Still, the session ran without a hitch. Elmer, a fiddler, looked suave in his cowboy hat. The harmonica player, Al, was a dumpy man who showed them pictures of his children. The musicians seemed pleasant enough, and their demeanor soothed Drusie. Elmer and Al knew all the tunes Archie suggested, and after repeated practice, he deemed them harmonious enough to record. They were to play the song three times all the way through. Archie would make wax recordings of each set and decide later which was the best “take” to produce.
The sisters recorded an old ballad on one side and a gospel tune on the other.
“Good work! Like eggs in coffee.” Archie rubbed his palms together. “You’ll sound like a million bucks on the radio.”
“The radio!” Suddenly Drusie felt nervous. She hadn’t considered that people would be listening to them on the radio. All those faceless people sitting in front of boxes in their houses, playing music. What would they think of the NC Mountain Girls?
“Sure you’ll be on the radio. How else will people get to know your music? Except for touring, of course. And you’ll be singing on live radio, too. Our timing couldn’t be better. You’ll be joining our tour with the Country Bills and the Sweet Carolinas.” Archie looked triumphant.
Clara jumped up and down. “How excitin’!”
For the first time in memory, Drusie wished she had failed. If they hadn’t sounded good, then Archie would have sent them home. Against her will, Drusie remembered the other girls back home, with their covetous glances sent Gladdie’s way. Sure, he loved only Drusie, but in her absence, would they try awfully hard to convince him to change his mind? Swallowing, she wished more than ever she could go home.
Gladdie, what have I done?
Eight
A couple of days later, a caravan of cars met in front of Archie’s house to hit the road for the first leg of the tour. The three groups formed a show. They had scheduled performances at radio stations, high school auditoriums, and churches in North Carolina towns. Drusie could only hope she’d be traveling slowly enough to observe the scenery. At least the first day looked hopeful with crystal blue skies and clouds that reminded her of the cotton puffs she kept on her dresser at home.
After suitcases and musical equipment were loaded into automobile trunks, Archie introduced the sisters to the members of the other bands, people they hadn’t met during rehearsals. They had already met Al and Elmer, who would be playing backup for all of them. Homer, Orville, and Buford, the trio that called themselves the Country Bills, greeted them kindly but dismissed Clara and Drusie almost as soon as they were introduced. The two young women they approached afterward were a different story.
“June and Betty, I’d like you to meet Drusie and Clara.” Archie nodded toward a voluptuous woman whose hair was dyed almost white. “They’re part of the Sweet Carolinas.”
Clara stood close to Archie. A little too closely, apparently. Drusie saw June’s painted eyes shooting daggers at Clara, but Clara seemed too excited by the day’s promise to notice.
“How long will you be tourin’ with us, honey?” June asked Clara.
“As long as Archie says.” Clara gazed at Archie with the adoring look of a schoolgirl fawning over a favored teacher.
“I hope you can keep up,” June noted. “Archie works us all right hard. Don’t you, Archie?”
Drusie sensed that June was trying to get some hidden message across to Archie, but he didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t seem to notice much of anything except how to get them going with as much efficiency as possible. With such a businesslike demeanor, Archie hardly seemed intent on intrigue, romantic or otherwise. Drusie could only pray she had misinterpreted June’s hard attitude toward Clara.
❧
Several days later, the caravan had traveled deep into tobacco country, although the fields lay bare since the leaves had long since been harvested. They had already performed five nights, twice on Saturday, and that night they were scheduled to perform at the county high school and had stopped at a motel on Route 1 long enough to dress before heading out to the school.
“Clara, have you seen my necklace?” Drusie asked.
“What necklace?” Clara responded.
“The gold chain Gladdie gave me. You know, the one with the little heart pendant.”
“Oh, that. I don’t know how anybody can lose anything, with us bein’ more cramped than sardines in a tin.”
“At least in this cottage, we ain’t sharin’ walls with anybody else.”
