Third Time Is a Charm

by Ed Nelson

  After too short of a night’s sleep my phone rang. It was President Hoover.

  “Rick what you told the New York Times was brilliant.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “By working China into possible future plans you have given credibility to the information broker. He will be hot to sell it to the Chinese now and they will be interested in buying. From my point of view that is an excellent outcome. However the Soviets aren’t going to be happy about this. They are still trying to repair their relations with China. Be careful.”

  “I don’t see how I could get the Soviets anymore upset. I have to go armed as it is.”

  “I find that to be deplorable. A young man in America having to go armed because of KGB agents.”

  “Well I don’t think it is just the KGB, by now it’s their whole alphabet soup of agencies.”

  “Well again be careful. If you are asked about doing business with China again downplay it a little, say it was an example. The message has been delivered. The ball is in their court. They won’t respond overnight. It may be several years. They don’t move quickly.”

  “Good advice sir; and it has been a pleasure meeting and talking to you.”

  “Good luck in your future endeavors. You are an interesting young man.”

  On the Today Show of course they introduced me as the young man to whom interesting things happened. Then Mr. Garroway wanted me to tell them about my day yesterday.

  I had given in to the whole thing, so related the day from the moment I gave out where I was staying, up to the band showing up.

  I was asked if there were any lessons learned.

  “Yeah, don’t tell people on TV where you are staying until after you have left.”

  “What was the highlight of the day?”

  “It was when we were able to turn the event into a fund raiser for the Children’s Aid Society. Oh then there was the unforgettable moment when General Douglas MacArthur who is a hotel resident came out of the elevator to a crowd of two hundred teenage girls. He retreated quickly and he was muttering something, it wasn’t, ‘I shall return.’”

  I then looked into the camera and said, “If you are watching Sir, please forgive me, but it was funny.”

  Mr. Garroway surprised me by holding up a copy of the New York Times.

  “What about the story in the Times that you are going to open up China?”

  “China was an off the cuff example. They would have to invite my company in and I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

  “Well you never know things seem to happen around you, we should call them Happenings.”

  “That will never catch on.”

  My flight to Columbus was uneventful. I did remember that I had wanted to talk to Mr. Hilton about the way they handled yesterday. I really wanted an idea of what resources were needed to do that. However I had to leave early for the Today Show, maybe some other time.

  The cockpit crew had me up front before we took off. We exchanged pleasantries and that was about it. The only other notable thing was that so many people were now asking for my autograph that an announcement was made.

  “Please wait until we have completed service so the aisle will not be blocked, after that we are certain Sir Richard will give you his autograph.”

  That worked for me, I just wish they had asked me before-hand. My hand still was sore from yesterday.

  Chapter 42

  A limo was waiting to take me to the Neil House. It was right downtown across from the State Capitol building. It was a short walk down to Lazarus where I had bought my electric typewriter. It was well worn in now.

  The front desk let me know that my suitcases had arrived from California. As instructed they had opened them and made certain there were no wrinkles and that all was as it should be. They had taken the liberty of hanging everything in my room in my suite.

  They also asked me to please not let the general public know where I was staying as they don’t think they could handle a crowd like the Waldorf did.

  I was glad to relax for the rest of the day in the very nice suite I had. I was getting spoiled as it didn’t compare to the Waldorf Astoria. I wouldn’t tell anyone that, as it would be rude.

  I didn’t feel like a full blown meal so I put on jeans with a shirt and sweater and walked north on High Street to the Clock restaurant. The Clock was unique. It was a diner a block long. You walked in off High Street and the diner extended to the next street over. It was so narrow that there were booths lining one wall and a diner bar along the other with one aisle for the building.

  The clock was still stopped at 10:08. I saw no sign of Col. Pritchard and the side walk had been recently shoveled so I couldn’t see any foot prints.

  I wasn’t recognized by anyone so I had a quiet meal, steak and eggs. After all it was a diner.

  I stopped at a newsstand on the way back and bought the latest edition of Amazing Science Fiction Stories. I don’t know why they kept changing the name. At least it still only cost thirty-five cents. When I got back to the hotel I called Judy to let her know I was in town and checked in.

  She and her friend Connie would be coming over for lunch tomorrow and then would spend the rest of the afternoon in a beauty salon. Good to know, I will make myself scarce.

  I asked, “What about Connie’s boyfriend, when will he get here?”

  “Oh he won’t be coming. She has an escort for the evening.”

  “Why an escort, where is her boyfriend?”

  “Stupid boy, how many teenage boys do you think own a white tie outfit? Why, you can’t even rent them in Columbus. Steve Johnson a senior at Ohio State owns one and hires out for these events.”

  “It’s nice to know that I have a way to earn a living if I have need.”

  “Are you worried?”

  “No, just teasing.”

  “Oh good, I don’t have to scale back on our wedding plans.”

  I think I almost dropped the phone.

  “Wedding plans,” I squeaked.

  “Just teasing, seeing if you can take it, after dishing it out.”

  “That took it to another whole level. I think my life flashed before my eyes.”

