12.40 Educate Brenda 4 - Lou's Latin Quarter

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40. Educate Brenda 4

Brenda reads all of Balzac in 6 weeks. Ali is astounded and when she mentions it to Dr Stan he says: “She is showing the traumatic partial pre-frontal syndrome:  the trauma disrupts inhibitory neurons and removes mental blocks. The reports show an idiot savant effect. The person seems a mental freak because of compulsion to study and learn and an extraordinary ability to memorize. It is rare; I should like to study it more directly. Can you arrange for me to interact with the young lady?”

   A twinge of jealousy flashes in Ali. But then she thinks, Win-Win. I am attracted to him and maybe he'll realize it by my helping him. And it is a chance to educate Brenda about romantic attachments.
   “Uh, yes, I'll work on that.”

   “Thank you, Miss Ali.”

   Later, sitting on Brenda's sofa, Ali suggests a night on the town.

Brenda's father produces ginger ale and seltzer drinks under the label Crystal Club. It cannot compete with popular products and depends on a few nightclubs that value an independent soft drink. The Crystal Club label gives a feeling of class. Also price is involved. In dealing with the Crystal Club label company, a big nightclub like Latin Quarter, knowing that Crystal Club is totally dependent on the nightclub, can dictate its price. Crystal Club got the Latin Quarter because Lou Walters the Latin Quarter proprietor had just opened the hotshot club and had no contract with a big soft drink producer.

   Brenda had mentioned her father got free entry and suggested Ali might go with her sometime.

   Ali asks: “Bren, in last week's New Yorker it says Billy Daniels is gonna be at Latin Quarter, Saturday. Howzabout it?”
   Brenda jumps up and claps hands. "I should love it”
   Ali notes how different this is from the old uninterested, uninteresting Brenda who might answer 'Nah!" or "Yeah!"  
   “Can Dr. Stan come too?”
   Brenda gives a laugh. “Ali don't you know? Of course he can! He's got legs.”
   Ali realizes again a new Brenda:  Smart and also smart-ass. "Oh I see. ‘Scuse me. I meant ‘May he come?’"

   “Yes, I should love it, Ali. I think he is rather handsome. A little too old for me, but just right for you.”

   This is an opening for the subject of romance. Before Brenda's big bang she was what other girls call easy, and for boys it meant she put out. Especially in dark movie seats. So Ali starts the subject.

   “Bren, now I’m making you into Mental Marvella, I want you to be expert on sex.”
   “Gee, Ali, I know that stuff.”

   “Are you virgin?”

   “Like virgin sturgeon!” She laughs. “My mom insists on that.”

   “Well, your momma was right but maybe for wrong reason.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Look! In the words of the song It's a Barnum and Bailey world – I mean the world out there is a circus or worse – it's dog eat dog. To be Superwoman you gotta know how to handle your sex, and how to use it. First, you stop giving it out easy."
   “Aw, Ali, who told you about that?”

  “A little bird. What you want to do is manage guys. Always remember – guys run the world. To them we are just tools for pleasure. But like Samson they got a weak point – their fifth leg. You know what that is dontchya?”

   “Yes, I sure pulled that leg enough.” Brenda gives a laugh where before her big bang she would give a giggle.
   “Good, Bren. To control a guy you gotta tease – y'know, show him your goods but, in the words of the Chinese laundry, no tickee, no washee. Make him pay high for his ticket to Rye”
   “Hey, Ali! You got that rhyming rage again. Rye is the greatest beach amusement park. I love it.
   “OK, just so you know. By showing your goods, I mean with taste. Don't lard on the perfume. Just a little so he gotta stand close. And no provocative clothing. Instead of a loud red signal, just a swish of your skirt to show the guy a little ass with a lotta class. Get me?”

   “Ali, you are funny. You ought to write plays.”

   “OK, there will be more of this later, Miss Alligator. We have a date next Saturday. I’ll tell Dr. Stan and we meet by the subway steps.”

