"Damn it, Martin! That stuff's expensive...What's with the butter fingers?" Edward glared at 'Martin' while another young man echoed his words. "Yes, Martin, do try to be less careless." Those words came from Julian McNaney, Sunny's fiancé, a self-made millionaire with a progressive outlook. Julian, tall, elegant, and blessed with movie star looks (Sunny fell for him because he favored Tyrone Power), believed in sharing his wealth with those who'd advance American culture.
It was of no surprise that Edward, a liberal thinker himself, immediately
took to Julian. His own daughter followed in her mother's footsteps; Evelyn
Rathbord was a staunch supporter of Jane Addams and contributed heavily
to Chicago's many settlement houses. So generous were the Rathbords, that
many a tale passed through the streets of Bronzeville -- "Them folks shared
what they had, and the Lord blessed them when the bad times hit."
Indeed, the family had suffered minor financial setbacks after the
'29 Crash and during the Depression years, however Edward shrewdly invested
much of his wealth not in stocks but in land and buildings. "Why have all
your money tied up in little pieces of paper that will eventually blow
away. Put your money where it will stay put!", said Edward on many an occasion.
The Rathbords were seen by many of their contemporaries as too visionary;
they actively supported FDR in both the 1933 and 1936 elections; Edward
and Franklin were briefly acquainted with each other whilst Evelyn still
maintained correspondence with Eleanor.
"Put your money where it counts -- In the future of this country,"
Edward said to his future son-in-law after chastising 'Martin Forester'.
The new man -- the one who called himself Martin -- was a jangle of nerves ever since he emerged from the basement storage room. Whatever happened to that pleasant yet dim fellow? Only Martin could answer that -- But he wasn't about to reveal his recent troubles to anyone. Who'd believe me if I did! That message on Jehan's magic time machine..."Come home, Marcel"...Then that person said that Frollo is back in our time, and that Danisha, his lady, is dead... GOOD! Let old Frollo suffer! His lady died a slave...What a pity! Probably at the hands of that Charles...yes, he looked at her the same way Danforth looked at...
His daydreaming was once again cut short by Julian. "My good man," whispered
the young millionaire, "if you wish to remain in employ here, then you
must pay attention to what you're doing." Julian offered Martin a smile
then said, "I know you're new to this...When everyone's out then you can
go home and relax...You know, I started out as a servant..."
Martin Forester smiled as he stirred gin and vermouth together while
listening to Julian's 'bootstrap' tales. He still grimaced at the
thought of these 20th Century Americans' taste for such concoctions --
these 'cocktails'. I am getting somewhat better...If only I didn't have
to operate the electric things...Those switches make me uneasy...
"Tell me something, Martin", began Sunny, looking very much like a Middle
American Jean Harlow -- tough and sexy, but sweet and wholesome. At twenty-five,
Cornelia 'Sunny' Rathbord was the epitome of that new generation of American
women who now possessed both the ballot and a role model in the White House.
At least, Sunny thought, she could continue the advancement of modern American
culture, especially the popular arts. Which was why, for this evening,
she and Julian decided that after supper they would spend the rest of their
evening at one of the South Side's tonier nightspots, La Tulipe Noire.
Both Julian and Sunny loved this new music, this 'swing', but knew
of its true roots. It was not exclusive to such talented men as Benny Goodman
and Bix Beiderbecke; indeed, this was the sound of Louis Armstrong, Ellington,
and Calloway.
Sunny Rathbord, her big hazel eyes shining approval at the first sip
of her martini, said to the new employee, "Why, Martin, your bartending
skills are improving, but tell me..." He smiled, "Mademoiselle, I'm sorry
I'm so nervous this evening. Must be all the new surroundings. I'm still
not used to all this..."
Sunny returned the smile, then smoothed her slinky pink satin gown
as she perched on a stool. She then said, "Chicago must be quite an experience
for you...But you'll adjust...Tell me, where are you from?"
"I'm from Nantes, mademoiselle...Nantes, France."
"So that explains the slight accent...Tell me, what do you think of
this upcoming fight between Joe Louis and Jimmy Braddock; it's all the
talk of town. Why, Julian is certain that Louis can knock out Braddock
in..."
Sunny then called to her fiancé, "How many rounds, darling?"
