Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/205

 She walked to the piano. Everyone began to applaud as the blue spotlight suddenly illuminated her.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," she began in a hoarse voice. "I call you ladies and gentlemen but you know what you are." She raised her thumb and goosed the smoky blur.

The audience screamed.

"Listen you two over there in the marihuana section." She pointed to a couple in a booth. They remained silent. The man frowned, but Dusty went on. "Let your hair down … Have fun … What the hell did you come in the joint for anyway? A prayer meeting? You're all under suspicion anyway, you know that don't you? You might as well have fun … Enjoy yourself." She shrugged with a grin … "I'm having fun … I want everyone to have fun … you know why? … I'll let you in on a secret … Ladies and gentlemen … I … just … fell … in love."

Everyone giggled.

"Really I did. It's the first time it's happened to me … today, that is."

Another roll of laughter filled the room.

"Last night I slept in the arms of the cutest sailor you ever saw, but tonight girls … to hell with the navy … because I've got a doll … brace yourselves kids … You know what I've got for tonight?"

"No … what?" rang through the crowd.

"Tonight, I've got a real honest to God Texan. And you all know what they all say about those cute little old Texans, don't you?" She held out her hands about twenty inches apart. "And I'm not dreaming either, girls."

Everyone started clapping and loud laughs floated to the ceiling.

Almost apologetically, Dusty, after tossing the handkerchief in the air, stated, "'Course I'm not going to tell you all who he is, or the rest of you bats, I said the rest, might beat this working girl's time." She paused and looked around the blurred faces. She spotted a bald-headed man seated with a group of other men. His hands were in his pockets and he was getting a big kick out of her. "You, dear," she cried at him, "take your hands out of your pockets. Don't you know 195