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The Girl in the Limousine

By: amicus



It was a good morning; a very good morning. I even got a cocktail along with the free lunch. I made my way back to the studio complex in high spirits and parked in a spot reserved for me personally. Things were going well.

About a dozen people including the General Manager, two other on-air employees and three secretaries suddenly went quiet and stared at me as I whistled, smiling into the office with my briefcase held high. I closed my mouth that was open to proclaim a sale and blinked at the somber attitude of those staring at me.

The manager wiggled an index finger at me in a, 'follow me', gesture. I did, into his office.

"How do you come to know Miss -------- ----------?"

I recognized the name of a currently very popular starlet from Hollywood, former child actress who successfully transitioned into the young adult world. I shook my head. "I don't."

"Her people called this morning. They want you to escort her around town. We've made arrangements. You don't know her?"

I shook my head again. "She is a talented actress and a lovely young woman and I would love to tell you I know her; I don't, no idea."

"You have a decent suit? Most of your clothes are out of date. We have arranged a fitting for you. I need to make a call."

I plopped down in the comfortable chair before his desk and lit a smoke and wished I had ordered another cocktail before I left the lunch. "By the way, there's twenty grand worth of paper over the next six months."

He just smiled, nodded, said, "Okay..." took the envelope and dropped it on his desk and started making phone calls and bringing people into the office.

I'm not a bad looking guy, tall, tanned, dark hair; I clean up nice enough to be presentable I guess. And I had escorted pretty young things before, but usually local talent, singers, VIP visitors that held some importance to a sponsor of the radio station. Not often, but several times. Usually not a very pleasant obligation but it went with the drama of the entertainment world, part of the dues one paid for being popular.

I do a daytime talk show and an evening Jazz program and a weekly appearance on television. So I was well known and recognized among some circles but by no means famous enough to measure up to a Hollywood Star. The closest thing was escorting a former Miss Canada to a film opening. I let her drive my little '57 Bird, which was a mistake, she loved speed.

"You got copy for the new spots?"

I reached into the brief case and pulled out a yellow legal pad. "Just some rough ideas. Was gonna work it up tonight."

"We'll fix it up, give it a music back; you can voice it later."

Out the door, down the steps and into a black Limo I went, shaking my head all the way.

I got shaved and trimmed down to my nose hairs and a make-up job along with a fitting and an entire new outfit in less than an hour. I had the feeling a really crazy day was about to get crazier.

There were multiple telephone calls and people rushing about. I felt caught up in a whirlwind being pulled this way and that as I was hustled back into the Limousine, all with a sense of urgency.

"They decided, if you are ready, they want you for a Super Market Grand Opening. We might just be almost on time!"

We pulled into a parking lot filled with milling people, banners, TV cameras, sound trucks and lighting all ready set up and waiting. As soon as we pulled in a White Limo pulled close in behind us and the chauffeur handed me out of the back seat and adjusted my clothing, then led me towards the other huge car.

I went virtually unnoticed. The door of the other Limo opened and there she was and the crowd cheered and surged forward. There was some confusion as her security people and those from the business coordinated the crowd and finally opened a lane to walk me over to her.

I have seen a few of her films; saw her on Television once or twice and saw her posters and photo's, none of them did justice to the real person before me. She glowed and pulsed with an almost alien attraction that even I fell into.

Until I looked into her eyes and saw the familiar glaze of a public face, an actress giving a performance, doing a job. I knew that look.

I received the same electric smile as everyone else did, but she reached out and placed her hand on my arm and we walked together down the red carpet to a staging area.

I put my public face on and smiled and nodded and appeared to be completely fascinated by her; not a great deal of pretense involved, I was taken by her presence and her confident manner as she took complete control of the situation. Amazing!

The cameras rolled the microphones moved. She shook a hand, then another, cut a ribbon, kissed a baby, hugged an old woman, smiled and waved goodbye as the crowd cheered loudly and a lane was cleared for us back to her Limousine.

Once we were inside she smiled and said thank you to me, but the glaze remained in her eyes as her make-up people worked her face and hair and then gave me a cursory glance and did minor adjustments to my appearance.

Then to a shopping Mall, a brand name store where she pretended to shop and made a show of it for the cameras, even pretending to seek my blushing approval on a piece of lingerie.

