Chapter 17 A Night in Paris
Later that oncoming evening, Anya and Katya were spinning around with excitement. Anya's outfit required a frilly purple dress that cut off just above her knees. She also had on high heels as she and her friends were now in downtown Paris, leaving a Chanel shop on the Avenue De Montaine.
Katya was dressed in a light periwinkle dress, white pantyhose, blue shoes, a white belt with a matching necklace, and her hair was done in a half ponytail.
Dimitri and Vladimir were waiting for the two outside, also being dressed in fine attires. Dimitri was wearing a tuxedo, while Vladimir wore one as well.
Dimitri held his hand out for Anya, and she gladly took it. She and Katya then looked around with excitement as the citizens of Paris were boisterous with happiness.
An accordion player played musical instruments, and grinned at the sight of Dimitri holding Anya's hand. "Lovers!"
Dimitri and Anya laughed while a woman was selling flowers at her cart. "Look at that!" She pointed at them and smiled. "Ooh la la!"
Sophie bought a bouquet of roses, and smiled as she walked over to Dimitri, Anya, Katya, and Vladimir.
She then happily began to sing:
Welcome, my friends, to Paris,
Here, have a flower on me,
Forget where you're from,
You're in France, children come!
I'll show you the French joi de'vivre!
Sophie handed her friends each a flower, placing one of them on Vladimir's tuxedo before dancing around a bit.
Anya, who got two roses, put one of them on Dimitri's tuxedo.
The group then found themselves surrounded by the whole city in a flurry of song and dance, giving our friends a warm, Parisian welcome!
Paris holds the key to your heart,
And all of Paris plays a part!
"Good evening!" A passing couple greeted them.
Musicians: Just stroll two by two,
Flower Seller: Down what we call La Rue!
All: And soon, all Paris will be singing to you!
Ooh-la-la! Ooh-la-la!
Ooh-la-laaa!
One smooth-talking man named Maurice Chevalier took Sophie and gave her a dip. Then, he did the same to Anya who was passing by, and then did it to Katya.
Maurice Chevalier: Paris holds the l'amour,
Sigmund Freud: And not even Freud knows the cure!
An aviator in a plane then flew overhead the group.
Aviator in Plane: There's love in the air!
Josephine Baker gleefully danced by the group.
Josephine Baker: At the Follies-Bergere!
Pablo Picasso: Paris has it down to an art!
The artist then made a quick finishing touch to his newest painting, before turning it around to show everyone; a beautiful scenery of the city.
All: Paris holds the key to your heart!
Next, it wasn't too long before the group arrived at the Moulin Rouge. Sophie showed them inside to let them watch a show of dancing can-can dancers.
Sophie: When you're feeling blue,
Come to Le Moulin,
When your heart says, "Don't",
The French say, "Do"!
Can-Can Dancers: When you think you can't,
You'll find your can-can!
Everyone can can-can!
Sophie: You can can-can too!
All the can-can dancers cheered and began to dance flirtatiously onstage, while Anya and her friends watched.
Vladimir couldn't help himself, and got up to dance along with Sophie.
Dimitri and Anya exchanged a short glance at each other, with Katya giggling at the scene.
Vladimir hurried back over to invite Anya and Katya to join him, but Katya shook her head since she had something else planned later.
Anya nodded understandingly, and then went to join the fun, while Katya sat with Dimitri, who was lost in thought at Anya's answers to Sophie's questions earlier.
As he watched his friends take part in the fun, Dimitri held up a glass of wine, softly singing to himself.
Dimitri: Paris holds the key to her past,
Yes, Princess, I've found you at last,
No more pretend,
You'll be gone,
That's the end…
Everybody cheered and applauded.
Afterwards, Anya and her friends were soon inside an escalator of the Eiffel Tower. Sophie and the citizens of Paris continued to sing out loud, with the music and dancing becoming even livelier and exciting, especially down on the bright streets.
All: Paris holds the key to your heart!
Couturier: You'll be tres jolies, and so smart!
