And they had a swell magician who plucked live pigeons out of the air the way most magicians pluck coins. I love magicians and never understand how they do it and I watch them with my mouth hanging open.
This one did something that had to involve a pact with the Devil. At one point he had one of the show girls replace his pretty assistant. His assistant was not overdressed but the show girl was wearing shoes at one end and a hat at the other and just a smile in between.
The magician started taking pigeons from her.
I don’t believe what I saw. There isn’t that much room and it would tickle. So it didn’t happen.
But I’m planning on going back to watch it from a different angle. It simply can’t be true.
When we got back to the Dunes, Goldie wanted to catch the lounge show but Anna wanted to go to bed. So I agreed to sit with Goldie. Burt said to save him a seat as he would be right back after he took Anna up.
Only he didn’t. When we went up I was unsurprised to find the door to the other room closed; before dinner my nose had warned
me that it was unlikely that Burt would soothe my nerves two nights in a row. Their business and I had no kick coming. Burt had done nobly by me when I really needed it.
I thought perhaps Goldie would have her nose out of joint but she didn’t seem to. We simply went to bed, giggled over the impossibility of where he got those pigeons, and went to sleep. Goldie was snoring gently as I dropped off.
Again I was awakened by Anna but this morning she was not looking sober; she was radiant. “Good morning, darlings! Pee and brush your teeth; breakfast will be up in two jounces. Burt is just getting out of the bath, so don’t dally.”
Along toward the second cup of coffee Burt said, “Well, dear?”
Anna said, “Shall I?”
“Go ahead, hon.”
“All right. Goldie, FridayÄ We hope you can spare us some time this morning because we both love you both and want you to be with us. We’re getting married this morning.”
Goldie and I put on fine exhibitions of utter astonishment and great pleasure, along with jumping up and kissing each of them. In my case the pleasure was sincere; the surprise was faked. With Goldie I thought that it might have been reversed. I kept my suspicions to myself.
Goldie and I went out to buy flowers with arrangements to meet at the Gretna Green Wedding Chapel laterÄand I was relieved and pleased to find that Goldie seemed to be just as happy about it out of their presence as in it. She said to me, “They’re going to be very good for each other. I never did think well of Anna’s plans to become a professional grandmother; that’s a form of suicide.” She added, “I hope you didn’t get your nose out of joint.”
I answered, “Huh? Me? Why in the world would I?”
“He slept with you night before last; he slept with her last night. Today he’s marrying her. Some women would be quite upset.”
“Fer Gossake, why? I’m not in love with Burt. Oh, I do love him because he was one of you who saved my life one busy night. So night before last I tried to thank himÄand he was awfully sweet to me, too. When I needed it. But that’s no reason for me to expect Burt to devote himself to me every night or even a second night.”
“You’re right, Friday, but not many women your age can think that straight.”
“Oh, I don’t know; I think it’s obvious. You didn’t get your feelings hurt. Same deal.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“Exactly the same deal. Night before last she slept with you; last night she slept with him. Doesn’t seem to fret you.”
“Why should it?”
“It should not. But the cases are parallel.” (Goldie, please don’t take me for a fool, dear. I not only saw your face but I smelled you.) “Matter of fact, you surprised me a little. I didn’t know you leaned that way. Of course I knew that Anna didÄshe surprised me a bit in taking Burt to bed. I wasn’t aware that she did. Men, I mean. Hadn’t known that she had ever been married.”