Then a huge Cathedral where she met the Bishop and kneeled and did the ritual. I looked real to me. I just stood aside. Then a University and a drama class. A short boiler plate encouragement that they too could make it in the world of entertainment with hard work and clean living. Yeah, sure.

Back to the Limo. This time she slumped in the seat, her head back, exhaustion and tension evident. She pushed the make-up person away.

"No. I need to lay down for a while. Arrange it!"

The make-up person moved to the front, the barrier between front and back went opaque and the car began moving again. Not a further word was spoken.

"I must seem like a real bitch to you. Thank you. You did fine as my escort. I am very grateful to you."

She kept her eyes closed as she spoke and did not turn her head in my direction.

I watched out the window as we pulled up behind a large hotel, were quickly surround by security people and she was whisked away. The Limo pulled into the underground garage and everyone got out.

I think they completely forgot me. I looked around and laughed. Checked my pocket, ah, good, at least I had plastic and some cash and ID. Someone had transferred the stuff from my old jacket to the new one and I hadn't thought to check before that moment.


I found an elevator, punched Lobby, found a sign that said 'Restaurant', ordered a coffee and mused about the afternoon.

I was on my third cup and third cigarette before I felt relaxed enough to look around and survey my surroundings.

"Miss -------- does not like the smell of cigarette smoke on her escorts clothing!"

A tall heavy black man in uniform stood behind me. "Tough shit!"

"I think you are done for the day."

"Fine! Fuck off!"

I sighed. Shit! Me and my mouth! That was my style on talk radio. Piss people off, get their attention, make them listen. It worked on the radio; not so well in real life.

I lit another smoke and considered my options; let the waitress refill my cup, now I needed to piss. Damn!

"Did you tell my person to, ah, 'Fuck off'?"

I was pretty sure it was her voice. Not certain, she hadn't spoken much. I turned around. It was her. The look on her face was not an angry glare, but an amused question.

"Yes, ma'am, I did. They left me in the parking lot."

"Oh! They didn't tell me that! I do apologize, that was rude and, ah, they should have..."

I gave her a big smile. "Can you join me?"

She blinked. "For a moment only. I would like you to stay with me the rest of day, if you will, please; I am sorry."

She returned the smile and it warmed to see a person behind those eyes and a real smile for a change.

"I don't need anymore coffee, but I want to stop at a men's room for a moment."

"I will wait and then show you to my room so we can get prettied up, okay?"

She did. Right outside the bathroom door but with security guards in evidence close by. Then to her suite of rooms and the make-up people, an apology and we were off again.

I knew something had changed when we got out again at the first of her appearances. She clung tighter to my arm and even walked close enough for some brief shoulder contact between us and her face seemed more animated and open.

Back in the Limo again, back seat, make-up person; "I'm glad you aren't the usual wimp; that you stood up to my people."

Her face was open, her eyes were bright and her smile was genuine, it was more than refreshing.

"I cursed myself afterwards, ma'am. I don't seem to know when to keep my mouth shut. I am honored to escort you, thank you for choosing me."

"I didn't. Sorry. But I have listened to your music show. I love your choice of music. I just asked someone to check you out. Guess you were acceptable."

I chuckled. "Everyone at the radio station elevated me to near Star status, they thought we were acquainted or something."

"Oh. Then something good came from it. Being famous is a drag. I can't ever just be alone, everything I do or say is being watched, even now, here in the car."

The make-up person colored and looked away.

She frowned and closed her eyes. "There are cameras going right now and they are recording everything that is said. It is really irritating, but I guess for my own good, I dunno, I try not to complain."

I was gaining respect for her every moment. "I think you handle it all very well. I love how you sweep through the crowds of people and seem to own them with a smile. I am very impressed and I repeat, honored to just be near you."

She gave me a very strange and long look and even reached out and touched my arm.

Then we were off again with more quick stops and quick appearances. I could feel her actually hanging on to me for support as we went from venue to venue and even for me, it all began to blur together.

She was visibly tiring after the last stop. She spoke from the back seat, addressing someone somewhere.

A voice came back. "A theatre for an opening of your film, then three restaurants to sweep through, ma'am. Maybe a half hour more..."

