'm very busy Marcello. I have to shop for my mother and get home."
"Yes, Christmas Eve, the policemen throw a big party. Everybody come...I was wondering Dear Sadie...if...you'd be there too." Marcello said nervously.
"I have more on my mind than parties." Sadie told him trying to walk off. Marcello followed saying with a smile,
"Yes, but if you dance as well as you march!" Looking him right in the eye, Sadie told him,
"Look Marcello...
A Girl with a drive...and a fellow with a dream...
Are like pickled herring with vanilla ice cream!
So as un-romantic as my word may seem...
We...don't go together at all...
My big loud mouth and your quiet ways...
Are like August evenings with December...days...
Or like corn beef and cabbage tossed with mayonnaise...
We don't go together at all..." She walked over to the gourds cart looking over things,
"We're...like...chicken soup...and a slice...of ham..." Marcello peeked his head thought the strands of garlic making Sadie laugh,
"We're...the big bad wolf!" Then her smile fell as he took her hand, "And the little...lamb...!" Taking her hand back, Sadie rushed off saying,
"Like...a picnic lunch..." She put her basket on a cart full of quilts, "...that's ruined by a sudden squall...We don't!" Marcello tapped her shoulder making her look behind her while he leaned on her basket saying,
"No, we don't" She whirled back around to him yelling,
"No, we don't go together at all!" Sadie grabbed her basket from under him. But Marcello saw a chance to be chivilrous by taking his coat off and rushing to place it over a puddle in her path.
"Like...an...overcoat...and a hot July..." he said gesturing her to continue. Instead, she looked at him dryly and handed him her basket. She picked up her skirts, stepped over the puddle, brushed off her skirts and took back her basket saying,
"Like...a bowl of borscht...and a pizza pie!" As she reached over for a pepper at one cart, Marcello told Sadie,
"Like...if I asked you..." He intercepted the pepper, causing their hands to touch. Sadie felt the spark as he looked into his pleading brown eyes and continued, "...to come to the policeman's ball..." Taking the pepper in a daze, Sadie said,
"We don't..."
"No, we don't..." Marcello agreed sadly before they both said,
"No, we don't go together at all!" Sadie walked off trying to tell herself not to fall for him while saying,
"An onion roll...and a Mayfair tea...
Like a march by Sussa in a minor key!" But she made the mistake at stopping at a flower stand. Marcello took a rose and waved it under her nose, satisfied she closed her eyes in longing,
"So forget all the magic that was meant to be..." He dropped the flower playfully and said not really meaning it, "We...don't go together at all!" They walked alongside each other as he 'explained',
"A stable boy and a suffragette...are about as peculiar as a pair can get..." They both stopped and looked on each other with longing,
"So it's oh such a pity that we even...met..." Then Sadie playfully put a flower in his mouth laughing,
"We...don't go together at all!" Marcello smiled as he followed her,
"But...I...like your spunk!" Sadie admitted,
"And I like your pride...!"
"So I'll still be there...Marching at your side...!" Marcello told her.
"So...I guess my friend...
We must admit the simple...fact...
That opposites..." Sadie said becoming locked in his gaze before the boarding house.
"Oh yes opposites...attract!" Marcello pointed to his cheek expecting a kiss. Sadie decided to go for it so she leaned in, only to have Marcello turn his head so that their lips met. When they pulled back, Marcello grabbed her hand and they rushed off down the sidewalk. Watching from above in the kitchen window, Erik sighed wishing he could be as lucky as his friend. Then he overheard Nora tell her father as he rushed to finish his dinner,
"But I haven't even told you about the rally yet or Sadie's speech or nothin'!" Putting on his cap and taking his coat from Nora, Mr. Kilkenny told her,
"I'll hear about it some other time. I've got to get going. Thank you." He stopped at the door seeing Nora's pout, "You know I'd like to stay with you Princess. But if I'm late, I'll be docked for sure. Good Evening Mr. North!" Erik nodded,
"Good evening!" Nora closed the door after her father and then went over to flop on the settee.
