"Places, girls! Remember you don't get your paychecks until the curtain falls." Mr. Steichen shouted backstage. The Van Dames scurried from their dressing rooms and ran into the wings. "Rose, wait!"
"Yes?" Rose, who was all dressed up in her follies get-up, turned around to look at Mr. Steichen. "Is it about my paycheck."
"You could say that." Mr. Steichen said with a small smile. "Your solo costume is in your dressing room, and Mr. Van Damme feels like you are ready to do your solo. We did promise you a solo by June. Your quick change is after the third number."
"Oh, Mr. Steichen, thank you so much! I'll definitely be ready." Rose said with a smile before joining her fellow chorus girls backstage. Then, the musical cue the Van Dames we're all waiting for, and they all rushed to the stage.
Musical number after musical number. However, it was time for the third number. The second the music stopped, Rose ran into her dressing room and changed into her outfit. It was a beautiful, navy blue dress with a touch of risque.
Rose learned a beautiful lament from Mr. Steichen, who helped her improve her voice. It was melodramatic, dramatic, and showed Rose's voice. Mr. Van Damme wanted "not a single dry eye in the audience." Rose finished changing into her costume and made her way into the wings.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen! A truly special act, a bonafide Titanic survivor!" Mr. Lazzara shouted to the audience. He was the emcee who announced each act. "May I present to you, from the ice cold Atlantic... Rose Dawson!"
Rose stepped on stage. The orchestra started and she sang at her cue. She was resting her hand on a chaise lounge, and sang her feelings, moving her face and hands like an opera star. The lament was about leaving home, with many metaphorical and symbolic language related to ice cold water.
She hardly had to act. All she did was remember how the ice cold waters of the Atlantic reflected Jack's reflection and it was easy. After sustaining a perfect high note, and the orchestra subsided, there was a huge eruption of applause. However, Rose still had to dance as a Van Dame so she went to her dressing room to change.
The entire show that night was two hours long, and when the curtain closed on the stage, with the entire cast of the Van Dame Follies bowing. There were the Van Dames, the chorus girls, there were comedic slapstick duos, tap dancing soloists, the Flanagan Singing Sisters, a trio of redheaded singers, and many comedians.
However, just before the last glimpse of light from the house were blocked by the curtain, Rose saw a blond woman in the far back. It was Helga. Rose smiled, however, Mr. Van Damme approached her.
"Congratulations, Miss Titanic, you have been promoted from chorus girl to a soloist, you're also going to join the Flanagan sisters." Mr. Van Damme said with a smile. Rose's jaw dropped and her mouth morphed into a smile. "This promotion is reflected in your paycheck." Rose was silent, her eyes were widening. "Don't worry, you'll still be able to be a Van Dame. You're a redheaded singer who can dance, that's great for us."
Mr. Van Damme handed her an envelope, and Rose turned her head. Standing behind her were four redheaded women in spring green dresses. Rose recognized one of the girls who would dance with her as a Van Dame.
"Hello, Rose, my name is Kate Rhys, this is Violet, Mary, and Elizabeth. Only Violet and I are related. Also, Mary is also a Van Dame. Basically if you're a redhead who can sing you're a Flanagan Sister." One of the women said to Rose.
"So I'm a soloist, a Van Dame, and a Flanagan Sister." Rose said counting on her fingers. The four women smiled, and Mr. Van Damme nodded.
"Exactly, congratulations Rose, you're going to be a star!" Mr. Van Damme said with a large smile.
Rose changed into her street clothing, a dress donated to her from the WTU. Rose smiled when she remember that tonight was Friday and Tzipora was cooking chicken soup for Shabbat dinner. However, she remembered seeing Helga in the audience.
"Helga!" Rose exclaimed as Helga ran from the audience towards the exit door. Rose opened her arms and wrapped them around Helga.
"Rose, you are so good at that." Helga said as she squeezed Rose. A smiled creeped across the two women's faces as Helga gentled interlocked her hand with Rose. The two of them walked outside the theater, holding hands.
"You are very kind, Helga." Rose said. Then, Rose leaned her face closer to Helga and planted a kiss on Helga's forehead. Helga blushed and giggled as she squeezed Rose's hand even tighter. The warm, June night air filled their lungs. Helga began conversation when they were only a few blocks away from the apartment.
"Rose, something good happened." Helga said with a small smile as the girls began to walk towards Tzipora's apartment in Brooklyn.
"What is it?" Rose asked
"Tzipora went to protest today. I wanted to go, but I have baby." Helga said, placing her hand on her enlarged stomach. "At protest, a kind woman offered her a job to teach at school for children. However, she need to go to teachers' school to learn. If Tzipora go to school, she becomes teacher."
"That's wonderful. If she keeps that up, one day we might be able to vote." Rose said with a smile.
"I also think that." Helga said as the two of them were standing outside of the apartment. Helga then reached her head up to give Rose a kiss on her cheek. Rose blushed before knocking in and opening the door.
"Auntie Rose! Auntie Helga!" Cora exclaimed as she saw saw the two women walk through the door. Rose walked towards Tzipora, standing in the kitchen as Helga entertained Cora in conversation.
"Here you go." Rose said to Tzipora, who was pouring chicken soup into bowls.
"What is this?" Asked Tzipora as Rose handed her the envelope. Tzipora gasped when she opened it. "Rose... I can't take this money."
"I demand you take this money, if it weren't for you, Cora, Helga, and I never would've made it." Rose said with a small smile. "The four of us are family now. Helga's baby doesn't have a father, so I have to take care of her. Cora doesn't have parents, so now, she is my sister. Tzipora, you take care of me."
"Rose... this means I can afford to become a teacher. I can afford to leave the factory. I can afford to protest and strike." Tzipora said as tears welled into her eyes.