“Pas de boure, pas smo, pas chassé, tour unler, battles frappe, pas de glissé, pas de basques, ...”

The monotonous voice of the choreographer made me want to take a nap, but the body seemed to automatically perform the memorized steps.

- Interestingly, this old hag itself can at least perform a balance sheet?

Karen giggled mischievously in my ear.

- Stop it! She is a student of Reg Dodson himself!

The rehearsal was over in fifteen minutes. The hall is empty.

Already on the steps of the theater Karen called out to me.

- Wait, Melly, today at the forty-sixth first session of '' Becky Sharp '', will you come? Frank promised to get tickets.

I laughed.

- Apparently someone has a novel with this Frank?

- kidding me? He is completely out of my taste. But this does not prevent to go to the cinema with him! In addition, he will be with a friend. Come, we will have a great time! At the entrance to seven.

I kissed her on the cheek.

- See you, dear!

***********************************

Just blasphemy to stay home on this warm July evening!

Heels ringing gently on the paved pavement. A light breeze rustled the hem of her favorite peach dress. Golden curl beat out of high hair.

The whole area near the cinema on Forty-sixth Street is full of people. At the entrance of the present pandemonium. Still, today is the premiere!

There was no possibility of finding friends among the teeming people. Already I wanted to turn back, as a familiar purple hat flashed ahead. Thank God!

Karen and the two guys were actively pushing through the crowd. I called my friend and rushed forward.

- Melly, well, where are you going, I already thought you would not come! Meet the guys!
The guys introduced themselves as Frank and Jason.

After half an hour, we still hit the cinema. And this Frank fellow, got us the best places, right in the center of the room!

The light turned off. The film cracked. On the screen flashed frames of the film. First color.

The session was a great success. Miriam Hopkins and Nigel Bruce in the lead roles were at the height. The audience rejoiced. Some ladies in the final even wept.

The lights came on, we got up and headed for the exit.

Karen called everyone to the cafe, but I refused, citing fatigue. And the truth is, tomorrow is an important rehearsal. I would not want to look like a sleepy moth in front of the whole troupe.

- Mellie, maybe then Jason will hold you?

- Oh, do not worry, I walk.

We said goodbye.

I sighed with relief. She quietly strode toward the house, admiring the windows of shops and restaurants on both sides of the street.

I did not notice how twilight was thickened.

It remains to go just a couple of blocks. Turned into the alley.

A stinging blow to the back of the head was stunned and knocked down.

It seems for a few seconds fainted.

She came to the ground. The head buzzed. Everything swam before my eyes.

A face appeared in front of me. Huge, greasy, crooked. With small pig eyes. A sharp, intolerable smell of unwashed body and cheap liquor hit the nose. The stranger, toothless mouth stretched out in a dull, smirk.

- Not good for decent girls so late to wander alone!

I still could not get over it and just stupidly shook my head, looking at a fat man. He squatted and turned the knife.

- That got a bird!

Finally, consciousness cleared. In horror she pulled away.

- What you need? Do not touch me, I beg you!

“Ronald, she has nothing, just a couple of dollars.” Get out of here!

There was another person standing a few meters away from us. But this one was thin, rather skinny, with brown skin and long curved fingers. He had my purse in his hands. He feverishly shook its contents onto the ground, fearfully glaring around.

- No, sorry to miss such a catch. Hey, Joe, stop digging in babskie junk, it's time for some fun!

A robber grabbed me in an armful and dragged me to the wall. In a moment the thin man threw away his purse and jumped towards us. He twisted my arms behind my back.

The fat man struck a knife. The blade gleamed in the dim light of a street lamp.Cold metal burned neck skin. The skinny nastily laughed. Intermittent breath of breath touched the ear. Something sticky, wet walked along the cheek. Other people's hands brazenly pulled up the hem of the dress and squeezed the hips with force. Tears poured from my eyes.

- Do not twitch baby! You will be a good boy, daddy will not hurt you!

The fat man unbuckled his belt.

God, how disgusting, if only it would end soon!

I closed my eyes.

- Whidley, what the fuck? Uh ...

At the same moment my hands were free. Other people's legs slid down the hips.

Probably it took half a minute before I decided to open my eyes.

The fat man was sitting on the ground, wheezing and clutching at his throat. The skinny and the trace was gone, only quick steps were heard in the distance.

- Miss, are you ok? Does this seem yours?

In front of me stood a tall young man in a suit and hat. In his hands he had my purse.

From the side of the street came the sound of trampling and voice

- Son of a bitch, now he will dance with me!

The Savior grabbed my arm and pulled me into the dark.

- Run!

The voices were coming closer.

- Damn, Fat Ronald! Where did he go?

We darted into the gap between the houses. Dead end. There was no way back.

Fire escape! A young man helped me climb. Caught on the roof.

After a few seconds, shouts rang out below.

- Where did they go? Joe, answer son of a bitch!

“I swear, Martelli, there's nowhere else to run!” If they had come out from the Eighth Avenue, we would have noticed!

I cautiously approached the edge and looked out.

Six persons. Among them recognized one of my robbers, Skinny Joe.

The bandits looked around absently. All but Skinny were armed with revolvers. In the center, a small pot-bellied man in a wide-brimmed hat never ceased shouting curses, it seemed to me, with an Italian accent.

- Climb every gap here, find this son of a bitch and his whore!

People rushed in different directions.

- I swear, Widley, I'll get you!

A little Italian dug through his teeth, fired into the air and disappeared into the alley.

- Well, that's all, now you can not worry. They left. The people of Martelli are so stupid that they can hardly guess to look on the roof!

The man took out a cigarette, struck a match and dragged on. For a few seconds, he stared at me. Suddenly he smiled and held out his hand.

- Jack Widley. We are not familiar yet.

The smile was so sincere, open that I involuntarily smiled in response and shook my hand.

- Melissia Bradwood.

The light of the moon fell right on his face, and for the first time I had the opportunity to consider a savior.

Dark skin, Greek nose, strong-willed chin, regular cheekbones. The small stubble made it even more attractive. And eyes! I have never seen such eyes. Dark, almost black, like coal. They were fascinating, as if attracted by an unknown force.

He squeezed my hand even more.

Just now I noticed that my body was pounding with a shiver.

I used to hear that cigarettes are soothed. At school, girls and I sometimes indulged in cigarettes. But seriously, I never smoked.

Fool! God, what am I doing?

- Mr. Widley, can I have a cigarette?

For a moment, distrust flashed in his eyes, but he still reached into his pocket. I fished out a cigarette and handed it to me.

Dragged on.

Widley seemed to be looking at the roof.

Cloudy white smoke in a dense shred escaped from the lungs with a cough.

Jack looked my way again.

“If I may, I could escort you.”

**********************************

“So what is this Jack?” Do you even know what he does? Surely trades with the same gang!

- Do not say nonsense!

“You already told him you're leaving?”

Looked out the window. Jack was waiting for me.

- Everything, honey, I ran! I'll be back ...

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