Julian McNaney sipped his drink, took a few puffs on his cigarette, then
said while lighting Sunny's smoke, "The word is that Joe Louis will take
Braddock down in ten rounds, perhaps less." All the while 'Martin' listened
as Julian began to recount a long history of American fisticuffs.
"Yes", said Edward Rathbord, "come Tuesday night, we just may very
well see the first Negro heavyweight champ since Jack Johnson."
"Thus", joined Sunny, "another boon for our colored citizens. Why,
Eula was telling me the other night that she had to order extra liquor
just in case..."
While the three discussed the upcoming bout, 'Martin' had an idea -- a deadly idea. For somewhere in the back of his mind, that familiar urge to loosen his particular brand of destruction... Well...another opportunity...and since I didn't get the chance to kill M. Henry Clay...Yes! Why not! I wonder what the outcome will be? But first, I have to devise something...And this time, Frollo isn't here to stop me!
While the Rathbords and Julian McNaney enjoyed a sumptuous dinner then their respective night on the town, Marcel Rougelot returned to his seedy apartment near the Loop and began a few inquiries. Armed with that information, he set his plan in motion.
++++++++++
"Hey, Claude". I began as I lit a cigarette, "did I ever tell you all about Aunt Eula, the club, and the Dr. Parsons connection?"
We were presently enjoying a lovely homecooked supper courtesy of yours
truly. Senovia and Walter had gone out for the evening -- Friday night
dinner and bridge club -- so Claude and I had the house all to ourselves.
Since I knew we were to spend the rest of the evening at La Tulipe
Noire, I planned a light elegant meal consisting of pan-broiled
lake trout, baked potatoes, and steamed spinach. Claude had commented that
the meal "Was rather 'upscale' compared to the typical Depression era dinner."
I was pleased that Claude Frollo, a 15th Century man, took the time to
make those casual observations of life in 1930s America For
all of Claude's fascination with 1937 Chicago, it was the history behind
my Aunt Eula and Wendell Parsons that intrigued him most. As I related
to him over dinner, Eula Mae Reynolds' life as an upper-class Black American,
when compared to that of the Warfields, was actually symbolic of the world
of Chicago's Black elite.
"Tell me once again, Danisha. Now, the Warfields are 'respectables',
and your Aunt Eula is, what is your social scientists termed, a 'shadie'.
Claude Frollo took a healthy swallow of white wine, then he chuckled he
temporarily changed the subject. "Thank goodness we didn't land ten
years earlier", he said, referring to the wine, and to Prohibition, "or
else this would be illegal." He allowed himself a little levity before
asking me, "Beg pardon, my love, but the term, 'shadie'...?"
I commenced explaining the Black Belt's social structure: "It's not
a racially derogatory term, sugarbritches, it simply refers to those people
who made their money through other pursuits..."
"Umm...'other' pursuits, Nisha?"
I went on to explain how Chicago's Black elite was actually multi-layered
-- It was structured in a way to differentiate among the Old Settlers,
the established professionals, the newly wealthy, and those whose activities
were not 'respectable'.
Senovia and Walter Warfield belonged to that respectable upper class
-- not so much church-centered although they attended services at
a nearby
Episcopal church on a semi-regular basis. As a successful pediatrician
at the all-Black Provident Hospital, Walter's income was more than enough
to allow him to live in a manner which he thought necessary. "If I have
the degrees, the career, the prestige, then I ought to be able to live
just as good as those folks up north", he said to me that morning.
That's what it was all about: To pursue pleasure and prestige, complete
with all those amenities that translate into "gracious living". The Warfields'
lives, since there were no children, centered around work and home. Both
were active in this and that charity or community affair, whether it was
YMCA, the NAACP, settlement houses, or Urban League. Then again, there
was the 'home-centered' social life with its numerous luncheons, dinner
parties, and bridge games. Respectable upper-class Blacks seldom indulged
in the cabaret life; they formed close knit social clubs which served as
necessary networks to "advance the race".
The Warfields were seen by the masses as Race Heroes. Not a week went
by without a story or even a photo of Senovia and Walt gracing the pages
of the Chicago Defender. Eula Mae's photo appeared in the Defender
many times, too. However, those 'respectables' looked askance whenever
she made an appearance in the tonier downtown shops, especially since she
had dared to take up with a man half her age.