Brenda, Ali and Dr Stan enter the Latin Quarter from its sidewalk entrance, through plush padded purple, double doors, held for guest-entry by two tall beauties looking like the French Follies Bergere, their long legs exposed to the cold November New York, outside.

   The 3 pass into a foyer where a clothing hatcheck girl – a pretty Miss Chinatown – checks the doctor's dark brown Ulster coat, Brenda's beaver fur jacket, which Dr Stan gallantly helps her out of to Ali's instant irritation, and Ali's plain cloth coat. Brenda shows her Crystal Club pass to a gray-haired man in well-tailored dark suit who is standing at the entrance to the table area. He studies it a moment and says pleasantly.

   “Young Miss Bordon! From your father's description I expect a bobbysoxer who got lost from a Sinatra show at the Paramount. Instead I am looking at this beautiful young woman who could have stepped out of a New Yorker fashion ad. Oh! Excuse me. I am Lou Walters. I own the joint.” He laughs.

   Ali is impressed. She has read about Lou Walters – he is the enfant terrible of nightclub owners; an upstart from Boston who just opened his Latin Quarter and is giving The Copacabana a run for its money. He scribbles a note on the 3-by-5-inch Latin Quarter card, indicating their table and Guests of Mr. Walters, and hands it to the white jacket maitre d’ who guides the 3 down a side aisle on their left to a gray-cloth, round-top table that when they are seated gives them a close-up view onto the circle stage.

   Ali notes the floor space is about 30 feet (c.9m.) wide and 3 times that in depth from street door to far end where they sit by the stage. It is dominated by the 10-foot (c.3m.) diameter circle stage with a place for a 7-piece band. The stage is fronted by three aisles enclosing two sets of tables. There are mezzanine box seats from each wall. Behind, in the open area as one comes in off the street is a stand bar for guests to socialize.

   The 3 have arrived before show time and the room is not much occupied and fairly quiet.
   Brenda is dressed in her best black party dress with high white collar and padded shoulders and sleeves with white frills at wrist and has a solid hair permanent that makes her look older. Ali is in dark green off-shoulder gown that does not reveal cleavage but does show bare knees when she sits. Dr Stan is in a rented black tux with red bow tie that clips on.
   “Gee, Lou Walters himself!  My Mom and Dad will love that.”

   Dr. Stan says, “Miss Brenda, I can't say how much I appreciate this. And now, I want you to dispense with my 'doctor' title and just call me 'Stan'. And Miss Ali, you look – if I may use a modern Millie phrase - Too Marvelous."
   “Thank you, Doc,” Ali says, seeing Brenda is speechless in his handsome presence. "But please stop calling us 'Misses'".

   “Yes, I should like that too,” chimes in Brenda, trying to sound sophisticated.

   A waiter appears. He introduces himself as Noah and says in an accent from the lower east side New York City “Mistah Walters aksed me ta take care a youse. What ya drink for starta's?"
   Brenda would have liked to say “martini” but wanting to make a best impression on Stan, whom she considers a cultured older man, says “A Crystal Club ginger ale please.” And adds with pride. “My father makes it.”

   Ali asks for a glass of Chianti red wine, and Stan orders Rum & Coke to which Noah replies. “We mix da rum wit Crystal Club, sir. Izzit okey dokey?"

   “Yes, ‘okey dokey’” says Stan and the girls laugh but Noah doesn't laugh, thinking A wise ass.

   After the drinks comes a pretty girl who looks about age 14 with nicely curving brown hair that curls on her shoulders and back of neck and in a follies outfit. She is carrying a tray of flowers.  Stan gets a white orchid on his lapel, Brenda a red rose on her collar and Ali a yellow chrysanthemum at which she exclaims “Just the right flower, as I am part Japanese.” Then, realizing it is not cool to be that in 1942 New York, adds – “Just joking.”
   The flower girl says, “I am Barbara. The boss told me about you and asked me to make sure you are happy.”
   After she leaves, Noah, who has stayed behind, confides, “Dat Barbara is Mistah Walters daughtah. He let her woik here aftah school.  A real smart Jane.”     