Isadora Duncan: Come and dance through the night,
Rodin: And forget all your woes,
Parisians: The city of lights,
Gertrude Stein: Where a rose is a rose,
Sophie: And no one ever knows,
All: What will start! Paris, holds the key…
While the others were distracted, Dimitri removed the rose that Anya put in his tuxedo. He looked at it, before slowly putting it away in his pocket.
Dimitri: To her…"
All: Heart!
Oh-la-la! Oh-la-la!
Everyone looked up and watched in awe at the fireworks shooting up in the sky. They all made Paris look like a city of love, lights, and wonder!
All of the friends then soon arrived at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, and Anya realized something with a little worry. "Has anyone seen Katya?" She asked.
"Oh, not to worry, dear!" Sophie assured with a smile. "She should be here any moment." She then turned around and pointed to something. "Look over there!" She pointed out a little makeshift stage not too far away, where some people were gathering.
Vladimir then came over to the stage, and began to announce the upcoming show. "Ladies and gentleman! This beautiful young lady has come all the way from Russia with a dream. For tonight, she wishes to perform to all of you, especially to a special set of friends of her's. Please welcome the Siberian rose, Miss Katya!"
Everyone clapped their hands as the curtains drew back, and a blue smoke bomb blew up on stage, revealing a regally dressed Katya. The girl had her hair down, and she was wearing an indigo dancing dress with puffy sleeves, a white scarf around her waist, gold earrings and a matching necklace with a blue pendant, an indigo headband with three white beads, white stockings, and black flats.
Katya stepped forward in style as she pulled out a tambourine and a transparent blue cloth with white speckles, and then she sang as she danced about.
Hey, soldier boy,
I see how you stare,
Hey, butcher man,
I see you admire,
Come, gather round,
Hey, Jacques and Pierre,
Come see me dance,
To the rhythm of the tambourine!
The chestnut-haired girl played her tambourine, twirled her cloth, and lifted her skirt up a bit as she kicked her ankles into the air.
"I never knew Katya could dance so good," Dimitri whispered to Anya with a surprised grin.
Flash of an ankle,
Flip of a skirt,
Feel them excite,
And flame and inspire,
Come, see me dance,
Hey, what can it hurt?
It's just a dance,
To the rhythm of the tambourine!
Katya then stepped fashionably and clapped her tambourine a bit as the crowd cheered and whistled for her. After that, she spun around in a circle a few times, letting her skirt go up to her knees with the momentum. Some men did wolf whistles, but Katya ignored them and kept dancing with a bright smile.
In the crowd, Dimitri, Vladimir, and Anya thought to themselves in song as they watched their friend.
Dimitri: This girl,who is she?
Vladimir: This girl, who is she?
Anya: This girl, who is she?
Vladimir: She dances like the Devil, himself!
Dimitri: She dances like an angel!
Anya: An angel!
Vladimir: But with such fire!
Dimitri: Such fire!
Anya, Dimitri, and Vladimir: Who is she?
Their thoughts were interrupted when Katya kept singing and twirling her cloth in the air. She then skipped off the stage to dance around a lamppost for a few moments, but then she leaped back onto the stage, and smiled at the crowd, giving a wink to her friends in the audience.
Katya: Men of Paris!
Before we grow old,
Come feel the heat,
Come taste the desire,
Feel them within you,
Crimson and gold,
Gold like the coins,
You will toss into my tambourine,
When I dance to the rhythm of the tambourine!
Katya stood up and bowed gracefully as everyone, especially Anya, Dimitri, Sophie, and Vladimir, applauded with great delight. Some people even tossed flowers to Katya, while others tossed some coins.
"Khorosho," Sophie grinned to her friends. "Come now. We must gather our dancing star so that we can get ready for the ballet, no?"
Onstage, Katya gave one more bow as the people in the crowd left, and then she started picking up her flowers and coins, ready to rejoin her friends.
Author's Note: The song "Rhythm of the Tambourine" is from Disney's Broadway adaptation of The Hunckback of Notre Dame ((c) Disney)
Two songs in one chapter! I decided to have Katya sing "Rhythm of the Tambourine" from the Hunckback of Notre Dame musical because believe it or not, Esmerelda was one of Katya's insperations and later on in my story, I might have Katya give a justice speech similer to what Esmerelda did. Please give me feedback or review.