"And that, Claude Frollo, is where things get sticky. For you see, Eula,
by virtue of marriage, had entered this world, but she was never fully
accepted by her 'respectable' peers. Of course, when she met Wendell Parsons..."
Claude Frollo picked at the remains of his supper before he finally
said, "The Warfields were understandably distressed that their nephew had
fallen for Madame Reynolds, not solely with the age difference but that
subtle class distinction."
He finally put down his fork, consulted his watch, adding, "My dear,
I believe it is time we change into evening attire. But do tell me more
of your Aunt Eula; I find her history quite fascinating."
Clearing away the dishes, I said, "Sugarbritches, you are in for a
treat...a night of hot music, great company...and a chance to see Black
Chicago at its best."
Indeed, our evening was full of surprises -- La Tulipe Noire
was all I had expected, and more. Then again, the many people we
met there -- well...
All those famous and soon-to-be-famous faces...And I got to see for
myself what Wendell and Eula saw in each other...Then the connections finally
began to fall into place...Sunny was there, and so was Vixen.
++++++++
An unashamedly evil grin spread across Marcel Rougelot's face as he bounded his way toward that crummy apartment building he called home. Why so happy? Not only had Rougelot rid himself of Frollo's pursuit but now he could concentrate on 'other' matters. After all, it has been so long...And to Hell with whoever sent that message! I'm having so much fun...Why, with Frollo and that Danisha out of the way...
"Hey, Marty!", called our a decidedly Queens accent. Marcel, key in
the door, looked up momentarily to spot Ernie, a small time hood from New
York City, hurrying up the dark smelly corridor. Clearly disturbed, Marcel
curtly greeted this man, "Ah, Ernie...I am rather tired...er...what do
you want?"
He never warmed to Ernesto "Ernie" Iaria, a short man of thirty years
with thinning dark hair, black eyes, and a cheery disposition that Marcel
found so disgusting.
Ernie's dark Italian good looks and winning personality earned him
many friends in the building -- except Marcel. But Ernie was determined
to find out about this 'Martin' character; something wasn't quite right...
If I play my cards right, I could have this guy all figured out...Look
at him with that phony Frenchie accent...Working for a swell like Eddie
Rathbord...I tell ya, there's something screwy goin' on with this guy...
Ernie asked his neighbor, "Marty, me and the boys got a crap game goin'
on down by the docks...Why don't you come along, maybe we can pick up a
couple o' broads afterwards..."
Marcel cut in, "I am rather tired tonight -- Long day and all. Perhaps
tomorrow night..."
And with that, Marcel briskly entered his apartment and locked the door. The one room was rather small and dark -- a far cry from even his accommodations at the Quayleson estate. To Marcel, this place was as close to a hovel...
...But it's only temporary...
With some trepidation, he switched on the lone bare bulb that suspended
from the ceiling, sat down at the rickety table, then took out his transtemporal
device. Marcel studied this wondrous thing, hoping to figure out how someone
could have sent that previous message. How does one reply? I know I
was told not to respond, but...
Shaking his head, Marcel then took out a newspaper clipping -- an article
detailing pre-fight events. With a blank paper and an addressed envelope
before him, and pen in hand, he began to write these words:
Dear Monsieur Louis,Marcel smiled as he doublechecked the address, carefully paying attention to what was scribbled on the back of the clipping. Where did he find this address? It seemed Johnny had told him that Louis was training in Wisconsin. "Yeah, Martin, if you want to write him a fan letter..."
My name is Martin Forester and I am a huge fan of your American boxing. Forgive me if my English is not good.
Monsieur Louis, I would like to meet you before your fight...Could you find the time to come to Monsieur Edward Rathbord's home? That's where I work...I want to wish upon you a personal good luck.
Sincerely,
Martin Forester
Poor mouse, must you squeal and thrash about so?...Just like poor Collette, Danforth, Bernard, and the others...And later, that Johnny and M. Joe Louis will meet the same fate...
COMING UP:
Claude and Nisha at La Tulipe Noire...Vixen and Sunny...Eula
Mae and Wendell...Guest Stars! A big break in a deadly manhunt...
TO TIME 4:4(I)
Copyright ©1999 by FrolloFreak®