You are just about to completely undo Jimmy’s coat when suddenly another knock comes from the door “Hey lovebird! Your acts up.” A look of annoyance spreads across your face as you get off Jimmy and turn to shout at the door “Oh just give us another a few minutes Jerry!”
“You can smooch all you like any other time, right now we’ve got dozens of drunk gangsters so get your canary butt out here.”
You roll your eyes and continue to look annoyed “Oh fine, I’m coming out.”
You then turn back and look at Jimmy with an apologetic look “Sorry, but I suppose the show must go on.” He tried to hide his disappointment, but it is fairly evident “No it’s fine. I’ll be watching from the lounge, we can chat afterwards.” He says giving a small smile.
“I’m waiting!” Jerry’s voice once again interrupt you, causing you to respond an annoyed sharp voice “Alright, alright I’m coming.”
Just before leaving you turn back and smile at Jimmy “I’ll be thinking of ya up there don’t you forget.” You then suddenly lean in and peck him on the lip “You luck” you say with a giggle.
That final interaction feels you with a new sense of confidence, evident in your stance and posture as you exit the room, string briskly pass Jerry, stopping only for him to give you directions, before continuing down the hall and onto backstage. Every step you take seems like what you’re suppose to do.
As you walk, your mind slowly returns to its confusion on what you are doing. ‘I was about to make love... with a guy.. a real cutie but still..’ as you think you suddenly notice for the first time that you’re now even thinking in a female voice.
‘This is getting out of hand.. is the doctor’s device doing this...? An error? An... maybe..’ a mild dizziness is still there, making prolonged ponderings difficult.
‘Maybe I should just skip this joint and work things other somewhere else...’ however suddenly that idea sounds absolutely abhorrent ‘No! I am a professional, I can’t just go skipping out on gigs because of a few pre-stage willies... wait...’ you don’t have time to clear your odd thoughts as suddenly a stage hand grabs your attention.
“Ah your the canary up next. Uh... what’s your name again doll face?”
Your doubts and confusion fade away as you give a swear smile and respond “Name’s Anna Graven baby” with a wink.
“Uh... alright then, you’re just in time.” You walk past him carrying yourself with the confidence expected of a professional. You patiently wait for them to introduce you to the speakeasy.
“She’s the fiery dame coming down to set our ears ablaze, please welcome her premiere performance in our little slice of heaven.” Seeing that as your cue, you slowly begin making your way into stage, swaying your hips and smiling at the audience, causing many hoots and howls at you from the drunk patrons.
You see Jimmy off sitting alone in the back of the room, he gives you a smile, filling you a giggly feeling, however you remain composed, reminding yourself you’re a professional.
You smile at the audience “Y’all really know how to make a gal blush. Now this song goes out to a certain fella, he knows who he is.” You give a wink to Jimmy causing much of the audience to hoot and how they again thinking it was intended for them, however Jimmy seems to have noticed it was for him.
A bit of the confusion and concern from before, wondering how exactly are you going to pull this off despite not being a singer. However these doubts are rapidly washed away by the confidences of a professional. You close your eyes and open your mouth as the words begin pouring out like second nature.
Years of musical training and natural talent flows through you as your heavenly voice ensures the assorted scum and villainy who had come for a night of booze and entertainment. And you were determined to give them that entertainment.
With music playing behind you and your angelic voice flowing out to the crowd, you pick up your microphone with a smile under your lips. You begin suggestively moving across the stage, swaying your hips to the beat of sound from the backup musicians, you singing becoming louder and dignified as you do.
The more you sing and sway on stage, brief flashes of events begin coming to you. That of a young girl with an inclination for music, or those of a young woman singing to similar crowds. Eariler these memories might have alarmed you but now they are fully welcomed as following each one your voice becomes even more clearer and divine and any doubts which managed to hang are washed away.
Time seems to flow like water as your songs go by, but eventually it’s time to wrap things up. Your voice slowly gets lower as you end your song, finally fiishint with a flirty wink to the crowd, and Jimmy.
You take some bows and blow some kisses once you’ve finished “Thank you, thank you, it was a pleasure singing to all you fine fellas” you say before making your way off stage. Once you leave the rest of the world is drowned out, you can barely hear the next act being introduced as a smile forms on your face.
After being paid your due and placing it into your purse, which you have retrieved from the makeup room, and putting on a coat you don’t remember coming in with her seems familiar nonetheless, you proceed to make your way back to the main room.
You step out with much more confidence then before. No longer are you an outsider and no longer does thus place seem unfamiliar. Places like these are your home, where you make your bread and butter.
‘These joints always have the best paying gigs a gal with my connections can get’ you think to yourself. Sure more upper class gatherings might pay better, but no senator or oil tycoon is going to hire some chick like you, local gangsters in the other hand? Those you can work with.
You can barely recall why you ever felt scared coming in here, these places are swell. You walk by the flirty drunk patrons, giving them token giggles and gentle brush offs. You think you can recall what you were worried about if you were to think of it long enough, but the sight of Jimmy gets you far more excited ideas.
Grinning you begin making your way over.