Clara scrunched her nose. “True. In some of the places we stayed, I learned more than I ever wanted to about my band mates, hearin’ every conversation through the walls.” Combing her hair, she sighed. “I wish we was stayin’ in better places.”
“This ain’t as high on the hog as you imagined, huh?” Drusie rifled through the compartments in her suitcase for the umpteenth time, hoping she might have missed her necklace. “Well, we ain’t big stars that can waste money on highfalutin hotel rooms yet. Might never be.”
“I don’t know. People seem to like us right good. And Archie says he’s happy with us.” A dreamy look covered her expression. “Archie says after we finish up this tour, we might travel to even more places!”
“Imagine!” Drusie shut her suitcase. “I wonder where that necklace could be?” Her tone sounded as desperate as she felt.
“I don’t see how you lost it since you never take it off.”
“I do have to take it off when I bathe—and when we perform since it don’t go with them fancy dresses you and Archie picked out.”
Clara shrugged. “Maybe the clasp came open and you didn’t realize it fell off. I’m sure it’ll turn up.”
“I don’t see how I could have misplaced somethin’ that important.”
“There’s no time to look for it now. We’ve got to be at the automobile in ten minutes.” Clara set her comb in her purse and checked her reflection.
“You don’t need to stare at yourself in the mirror all the time. You always look good,” Drusie assured her.
Clara surveyed her sister. “You should look in the mirror more. Your lipstick is crooked.”
Drusie inspected herself. Indeed, one corner of her mouth did appear a bit higher than the other. “I hate this old face paint. I cain’t get used to it. And it feels so funny to have a coatin’ of stuff on my lips all the time.”
Clara laughed. “I kind of like it. This is the only time I can wear face paint without Pa callin’ me a harlot.”
“I don’t know how crazy he’d be about us wearin’ paint at all, even to sing. Maybe especially to sing. I wish Archie didn’t insist.”
“It’s just part of the business, Drusie.”
“I’ll be glad when this tour is over.”
“I won’t. I could go on like this forever.”
They heard a rap on the dressing room door before June entered. “Archie says we gotta get a move on if we want to start the show on time.”
“We’re almost ready.” Drusie decided to grab at the proverbial straw. “Hey, you ain’t seen my pendant necklace by chance, have you? The one I wear all the time?”
June’s gaze traveled to the hollow of Drusie’s neck. “Sure haven’t. You lost it?”
“Naw,” Clara quipped, “she’s just askin’ dumb questions to see who’ll give the smartest answer.”
“Now, Clara,” Drusie admonished her sister. As she turned her attention back to June, she saw her make a face at Clara but decided to ignore such schoolgirl antics. “I sure did lose it, and I’d be grateful if you could let me know if you see it anywhere. Can you ask Betty for me, too?”
“Sure thing. But right now, we’d better hustle unless we want Archie to dock our pay.” She shut the door behind her.
“She took your necklace! I just know it.” Clara snapped shut her compact.
“Oh, pshaw. I know you don’t like June since she’s got eyes for Archie—”
“So you noticed, huh?” Clara wrinkled her nose. “She hangs on to
him like a cheap suit, but he don’t pay her no mind.”
Drusie blew out a breath. “You ain’t here to make enemies. You’re here to sing. Try to remember that. And remember somethin’ else. Just because you don’t like her none don’t mean she’s a thief.”
“I know. I almost wish she was. Then Archie would have an excuse to kick her off the tour.”
“You don’t want that to happen. We’re not famous enough to be headliners yet. We ain’t able to fill an auditorium by ourselves.”
Clara sniffed. “Well, maybe I can put up with her, then. Someday I’ll be even more famous than her. I’m already prettier.”
Drusie would have admonished Clara if she didn’t know her sister well enough to realize she spoke at least partly in jest. She shook her head and watched Clara admire herself in the looking glass. She was definitely enjoying her newfound celebrity and the attention she gleaned from it. Watching Clara apply a fresh coat of red lip rouge, Drusie felt led to pray that Clara wouldn’t let fame carry her astray.