  After that we talked for a few more minutes. I was very careful not to get near the W word again. That was plain mean! We said good night and I read about the ‘Deadly Satellite.’ It really wasn’t that good of a story.

  At least I had a good night’s sleep.

  It is handy to have a car and driver at your beck and call. I had Tom, my driver take me to the Park of Roses where I had my first good run in days. It really felt good. I wish I had time to run in Central Park, I really liked it there. If I ever got a place in New York, it would be close to it, just so I could run.

  I returned to the hotel, had a large breakfast in the main dining room and then got cleaned up. I put on some comfy jeans, shirt and sweater. I spent until lunch time reading a book on my suggested reading list.

  It was about the War of 1812. It had one story in it about how the 39th Infantry a regular army unit was sent to Andrew Jackson as reinforcements. He only had militia with him and they had not performed. The book told that he made false charges against an eighteen year old boy and ordered the 39th to execute him as an example to his militia.

  Despite many people stating his innocence Jackson had a young man executed for running from the enemy. I would have to research more, if this was true it tarnished Jackson’s reputation in my mind. I already had doubts about him because of his role in the removal of the Cherokee from Georgia.

  Judy and her friend Connie showed up, along with their mothers just before lunch. Judy immediately gave me a hug and a light kiss, more of a peck than a kiss. I hoped for better, more like a bushel of kisses.

  She introduced me to Connie and her mother. Mrs. King acted very pleased to see me. I was told to order room service for lunch as there was much to do. Not being a dummy I ordered food.

  While waiting I was quizzed about the even
ts in New York. The King’s had watched both interviews and all of them the second one. Only one dangerous question came up. It was from Judy.

  “Rick, were there many good looking girls there?”

  Some quicksand I had learned to recognize.

  “Scads of them, it’s a shame about events like that, you have no time to really speak to anyone and get to know them.”

  “Oh would you like to get to know more of them.”

  When in a hole quit digging.

  “No, I’m lucky to be getting to know you better.”

  I thought the two mothers were going to choke to death as they restrained their laughter. What was lucky for me was that Judy accepted that answer and moved on. She and Connie wanted to know what the girls in New York City were wearing.

  My first impulse was to say clothes but stifled the words.

  “I really didn’t notice much difference than what you are wearing now. Well I didn’t see any of those sack dresses.”

  “What about the colors?”

  “All the bulky sweaters were very bright bold colors.”

  “And what did they wear with these bulky sweaters?”

  “Either a thin looking skirt, I mean not flared out, or jeans with a skinny looking cut unlike mine.”

  “So the latest fashion for teenage girls in New York City is a bright bulky sweater with jeans or a pencil skirt.”

  “That’s it. Also many of them had a class ring on a yarn thread around their neck. The rings were also wrapped in the yarn. I’m not sure what that was all about.”

  “The yarn is angora and some lucky girls get their boyfriends class ring to show they are going steady with them.”

  I wondered if that was a hint.

  After an inquisition like that I was very glad for lunch to show up. We had just finished lunch when Steve Johnson knocked on the door; he had a garment bag with him. After introductions all around I asked him if he had eaten.

  “Yeah I grabbed a hotdog from a street cart.”

  The ladies all adjourned to their rooms to freshen up. I took Steve to our room to hang his outfit. He asked me how long I had been in the escort business.

  “I’m not, Judy needed an escort but I think I was the only one who owned a white tie and a tailcoat.”

  “You actually own a white tie outfit?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow, I inherited mine from an Uncle who was an Ambassador to the Court of St. James.”

  “That’s why I ended up with one, it was thought I would be attending events at the Palace but it hasn’t happened yet.”

  It was about that time the coin dropped for Steve.”

  “You’re Sir Richard Jackson aren’t you?”

  “Yes, but call me Rick.”

  Females! It turned out that Connie hadn’t told Steve who Judy was going with. They say men were dense about things. I’m not sure about women. Wait a minute I’m very sure about women! They are different from men.

  “So does the escort business pay very well?”

  “I get one hundred dollars for this. I do it about six times a year. It almost pays my complete tuition.”

  “If I may ask what is your major?”

  “It’s Aeronautical Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering.”

  “That’s a pretty heavy load to carry.”

  “You’re still in high school aren’t you?”

  “I am but pushing to graduate by summer. I will be doing eleventh and twelfth grade in between the New Year and Memorial Day.”

  “”I’ve read about your self-guided study with Warner Brothers.”

  Steve proved to be very easy to talk to. He had questions about people I had been in movies with. His hero was John Wayne. I shared a few funny stories about John but didn’t tell how he could be a mean drunk at times.

  When the ladies returned, the younger set wearing jeans and non-bulky sweaters we went downstairs to the ballroom for the rehearsal. From the clothes I figured a trip to Lazarus’s was in their near future.

  The rehearsal went quickly, at least for Steve and me. All we had to do was move to the top of the stairs with our girls on our arm, while pausing there they were given their formal introduction, which went like, Miss Judy King descendent of Captain Marsh Duvall of the 25th Maryland Regiment and escort.

