Chapter 93

We head off back to the theatre, to catch the last act, we get there in time to take in 'Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered' and 'I Could Write a Book'. Not the best two numbers in the show in my opinion, I rate, 'The Lady is a Tramp' as one of the best show tunes ever and I am disappointed to have missed Gene Kelly's version. We have time to kill before the Fish Fry opens, this time with me depping for Fats rather than me being him. The day is clouding over and no doubt the rain will come as all the other Fish Frys. The thing about New York is that there is an opportunity within very event. No sooner has the first rain drop fallen than the corner of every block and the exit from every subway station, appears an umbrella seller. They are cheap Brooklyn knock offs, but so long as they last a night who cares for dime. I protect Veronica from the increasingly heavy rain looking for an empty Yellow. The plan is to head for The Stork Club on on 10^th. Where I am known as the Liverpool Kid and where Veronica has an acolyte who wishes she was her and The Man who wishes he was laying her. We are not ones for a quiet life. Miracles do happen. A Yellow drops off a punter in front of us, and we fight off a Chinaman and a Hasidic Jew for the back seat.
“Where to Bub” says the driver, through a fug of steam and stogie fumes.
“West 22^nd. and 10^th.”
“The Stork Club. Could take a few chimes in this weather.”
“We're in no rush, just get us there in one piece.”
“O.K. Miss Lake, don't know the guy on your arm, but for you anything. Saw you in Sullivan's Travels. Love at first sight.”
“Keep your eyes on the road Bub, I need to adjust my décolletage.”
“Gee wish I knew what that was, so I could get one for the Little Lady.”
“She probably has one already, you just don't know it. Now drive.”