She sighed and I saw the determination on her face.

"Let's do it!"

It went well. Better than well. She seemed to come alive in front of the theatre waving to the huge crowd gathered to see her film. She signed a few autographs as the doors opened and the people filed in.

Photographed holding a wine glass in a popular lounge; in front of the sign with the name of the chain hotel, and then beside a pool at another with a fur piece draped over her shoulders and then it was all done; back in the Limousine.

She slumped in the seat. "I'm exhausted..."

"You did great! Wonderful! Marvelous!"

She laughed. "Hey, I know song lyrics too!" She reached over and squeezed my arm. "You did great too and I don't even know your name, I should, I am sorry. Please call me Anna?"

"Thank you, Anna, I am Jeff, Jeff Norton and I am just another admiring fan from afar, I love your work."

She gave me another award winning smile and then her face changed. "Jeff, would you like to have dinner with me? It will have to be at a restaurant and I will be on display, but it is a little more private, people should leave us alone for a while, anyway."

"I'd love to, Anna. Ah, my people said they would 'arrange things' but I usually do a show in a couple hours. Do you think I might use a car phone?"

"Sure, no problem."

I looked at her again. "Do you have a preference for somewhere to eat? There is one I usually go to, I know the people there and the food is very good."

"Good, yes. Let's try that. I wanted some local scenery anyway, not the typical tourist thing, great!"

The radio station would run a tape of an old show; the restaurant was more than pleased to make a reservation for Her and the sun had finally set as evening arrived.

We stopped at the hotel for her to freshen up; I almost didn't recognize her as in complete seclusion she came back into the Limo with a flowered puffy skirt, a low cut blouse and a blonde wig.

She saw the look on my face and tittered at me. "Sometimes I get away with this and no one notices me. Ahm... do you like blondes?"

I laughed and then frowned. "On you, anything looks good, Anna, but damn it, I didn't think, I told the restaurant who you were, I am sorry, I should have thought."

"Hey!" She sparkled. "It's publicity, for both of us, can't knock that!"

I smiled. She was a diplomat too and I liked her even more. Sighs...what's not to like?

She scooted closer to me in the back of the Limo, not quite touching, but closer than before. "That was a faraway look, Mr. Norton?"

I knew my face colored; I could feel the heat. I reached over and took her hand and pulled it to my mouth and lightly kissed the back of her hand. "You are a lovely young woman, Anna, and to discover a real person behind all that beauty is almost breathtaking, I think I am a little in awe, but very happy to be with you. Thank you again."

Her eyes sparkled in the dim interior light of the Limo and the flashing lights that went by. She pulled her hand slowly back, dragging mine with it to her mouth and softly kissed the back of my hand. 

"I think that is the nicest thing anyone has said to me in years, Jeff, I'm all teared up."

She gently returned my hand to me and sat quiet for a long moment.

"Even my parents treat me like a Movie Star. Untouchable, unreachable, it is so strange. Sometimes I am so lonely for a real person just to be with, I want to be someone else."

I was at a loss for words. I knew she was here, in Honolulu, for a quick promotional tour and then on to a dozen other cities for film openings and to keep her name and face before an always fickle public. I knew I was nothing more than a brief moment, soon to be forgotten.

"I'm sorry. Just feeling sorry for myself. I have no reason to do that. Everything is wonderful for me and I know it. Let's just try to enjoy the dinner and this evening. No more sad talk, I promise!"

I had to turn away and clench my fists. I wanted to crush her to me and offer any and everything I could. I also believed what she said about the cameras and the microphones in the car. They would have me on my knees out on the pavement if I even made a move towards her.

"What? I said that to cheer you up, silly man, and you went all quiet on me!"

"Can I tell you later?" I nodded at the barrier in front of us.

"Oh!" She blinked in understanding and leaned over and rested her head on my arm. "Don't forget, okay?"

"I won't." But I would try to.

I don't know how they arranged it, but her security people were at the restaurant when we got there. I had began to recognize them after several stops when they appeared as if by magic.

Restaurant and hotel staff who were usually very good about security and anonymity, were so excited at her presence that I could feel and sense them as she felt it and swept into the foyer with a theatrical flair which made them all smile and almost bow. God, she was so good.

