RANSVESTIA

in beside her, his warm toes on her cold ones. "We're all talented, sure." His arm went about her, pulling her body against his. "Marty and Babe are even really great. It'd all be fantastic in support of one eye-catching or heart-stopping idea."

"Yes, David," murmured Cindy. She closed her mouth over his, realizing that it would be the only way to stop him once he was in flow. He yielded reluctantly, but her mouth was insistent and her body inviting. Soon he was responding nicely and they melded together. It doesn't matter how the lousy show works out, thought Cindy. I've got you, David, and I would never have even met you but for Nadine's idea for the show.

⭑

It was the one thing that had never happened yet, thought Nadine savagely, and now it had to happen! Of the six boys and six girls who made up the show, Johnny "Babe" Corbin was the youngest at 19, there had never been three ill for one show. And, just on the night when two of the show's backers were in town to decide whether to pull the plug or to keep the show on for a while longer in the hope of re-couping some of their losses, three girls were out.

Nadine bit at her elegant, red fingernails. She could not afford another loser. Three in a row, and this would be her third, would be the "out" from directing for her. They'd gone on before with five pairs, even with four, but never with three. It just wouldn't be a show with three. Oh, damn Jackie, Shirley and Danielle, she thought savagely. It just couldn't happen that three girls would go down on the same day.

She looked about the stage. The set and the performers were in place. From the orchestra pit, there came the sounds of tuning up along with a few practice riffs from the two or three numbers from the show that were already well known. Ace Demanski, in top hat and tails, glared at her from the doorway to the "Roaring Twenties" speakeasy. Jackie should have been there in a long, black evening dress, her flapper costume concealed beneath the gown. They would have to fill in for her, which meant an awful strain on the three girls. It would be tough on the others, too, trying to give and receive the right cues, and make the whole show a polished one. But they were all good kids.... If only she had another girl!

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