   Under Ali's leadership they order vegetarian. She tells it to Noah, who is barely able to suppress an expression of near indignation at their throwing away a free feed on what he calls roadside weed. After he leaves, Dr. Stan tells his plan to become a neuropsychiatrist.

   “Neuropsychiatrist?” Brenda echoes quizzically.

   “I use it to emphasize that mental illness and the normal mental state is determined by the physical brain – the neurons, their connections, the chemicals used by them. Psychiatrists today in 1942 follow Freud's idea that our minds are dominated by imprecise mental structures he calls the ego, surperego and id. I plan to combine neurology – the study of the physical brain and its diseases – with psychiatry".

   “Wow!” Exclaims Brenda.

   “Can you do Seminar for us one Sunday on that?” Ali asks

   “It will be a pleasure.”
  

They are interrupted by Noah with the food. They have requested to eat communist style, which means no individual serving; instead empty plates on which the eater puts the various foods from center table platters, in their case as follows: Freshly cut mixed vegetables – lettuces, carrot slices, tomatoes, celery cuts, cabbage strips; mixed fresh fruits – berries, slices of cantaloupe, honeydew, peaches, plums, and lemon wedges; and a big tray of spaghetti with, on the side, the chef's sauce ala Italia vegan. Also in saucers: yellow vinegar, honey, mustard,  pepper and oregano.  Missing is a salt shaker, ketchup, sugar and colored sweet syrups. To Noah's further astonishment, Ali said No to those unhealthy taste stimulants. For liquids they get carafes of cooled distilled water and a silver samovar for Orange Pekoe tea in addition to the ordered drinks.

   “Ma'am. You shuah you don't wanna steak or roast chicken or fish or some udder kinda meat?” asks Noah, trying to be helpful.
   Ali replies “No, Noah. You see, we pity the poor animals that have to get murdered for that kind of food.”
   “Uh.” Noah scratches his head. “Well, if yuh changes yah minds and gets real hungry, jus' press the table button.” And he leaves,– a man with a great story about some crazy guests of Mr. Walters to tell after work hours.

   “Now I say the prayer I learned from Moyshe 'Borah pre ha gofen'.”

   Brenda interrupts. “Hey Ali, that is only before the wine.”

   “Well, I am changing the rules since I am atheist, OK? Now, lyez eat."

   Brenda already knows Ali's ways well enough to eat silently. And Stan who is quick on the uptake stops his conversation. Later Ali will explain to him that eating should be a celebration of its sensory pleasure that conversation can ruin.

They finish dinner as the club fills. The room darkens and a small band rear stage is tuned up by the leader, fronting at a white piano. It signals the guests at tables to quiet down. Now a single spot produces a circle on stage.

   From offstage a man’s voice announces “Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr -- Billy Daniels.”

He enters smiling, his white shirt front making a deep V against black dinner jacket and bow tie. 

   To audience, “Love you all!” He fixes Ali with the look women call, putting on the make, and another spotlight shifts to her at table. “You in particular, darling!” Then he comments, “Looking at Miss Blonde Beauty here, I feel a singular emotion. I'm a man with a past of lovely ladies. But this lovely is something else. And, suddenly, I feel caught in a spell that goes back to Adam and Eve. It's got me too. Voodoo! It’s that old black magic.”

   The pianist moves his left arm and Billy Daniels starts to sing, directing first words to Ali:

 “That ole / black magic has me in its spell.
  That ole/ black magic that you / weave so well,
  Icy fingers up and down my spine.” (He walks to edge of stage to where Ali sits enraptured) 
 “Same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine, honey.” (The “honey” obviously ad lib)
   Ali lowers head in embarrassment. He gets down on his knees to look her in face.

 “Same old fingers that I feel inside;
  Then the roller coaster starts its slide.”

   Now he stands and turns to the other tables.
 “Down and down I go.” (Emotion cracks his voice)
 “All aroun' I go. Like a leaf, caught in the tide.”

