Fortune's Daughter by Carmen Juarez

Author:Carmen Juarez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cancer, chemotherapy, leukemia, cancer treatment, blood disorder, serious illness, hematology oncology
Publisher: Carmen Juarez

Nineteen

Childhood Dreams

I was 12 years old and in sixth grade. Mama sat on the sofa in the family room watching the 1952 movie, The Quiet Man. I sat at a table, engaged in a paint-by-number picture of a forest scene with deer next to tall aspen trees. I looked up on occasion to see Maureen O’Hara. Abe was in a corner chair with a book.

When the movie credits began to scroll, Mama stood up and turned off the television.

“I enjoyed that,” she said.

This prompted a discussion. “I might be a dancer and Hollywood star when I grow up,” I announced.

When I pictured my adult self as an actress, Maureen O’Hara came into view. I too was a feisty red-headed heroine with bright painted lips, minus the Irish brogue.

Abie suggested I play the lead opposite a handsome swashbuckler, and provided me with a definition. After that, my fantasy included a nameless but very handsome man. On occasion, Zorro entered my mind as a possible leading man.

After all, I was already on my way to stardom. I pictured what had been my typical Saturday for years. Early morning, Mama and I walked to the nearby bus stop, waited for a city bus, and took a short ride downtown. I carried a small round suitcase that contained my pink Capezio ballet slippers, my black patent leather Mary Jane tap shoes, and a pair of leather slippers with elastic across the top to keep them on my feet. Under my dress, I wore a black leotard and tights.

Once off the bus, we walked a few blocks. With anticipation, I watched for the large building and location of the dance studio as it came into view. I learned later that it was the Florence Kessler School of Dramatic Art & Stage Dancing. As an adult, I read a few articles in The Denver Post about Florence Kessler Ruston. She was a young girl when she founded the school, which opened its doors in 1933. The newspaper article reported that she trained over 16,000 young hopeful ingenues to prepare for the silver screen. Little did I know that I was one of them.

When I considered a career in show business, I had several performances behind me. I wore fancy and rich looking costumes made of velour, satin, silk, crushed voile, or whatever else a dress designer fashioned. Each costume was trimmed with sequins, netting, faux fur, mesh, or lace.

One costume resembled a one-piece bathing suit, although no one could see any fabric due to the entire suit being covered with red shiny sequins with each sequin clutching a shiny bead in the middle. Over the costume was a transparent cape that tied in a loose bow at my neckline. We danced to Singin’ in the Rain, my first introduction to a Hollywood stage musical.

A performance on the big stage was welcomed. My dance troupe waited in the stage wings for a number to be announced. When one was, we knew we were closer to our turn. By the finale, we were worn out, but it was worth it.

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