❧
The week drew to a close, but no break was in sight for the tour. To Drusie, it seemed Archie had booked them in every town and venue possible. They were getting well known, though, and Archie said their record sales were up.
That wasn’t all that was up. Drusie had caught Archie giving Clara a quick kiss on the lips, supposedly for good luck. The gesture had left Clara so disoriented that once they were performing, Drusie had to guide her through the second chorus of “When God Dips His Pen of Love in My Heart,” a song they had sung since they were girls.
Drusie’s feelings about Archie and Clara forming a bond were mixed. On the one hand, despite the age difference of a few years, they seemed to get along well, and she could see them working side by side as a married couple, in love with music and with each other. On the other hand, there was June. Jealousy sparked in her eyes whenever Clara entered the room. Even though she’d never seen Archie and June in any exchange that didn’t involve business, Drusie had a feeling Archie was pushing June aside for Clara. She could only pray that Archie’s feelings toward her sister were true and that the turnabout in romantic inclinations was part of God’s plan. She didn’t like June much, but she didn’t want to see her heart broken, either. Drusie kept them all in her prayers.
❧
Gladdie swept the floor of Goode’s Mercantile with energetic motions.
“You keep on like that and we’ll have us a dust storm,” Mr. Goode observed from behind the counter.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more gentle.” He slowed his pace, knowing that he had gotten caught up in thoughts of the future and had started sweeping too rapidly as a result. He didn’t want to admit how he couldn’t wait for the day when Mr. Goode’s name would be replaced with his own.
The shop bell tinkled, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Gladdie looked and saw two men he didn’t know. They were dressed in the same style of suit that Archie wore. Tourists from out of town, no doubt.
He propped his broom against the counter and swiped his hands against his trousers legs. “Mornin’, gentlemen. What might I help you with today?”
“Nothing, Gladdie,” Mr. Goode said. “They’re here to see me.”
“Oh!” Gladdie retrieved his broom faster than a fly escaping a swatter. “Sorry,” he muttered.
Mr. Goode tilted his head toward the men but kept his gaze on Gladdie. “We’ve got some business to tend to, son, so I’ll be taking my friends across the street to the diner.”
“Yes, sir.” Gladdie wondered what could be so important that Mr. Goode, never one to spend an extra dime, would be treating strangers to lunch.
Mr. Goode eyed the display of sewing notions. “Now you go on and hold down the fort here. And in between customers, hows about you making sure the buttons are sorted? The Billings girls were playing in them today, and I suspect they misplaced some.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Goode smiled and addressed his visitors. “He’s a mighty fine worker, that one is.”
“Looks like it,” one of the men agreed. “He seems to be an asset for you.”
Mr. Goode didn’t comment but rushed the men out. Gladdie wondered why he never introduced his friends from out of town.
❧
An hour before the show, Archie rapped on the dressing room door. “Drusie! Telephone for you. Long distance.”
She stopped powdering her face. “Long distance!”
“Long distance?” Clara echoed with equal surprise. “I hope nothin’s wrong at home.”
“Me, too.”
“Don’t blow your wig,” Archie cautioned. “Just go to the business office and take the call. Then you’ll have your answer.”
“You have a point,” Drusie conceded and hurried to the office. Archie showed her the telephone that was almost lost amid papers and a cup of coffee that still left its scent in the room. She picked up the heavy black receiver. “Hello?”
“Drusie?”
She could barely hear the disembodied voice that sounded like it came from another world, but the sweet tone was recognizable to her ears. “Gladdie! Is that you?”
“Sure is. You sound mighty winded. You okay?”
“Sure I am. I just had to run from my dressin’ room to the auditorium’s business office.”
“Oh. I’ve been tryin’ to reach you for several days now, but I couldn’t never catch up with you. Y’all are movin’ right fast through the countryside.”
