Read Haunting Melody for Free Online

apartment on Jane Street, and very briefly and
recently from East 12th Street - and the Twenty-First Century.
    Saree waved at me then clutched Briley’s arm.
Her voice floated across the stage. “Yeah, yeah. I’m butting in. I
don’t care. I like her.”
    Briley did not bother lowering his volume
either. I could hear every word. “Saree. Do I have to remind you
about the last article Clow printed about you? He called the Count
every name under the sun and said he’d been a black marketeer
during the war and called you a two-bit –– uh –– well anyway, I
should think you’d be a little more wary of strangers
backstage.”
    “Melody is no stranger. I like her. I have
this feeling about her. What’s meant to happen will happen. She’s
going to get in, and I, for one, am saying that’s swell.”
    She waved at me and yelled across the stage,
“Mel! I’m rooting for you!”
    Briley gave up trying to argue with the
exuberant blonde. I wanted to run to the wings and hug her. I
looked into the theatre house. The two men were still talking. I
was more than anxious waiting to hear whether I was really going to
be hired. I’d been thrown back over ninety years through time. I
was really, really scared. Yet I could soon end up on the stage of
the New Amsterdam Theatre performing in the Ziegfeld Follies.
    Finally Ned Wayburn came back up the stairs.
He strode to the middle of the stage.
    “Mary De Luca. Melody Flynn. Please be here
tomorrow at eight-thirty for costume measurements and dress
rehearsal. You will each be given specific understudy duties and
will also fill in during the Prohibition scene and the staircase
number. Again, everyone, I apologize for having such a late
audition, but it was necessary. Thank you for attending.”
    I was in! A real Follies Girl! The other
girls left. I stood alone, looking like a lost sheep. I had no idea
what to do next or where to go.
    Saree and Briley emerged from the wings.
Saree hugged me like we’d been friends for years. She reminded me
of Savanna with her humor and ability to let her emotions show
without fear of the consequences. I missed my best friend terribly
but was thrilled that this chorus girl seemed to want to fill in
for her.
    Saree’s grin lit the stage. “I knew you could
do it. Where did you learn to dance like that? You picked up those
steps so fast I thought Ned would ask you to teach everyone
else.”
    I answered, “Been taking classes down in
Memphis since I was four.”
    Briley handed me my Elvis carryall. “By the
way, you left this in the dressing room. I knew it was yours
because no one else would carry such a ridiculous piece of luggage.
Perhaps that’s why your imaginary thief didn’t steal it?”
    I silently took the bag, grateful he hadn’t
peeked in and seen some of the wonders of the next century, like my
ATM card with the dates clearly printed as to start and expiration.
And my new cell with the nine-gazillion apps. I wondered if roaming
charges could be levied due to time travel?
    Briley continued his little speech. “So,
you’re in the show. Congratulations. And just what report will you
give Steve Clow concerning today’s audition? That jealousy exists?
Perhaps you can spice it up in the usual Brevities fashion. Lie.
Say that hair-pulling and eye-scratching were part of the day’s
events as well.”
    I marched up to Briley until I was inches
from his face. For once I was glad I was six feet tall. I needed my
height to feel less intimidated by him.
    “Look, McShan. You obviously have one major
thick skull. Let me emphasize this. I never even heard of Mr. Clow
until you mentioned his name. And I don’t report my activities to
anyone. Now, get off my case.”
    An expression of confusion crossed Briley’s
face. “Case? What case? Since you supposedly were robbed, I don’t
see any luggage except for this absurd looking purse with some
man’s picture painted on it. Which I’m in no way sitting on.”
    “Lorda mercy, it’s just