Susanna Hits Hollywood by Mary Hogan

Author:Mary Hogan [Hogan, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

I fail instantly. The hotel’s circular entrance is lined with limos. The pedestrian walkway is lined with cops. If I thought getting into the Kodak Theatre was impossible, it’s nothing compared to the security overload surrounding the hotel where every major star in the world will sleep that night.

‘Pardon me,’ I say to one of the police officers blocking the path. My head is so heavy I can barely lift it. ‘How do I get in there?’

Too tired to be creative, I go for the direct approach.

‘You don’t,’ he says, gruffly. Apparently, he has jet lag, too.

‘But I have to.’

‘Too bad.’

‘There’s no way?’ I ask.

‘No way.’

‘None?’

‘None.’

Catching me completely by surprise, I burst into tears.

‘I . I . lost my pass!’ I wail. And the whole story comes spewing out. Along with, I’m mortified to discover, a small trickle of snot.

‘And I don’t have a tissue!’ I sob.

The officer reaches into his back pocket and produces a handkerchief.

‘Here,’ he says, handing it to me.

Though I totally don’t get the concept of blowing your nose in fabric, I’m desperate. I blow. I also sob, sniff, blubber and actually bury my head in his chest.

‘I’m at the end of my rope,’ I cry. ‘And it wasn’t a very long rope to begin with.’

‘Come here,’ he says.

Like the gates of Oz opening, the officer creates a space between two barricades large enough for my butt to squeeze through.

‘I . I . don’t know what to say,’ I snivel. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘No problem, miss.’

My spirits lifted, I sniff hard and squeeze through the barricades. Finally, I’m back where I belong – on the inside. Looking up, I see the beautiful Renaissance Hotel. The red carpet is again beneath my feet. It’s the ‘yellow brick road’ to my heart’s desire. Purple and pink flowers reach their petals up to embrace me. The golden sun shines on my face. Smiling, I march for the lobby of my destiny.

‘Where are you going?’ the officer asks, his hand clamped on my shoulder.

‘Going?’ I blink. ‘To the elevators. To the second floor.’

‘You can’t go in there.’

‘But, you—’

‘I let you through the barricades, miss, so you could pull yourself together.’

How can I pull anything together, I think, when my future just fell apart?

‘Take a seat on that retaining wall,’ he says, pointing. ‘I’ll get you some water.’

As directed, I sit. My tears have completely dried up. My nose is dry, too. Still clutching the officer’s handkerchief, I notice the last remnants of my mascara smudged onto the white linen. An eerie calm overtakes me. A sense of resignation. This must be how a wild horse feels when the bit’s between his teeth and the saddle is on his back and he’s too tired to buck any more.

‘Thanks.’

The officer hands me a cool plastic bottle of water. As I drink it, I tilt my face up to the sun. Who cares about a stupid sunburn when I’m a total loser?

I watch the crowd of tourists press against the barricade, cameras in hand.

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