“We sure are. Is everything all right? I know this telephone call is costin’ plenty. You callin’ from the store?”
“Sure am.”
“Mr. Goode will be dockin’ your wages when the bill comes, then.”
“I know it. But it’s worth it,” he assured her.
“Is everybody okay? Have you seen Ma and Pa?”
“They’re just fine. Your ma was in the store yesterday, buyin’ rickrack. I told her I’d be talkin’ to you soon.”
She leaned against the wooden desk. “Tell Ma and Pa I love ’em and miss ’em. Will you do that for me?”
“Sure will.” He paused. “Drusie, I’m sorry about the way we left things.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Me, too.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’ve been prayin’ about it. You know, I wish I was there instead of here.”
“I should’ve come to say good-bye to you the mornin’ you left. I’ll never let anything like that happen again.”
“That’s all in the past.” She sighed. “I never should’ve gotten so greedy and gotten such big ideas in my head.”
“You weren’t greedy. You were just tryin’ to help me. And I’ll always love you for that.”
Touched, she figured he planned to end the call there. But an intake of his breath told her otherwise.
“Will you come home as soon as the tour’s over?”
“That’s my plan.”
“You won’t let them city slickers charm you too much, will you?”
Drusie laughed. “City slickers? What gave you such a silly notion?”
“Oh, nothin’.”
“Seen Edna Sue around lately?” she couldn’t resist asking.
“She’s been in the store once or twice. Why?”
Puzzlement in his tone and his nonchalant answer assured Drusie that if Edna Sue had set her sights on Gladdie in a big way, he still wasn’t paying her any mind. “Just wondered.”
“Oh, Bertha and Gertie said to tell you hello. They miss you in Sunday school class.”
“I miss them, too.”
“Drusie?”
“Yes?”
“I’d like it a powerful lot if you’d write to me.”
She smiled into the receiver. “I will from now on, every day.”
“I’ll wait for the postman to come every day, then,” he promised. “I love you, Drusie.”
“I love you, too, Gladdie.”
When she hung up, Drusie knew that once again all was right wi
th her world.
The good feeling was shattered by Clara’s scream.
Nine
Drusie ran in the direction of the shriek and soon entered the door of their dressing room. Clara stood in front of her favorite dress that hung on a rack, waiting to be donned for the performance. Archie and Elmer hovered in the background, also having responded to Clara’s cry of distress.
“What’s wrong?” they all asked.
Clara picked up the hem of her red dress and held out the skirt for them to examine. “Look.” Her voice caught on that one word, and Drusie realized that her sister could utter no more.
As soon as she viewed the skirt, Drusie could see why Clara had screamed. Holes about a half inch in diameter, encircled by brown rings, marred the fabric. “Looks like somebody burned your skirt with a cigarette.”
Archie viewed the damage. “Whoever did this didn’t just burn the dress. It’s been attacked—viciously. There are even holes in the top.”
Clara let go of the hem and wailed. “I cain’t possibly wear this.”
Archie groaned. “All that money down the drain.”
Drusie suspected June was the culprit, but speculation would do them no good this close to showtime. She did note that June was nowhere around. No doubt she had busied herself with a fictitious errand so she wouldn’t be nearby when Clara discovered the deed.
Clara dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes in an obvious attempt to keep tears from destroying the face paint she had applied. “My beautiful dress! What am I gonna do?”
“Simple. Wear the other one,” Archie suggested. “You look beautiful in them both.”
Clara nodded and took the other dress out of its garment bag. When they saw holes in that dress, too, everyone let out a gasp. This time Clara didn’t bother to catch her tears. They streamed down her face.
Archie took her in a loose embrace. Drusie couldn’t help but notice that the gesture didn’t seem romantic. With witnesses, no doubt Archie planned it that way. “That’s okay, doll. I’ll buy you another dress.”
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