  Then with their right arm resting on our left we would walk them down the stairs. It was our job to make certain they got down the stairs safely. It was emphasized several times this was about the girls not the escorts and we weren’t to attract attention. Why they looked pointedly at me I don’t know.

  It went as smooth as such an event can go. From the looks of them ninety percent of the girls had paid escorts. I guess most teenage boys in Columbus Ohio did not have a tailcoat hanging in their closet. It was noticeable how cliquish the girls were. If Judy and Connie weren’t together they would have had no one to talk to.

  Well they could have conversed with us guys, but right now we were being treated like the furniture. You use furniture, you don’t talk to it, well unless you trip on it, then you can accuse it of being things like a son of a beech tree.

  Chapter 43

  After being dismissed Steve and I walked around Lazarus. I was trying to get some of my Christmas Shopping out of the way. I bought another one of the new Dolls for Mary along with several outfits. It was called a Barbie Doll.

  We got dressed for dinner. The girl’s choice was just to eat at the Neil House. Steve and I wore slacks, sports coats and ties as instructed. We met up with the girls and their mothers in the sitting room of our suite.

  All the ladies were dolled up to the nines with their hair up, but not a bee hive, make up, and nails done plus whatever mysterious other things they did. They all looked great.

  Connie and Judy both wore a slim skirt and a bulky sweater. Connie had a class ring on a long necklace which I now knew was Angora. The ring had been wound so that it would fit her.

  Steve and I were smart enough to say all the right admiring words like, “You all look great.”

  The timing looked right so I whispered into Judy’s ear, “You don’t have a class ring since you dumped that guy would you like mine?”

  She grabbed me in a hug and shouted, “Yes!”

  I took that as a positive answer so brought out my class ring from the Studio, Warner Brother’s version.

  Just like an engagement ring all the ladies gathered around to ooh and awe. Of course that sent Judy and Connie back to their room to break out the Angora.

  Steve and I had a coke while waiting, the mothers a glass of wine. I asked where they got it. “Room Service,” was the short answer.

  After Connie and my new steady girlfriend came back we went down to dinner.

  Dinner was a relaxed affair. Connie asked me how often I could see Judy as I lived on the other side of the country. I told her I would try to fly out every other week or so depending on our social schedules. If there was a dance or event there was no reason I had to miss it.

  Connie’s mom commented, “Money doesn’t seem to be an object here, I gather you are well off for a sixteen year old. The movies must pay very well.”

  It wasn’t a secret so without going into amounts I told the table about my various business ventures. Steve took the opportunity to tell me that he would be job hunting as he graduated early in June. I gave him a card and told him to call me.

  We finished our meal and were standing up from the table. I saw what happened but could do nothing about it. A man stood up from his table and pushed his chair back without looking.

  The chair bumped into a waiter carry a tray with a glass of red wine on it. Following Murphy’s Law the wine spilled all over the one guy in the room who wore his tail coat to dinner. It went all over his white shirt. I suppose the coat got wet too, but the shirt really turned red.

  This prompted the young lady sitting with him to flee the table in immediate tears. Her evening was now a disaster. I assumed it was her mother who followed h
er.

  Fortunately I was in a position to help. I quickly went up to the soaking wet young man who was trying to fend off a waiter from ineffectually wiping him off. I told the young man, whose name was Mike that I had a spare shirt in my room and we looked close to the same size. He immediately took me up on my offer.

  The gentleman who had caused the problem was all apologetic and offered to pay any damages. He handed Mike and I a card. It stated that Woody Hays was head coach for the Ohio State Buckeye football team. Like everyone from Ohio I knew of him.

  In turn I gave him one of my cards. You never knew when you might want tickets to a game.

  Our entourage which included the other girl from Mike’s table and her mother returned to my room where Mike tried on one of my shirts. It fit pretty well. The other girls mother whose name I didn’t get called Mike’s girls room and let them know a shirt was found.

  They all joined us in our suite. I ordered a display of desserts be brought up by room service. I mean it had been twenty minutes since we had eaten so I and the other guys were ready for some more.

  That along with coffee got us set up for the evening. The ladies were all talking away. I was one of the topics and I saw my class ring being displayed to the newcomers. I think Judy was marking her territory though I wasn’t dumb enough to say that.

  We all then proceeded to our respective rooms and got ready for the big presentation and ball. I must say I looked pretty good dressed up. It was nothing to how Judy looked. I would have been proud to present her at Queen Elizabeth’s Court.

  Later when Mum asked for a description I was able to tell her it was a light blue ball gown. This didn’t satisfy her as I was then grilled. Short sleeve, off the shoulder, full or tight, cut low or neckline? After ten minutes I told her enough, to end the inquisition.

  She repeated back to me, so a standard prom type dress, Princess top with no sleeves and open neck, Layers of Tule floor length.

  “Yeah that’s it.”

  This grilling occurred on the weekend when I got home. There would be pictures sent after the film was developed from pictures taken of us at the top of the stairs.