"Well...looks like it's just the two of us tonight. Mrs. Lowenstein's visiting the Widow Finkleburg, Sadie's with Marcello, and Katie's working at Foley's..." Erik winced realizing he had just brought the subject back up. He went on,
"All that walking...all those people gathered in the square...it was exhilerating wasn't it?" Nora smiled and looked up at him,
"I've never seen so many people in one place in all of my life. Certainly a good time." Seeing her sad face again, Erik stroked the top of her head saying,
"And I'm sure they'll be plenty of good times once your mother gets over from Ireland."
"Yeah..." Nora said trying to smile, but then she frowned and stormed into the dining room saying,
"Ah, who'm I'm kiddin'? I'll never see her again!" Following her, Erik said,
"Oh, of course you will Nora!"
"It's been over a year! She'd probably won't even recognize me!" Helping her take the dishes over to the kitchen sink, Erik asked,
"Well you remember what she looks like don't you?" Nora smiled and looked at him,
"Of course! She has red hair...sorta brown-red...like a penny...like me and Katie...She has freckles on her arms...and her cheeks...and two right up under her eye...She probably looks different now anyway!" Handing her a plate, Erik told her,
"She misses you just as you miss her. She thinks of you just as often...maybe even more."
"You think so?"
"Can you keep a secret Nora?" Erik asked her to which she nodded. He took her over to the window and pointed up to the night sky. "You know I was parted from my mother as a child. We never had a good relationship and I never saw her again...but that was mostly my fault. I had it in my power to find her but I didn't take the opportunity. Then one year, a very good friend of mine told me that whenever she missed her late husband, even when he was alive, she'd just look up at the night sky, and find their special star. And with every twinkle, she knew he was thinking of her. So...I took to picking out a star at night...thinking perhaps she was thinking of me. Then...one day, I saw her obituary in the paper. I went to our house in Boscherville...and I found the very priest who baptized me. He recognized me and let me in. There was an amazing sight. On every wall of the house...was a portrait of me. She apparently had taken up painting...every portrait was either of my limited childhood...or the childhood she imagined for me...if we had stayed together. She even drew what she thought I would look like as a man...even on my wedding day...So you see Nora...especially parted mothers think and miss their children." Nora looked up at the night sky and asked,
"You think my mother's thinking of me right now too?" Erik hugged her around the shoulders,
"I know she is Kiddo." Nora smiled and then looked down seeing the theater across the street.
"Oh Erik look! Ever seen the vaudeville show?"
"No...shall we buy a ticket?" Erik asked. Nora frowned,
"Are you kiddin'? They cost two bits!" Erik nodded. Until his account came through, he was on a fixed income. Then the corner of his lips turned up in a smile as he said,
"Come on!" He took Nora across the street, unknowingly watched by Katie who had just come out of Foley's for the night. She frowned as she saw Erik led her little sister into a metal grate of the theater.
Inside the theater, Nora was amazed at how Erik had seemed to turn them into shadows. They crept their way up to the catwalks looking down at the performers below. Nora observed how his black shoes which usually click with the weight of his massive frame were almost silent in the darkness.
"Hey...how'd you do that?" she whispered. Erik smiled and whispered back,
"I know my way around theaters!" Then he watched the performers seeing they were scantily clad dancing girls. For the sake of his manly instincts and Nora's virtue, Erik was about to suggest they leave, when Nora said,
"Oh...ain't they somethin'!" Staying for her amusement, Erik admitted,
"Well...they are a rare talent!" Then the act ended and the girls were replaced by a man in a loud bowler and a woman with a feather boa and hat, a parrot on her arm. They began to whistle and Nora gasped,
"Oh Maud and Claude! I've seen them on the streets and singing to promote the show a million times!"
"And now you can see them on the stage!" Erik chuckled quietly. A voice whispered behind them,
"Over...my cold...dead...body you are!" Erik whirled around catching Katie's glare piecing into his eyes. He was more than taken aback. No one follows the Phantom of the Opera in the shadows!