   He faces Ali again.
 “I should stay /away. But what can I do?” (He cups hand to right ear)
 “I hear your name, dream doll, and I’m aflame.
 "Aflame with such a burning desire, baby.”  (He blows a kiss and makes motions to express his desire)
 “That only your kiss, kiss, kiss – kiss, kiss, kiss.
 " Can put out the fire."
   He comes to side of stage by Ali.

 “Say, you’re the lover that I've been waiting for.
 " The mate that fate had me created for."
   Now, the music crescendos.

“And every time/ your lips meet mine.” (He gets down so their lips are close)
“Baby, down, down, down I go.
" All aroun' I go.
" In a spin,
" Lovin’ the spin I’m in.
" Under that ole / black magic called love.
" Under that ole / black magic called love.”
(He stands and faces the audience in finale
 “Under that ole /

Black/

Magic /

Called,
 love /.”
   Not even bowing to the applause he exits left, lights go on, and the waiters start serving the main course.

After the Latin Quarter, Brenda and Ali do an overnight together in a semi suite at the Carlyle Hotel, which Ali pays for. 
   Dr Stan, after many thanks, takes a subway home to the Bronx and his Montefiore Hospital dorm, which as resident physician he shares with two other fellows.
   Ali had experienced the Carlyle on her World’s Fair trip with foreign correspondent Kimura. The semi suite is an entry foyer and inner 2-bed room with bath-shower attached.

   It is around midnight. The two sit facing on plushly backed chairs from the late 1800's.
   Ali has seen several nightclub singers and got ideas from Kimura, and she educates Brenda on the culture of the nightclub singer. First, about Billy Daniels' being Negro although very light skin and Caucasian features from his Portuguese forbears.

   "Gee, Ali, he don't look like one. He's handsome like Tyrone Power.”

   “What they call Negro in America, Bren, only needs a drop of it in the blood and as long as it can be traced, the person is stuck with it, and you know what that means.”
   “Yeah, I mean, Yes”. (Brenda's speech habit dies hard) Like Sam your super's helper, and he looks pretty white except the frizzy hair.

   “We cultured persons prefer to say person of color rather than Negro. To say Negro diminishes the person you call that and also makes you – the one who uses Negro sound stupidly superior.

   “When my dad speaks about Sam, which is not much, he says Creole. But he grew up in France.”

   “Anyway, good to see you're not prejudiced.” Ali laughs. “Except contra Jew boys.”
   “Aw, Ali, I just use that affectionately. Moyshe is a gem.” Brenda frowns “Say what's with the contra. Why not say it the way everyone else does?
   “Because contra is one of the code words that tells a listener the speaker is a science type.”
   “Oh, I see. And don't that make you feel superior?”

   “Touche, Brenda! By the way, it should be doesn't, not don't. You are really getting smart. Or should I say smart ass?”

   Ali switches to sex, recalling an earlier conversation of how the intelligent woman controls men.
   “Bren, I want to bring up a real delicate point. You might be revolted.”

   “Aw, Ali, don't bother yourself over delicacy with me. We're pals. So say it.”

   “Now, I don't want you to misunderstand. First, like I said, your mother is right about a girl keeping her virgin head. You only want to exchange it for a very valuable reason. But, it is not the only hole down there.”

   “But isn't that other just for making number two?

   “Mostly. But guys like to poke it sometimes. And it can be your very valuable commodity. I don't mean you should go around selling it. But you got to know that men can go crazy to get it and you got to know how to show them you could be willing, and then to know how to do it so you protect yourself.”

   “Ali, I never thought to use that. But, now, I'm learning about so many new things I never thought of before. So shoot the facts to me.”


It is the start of Ali’s clewing-in Brenda about the technique of rectal sex – how a woman makes a man aware of her availability in a tasteful, sexy way, how to control it, and how to do it and assure safety. These are things they will discuss more of, later. For now it is breaking the ice.

   Another new thing that starts this night at the Carlyle is an end of Brenda’s lesbian fun with Ali. They do not discuss it but, by an absence of mixing it up together as they have done on the couch or in bed, Brenda understands that when she was a kid she did things kids do. But now she is become woman. 
 End of Section; for next, click 12.41 A New Swerve in a Life