I didn't deserve to be within a mile of her, yet here I was, with her on my arm, basking in the glow of her existence; what an amazing experience!

"Usual table, Mr. Norton, ah ma'am?"

"Unless you have something more secluded. The lady would like some privacy; can you arrange that?" My voice had an edge to it, not sure just where it came from.

"Oh, yes sir! Ma'am. Very private, but, ah Mr. Norton, still fairly close to the bandstand?"

That was part of my radio show. To listen to and comment on every new jazz group that performed here and at several other places. It was what supported my program.

I just nodded.

"What was that all about?"

I smiled. "This place and several more, pay the freight on my music show; I critique the new groups, talk about them, people come in, spend money..."

She smiled, then smiled again, even wider and squeezed my arm. "You are always on display too! I am happy to be with you, maybe they will pay you better?"

She liked the restaurants décor. As native Hawaiian as possible, greenery and flowers everywhere, fishing nets, running water, water falls, birds, big ones in cages, authentic Hawaiian dress and costumes. Everything catered to the tourists, the lifeblood of the Islands.

It wasn't my usual table, even more secluded but still fairly close to where the music would play and the small dance floor. I nodded and everyone seemed pleased.

We were seated and ordered drinks.

"Do you mind?" I held up a package of cigarettes.

She smiled and looked around. "To hell with it! I'll have one with you!"

"There are cameras here too?"

She looked down. "There always are."

"Then...don't ruin your image. I don't have to smoke."

She gave me another strange and long look before she spoke. "Okay, I won't smoke...but I want you to, I don't really hate the smell and I even ordered a drink with alcohol. They will either cover that up or water it down at the bar."

"Can you ever escape from all of this?"

"Not really."

"Oh."

A Waiter appeared. "Shrimp cocktail?"

She smiled and nodded.

They brought bread and little square patties of butter.

She took a sip of her drink. "They watered it."

I smiled. "We called it, 'tinkled', people buy me dozens of drinks every night when I come in. The bar charges the usual price, they serve tea or lemon juice; they make money, I never get tipsy."

She smiled and took a deep breath. "It's nice to know someone else knows the game..."

The shrimp cocktail and dinner menu arrived at the same time. The waiter hovered nearby.

She flipped through menu once and then again and sighed.

"What?"

"Oh, it's a nice menu, all the usual things, some specialties, but....I want...ah, I don't want to be...."

"Name it! If I have to have someone go out to another restaurant, we'll get it for you!"

"You sure?"

"Yup!"

She smiled. "I want a huge, what they call, 'hot roast beef sandwich', with thin slices of roast beef on bread, drowned in brown gravy and a lot of mashed potatoes with more gravy and a big gob of cottage cheese, that can be on the side! Can you do that?"


I signaled the waiter. "My usual lunch, heavy on the gravy, cottage cheese on the side, two of them."

"Yes, Mr. Norton, comin' right up!"

Her eyes were wide and her mouth open. "Your usual lunch!?"

I looked into her eyes. "Exactly the same as you ordered. I got a little chill!"

"Me too! You couldn't have known! No way you could have known!"

We just sat and stared at each other for a moment. Then she did something I didn't understand. She reached a hand up to her shoulder and looked around the room and then looked up and nodded and then back at me.

It took a minute. Then it sank in.

"You're wired!"

Her eyes went wide and her face red. She breathed in deep a couple times and her face went blank. "I'm always wired, Jeff. They insist."

At least she was being straight forward. "And the signal you gave?"

"You're too damned quick, Mr. Norton!"

Our dinners came at that moment and the rising aroma reminded me of how hungry I was.

Our conversation came to a halt as she seemed as famished as I was and we both concentrated on eating. She ate with gusto. Not a dainty picking, but big bites and napkins on chin and it was self evident that she enjoyed eating. So did I. She noticed that also.

We both finished or had enough at almost the same moment. She looked at me. "If you order orange sherbet, I am going to kick you, hard!"

The waiter smiled. "Lime sherbet, Mr. Norton?"

"Orange for the lady."

"Damn you!"

I had a big dumb grin on my face and a full belly and a beautiful woman across the table, it doesn't get any better than this. "I like you!"