"What are you doing here?" he asked stunned. Taking Nora by the hand, Katie whispered to him,
"You're not going to stop until you have all of us thrown in prison for Christmas are you, Mr. North?"
"I meant no harm...she just wanted to see the show..." Erik tried to explain.
"Then save the money and buy a ticket another day! Come along Nora!" Katie said.
"Ahh! Just a few more minutes I've never seen it before!" Nora pleaded.
"Lord you've got moxy Nora..." Katie started. Erik's finely tuned ears detected a sound and he pulled them into a small alcove hissing,
"Quiet!" Two house detectives passed by on their rounds. Nora was crammed between Erik and Katie in their hiding place. As she watched the men go on, she whispered in the darkness,
"I think they're gone! Erik? Katie?" But she only smiled when she saw the two with their faces close and their eyes locked in an questioning staring contest. Then Erik squared his shoulders, his voice only cracking a little as he said,
"Come...let's get out of here..." Once outside the theater, Erik told Katie,
"You know...you must learn to take some risks..."
"Me taking risks? Try turning the looking glass on yourself Mr. North! You take far too many risks! Don't you realize that you just don't endanger your friends like that?" Katie told him as they stopped in an alley by the stage door. Erik's jaw tensed,
"I've never had friends before...well...not many!" Guiltly, Katie looked to Nora who was giving her a stern look that said, 'Now you've done it!' Katie sighed,
"Ah, I'm sorry Erik!You know I'll gladly call on your aid anytime right? And know that you can call on mine!" He furrowed his brow,
"Why?" She took his hand,
"Because that's what friend's do, Erik." Erik was once again getting lost in her deep brown eyes when Nora called out,
"Hey! Lookit! Will you look at all this stuff!" They saw Nora take off the sheets of two costume racks. Erik and Katie joined her in looking through the racks called by the glitter and gold and bold colors. Katie eyed Erik then with a wink to Nora whistled,
"Whoo-ooo!" Nora replied,
"Whoo-ooo!" Erik smiled as they both went
"Whoo-oo-oo-ooo!"
"Whistle!" sang Katie throwing a feather boa around Nora.
"Whoo-ooo!" Nora whistled.
"When you feel that-no one is near!" sang Katie as Nora replied,
"Whoo-oo-oo-ooo!"
"Whistle!" sang Katie finding a straw hat,
"Whoo-ooo!" sang Nora posing in front of a mirror. Katie placed the hat on her head,
"And you'll find me-standing right here!"
"Whoo-oo-oo-ooo!"
"Here to help smooth out the wrinkles,
here to make lonliness end." Katie sang while she, Nora and Erik combed through a trunk. Erik found a coat and helped Nora into it as Katie continued,
"It's do you a lot of good,
knowin' you got a good-friend!"
"And all you have to do is whistle..."
"Whoo-oo!" Erik picked out a black and gold outfit from the rack and held it in front of Katie while she sang,
"And you'll find me-holding your hand! When life-"
"Whoo-oo!"
"Doesn't go the- way that you planned!" She shook her head no and smiled at Erik.
"Whoo-ooo!" Nora whistled through the costume rack. Katie and Erik came over,
"Whatever rut you get stuck in-
you'll feel me pullin' you through!" Katie sang while she and Erik pulled Nora out with a feathered hat.
" And then and forevermore-you'll hear me whistlin' for you!" sang Katie as all three of them went behind the costume racks picking out various getups. Nora came out in a bowler and coat singing,
"Whistle! When you feel that-no one is near!" Erik came out in his shirt sleeves, a bright vest and a top hat and cane singing,
"Whistle! And you'll find me-standing right here!" Katie came from the middle dressed in a feather boa and hat singing,
"Here to help smooth out the wrinkles!"
"Here to make lonliness end." sang Erik spinning her around while Nora crossed in front of them,
"It'll do you a lot of good
knowin' you got a good-friend!" They all sang,
"Whatever rut you get stuck in-
you'll feel me pullin' you through!
And then and forevermore-
you'll hear me whistlin' for ..." That was the moment they stopped and saw the stage manager looking at them crossly. He cleared his throat and Nora whistled,
"Whoo-ooo!"
"Whoo-ooo!" Katie replied.
"Whoo-oo-oo-ooo!" whistled Erik as they rushed to put back the costumes.
"And all you have to do is whistle..." sang Erik to which Nora and Katie replied,
"Whoo-oo!"
"And you'll find me-holding your hand! When life-" sang Erik and Katie.
"Whoo-oo!" Nora whistled.
"Doesn't go the- way that you planned!" they all sang sitting innocently on the trunk watching him go back inside.
"Whoo-oo-oo-ooo!" When he was gone, they got up and sang again,
"Whatever rut you get stuck in-
you'll feel me pullin' you through!
And then and forevermore-
you'll hear me whistlin' for ..." Erik kneeled and Katie sat on his knee with Nora sitting on hers,
"Yoooouuuuu!"
"Whoo-oo!" whistled Erik.
"Whoo-oo!" Nora and Katie whistled back. And just as they all burst out laughing, they heard applause and they turned to see the chorus girls and Maud and Claude themselves cheering and clapping at the stage door. Erik marveled as all three of them took a bow, that all his life he wanted applause and he got it the moment he decided to have fun and be himself. Looking to Katie's laughing face, Erik smiled realizing that the more and more time he spent with this Irish woman, the more and more he felt like the man he was always meant to be.
That night, Katie was brushing her hair when Sadie came in followed by Nora. Sadie was grinning wildly as she said,
"So Katie...Nora tells me I wasn't the only one charmed by a handsome gentleman tonight."
"What the devil are you two baltharin' 'bout?"
"Oh come on Katie! Admit you fancy Erik so we can get to bed and have a sound sleep!" Nora said. Katie looked dryly at her expectant sister and friend and replied,
"If there's a prize for rotten judgement
I guess I've already won that
No man is worth the aggravation
That's ancient history, been there, done that!"
"Who'd'ya-think-you're-kiddin'?" asked Nora.
"He's-the-Earth-and-heaven-to-you!" said Sadie.
"Tryin'-to-keep-it-hidden!" Nora said.
"Honey-we-can-see-right-through-you!" said Sadie before Nora joined her in saying, "Girl-ya-can't-conceal-it We-know-how-ya-feel-and Who-you're-thinking-of!"
"No chance, no way. I won't say it, no, no!" Katie said getting up to put her clothes up.
"You swoon, you sigh! Why deny it, uh-oh!" said Sadie.
"It's too cliché, I won't say I'm in love!" Katie told them. Then she sighed and went on,
"I thought my heart had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My head is screaming get a grip, girl
Unless you're dying to cry your heart out!"
"You keep on denying Who you are and how you're feeling!" Sadie told her as Katie tried to find her hairbrush. Nora said,
"Katie, we're not buyin'! Kate, I saw ya hit the ceilin'!" Sadie took her by the shoulders,
"Face it like a grown-up! When ya gonna own up, that ya got-got-got it bad!" Shaking her off, Katie stated,
"No chance, now way! I won't say it, no, no!"
"Give up, give in! Check the grin you're in love!" Sadie told her.
"This scene won't play, I won't say I'm in love!" Katie replied.
"You're doin flips! Read our lips! You're in love!" Nora said to which Katie promptly pushed her out the room.
"You're way off base!
I won't say it!
Get off my case!
I won't say it!" Sadie shook her head as she and Katie pulled the covers of the bed back,
"Girl, don't be proud, It's O.K. you're in love!" They crawled into bed and Sadie turned down the lamp. The moonlight shown on Katie's poinsettia and Katie smiled and whispered in the darkness,
"Oh...At least out loud...I won't say I'm in...love..."