Chapter 5
Jesse
As proud as he’d always been about his postal uniform, fussing over clothes, hair, and makeup had never been a part of Jesse’s daily routine. He needed no reminders that he was shorter than average and had a hairline that battled his deep side part every day.
His first real exposure to beauty products was Mrs. Nelson with her rouged cheeks, heavily arched brows, and long blue lashes.
She seemed to enjoy it, but the thought of doing it himself made his eyes itch.
He hoped it wouldn’t be so bad if someone else was applying it for him.
More new clothes to wear that were made specifically to fit him was a little more exciting, especially if they were designed with movement in mind.
Jesse and Cal approached a massive building that looked like it had only recently been constructed on the sprawling studio lot.
Two rows of symmetrical topiary trees lined the front of it.
The weight of uncertainty from their previous appointments lifted as soon as Cal told him where they were going next, but to see the place in person?
Jesse could already feel his toes beginning to buzz with his excitement.
From an early age, Jesse knew exactly what strengths his magic provided.
He was always the fastest in a foot race.
The trees at his childhood home had been no match for his sure-footed climbing.
And of course riding a bicycle had proven to be easiest of all, even on the rugged rural roads he grew up on.
But nothing ever came close to his talent for dancing.
There’d never been time or money for formal lessons.
Instead, slow summer evenings were spent out on the porch while the neighbor played fiddle and the lightning bugs flashed.
Jesse could still feel the cool grass tickling his bare feet.
Other nights, the whole family would gather around the radio and listen to jazz.
Even the baby would clap along as Jesse put on the performance of a lifetime in his dirty rolled up overalls.
He’d never had anyone tell him how to find the rhythm or follow certain steps.
There was just something inside him that knew what to do.
When the doors to the music department opened, it was as though Jesse had found a home he’d never known.
A long hallway was lined with windows that peeked into matching rooms on both sides.
They featured open floor space with a wall full of mirrors.
In one, people were strewn about in various states of dress, bending and stretching and lying on the floor.
Jesse turned his attention to the other room and nearly gasped.
At least a dozen dancers were up on their toes, twirling again and again with such grace.
He had seen one or two movies with dance numbers in them before, but to see it in real life? A shiver ran down Jesse’s spine.
“They’re so beautiful,” he managed, finally tearing his gaze away. Cal was still beside him looking like he might be sick.
“Beautiful,” Cal agreed shakily.
“Aw, come on, Mr. Campbell,” Jesse said with soft confidence. “Even I can’t dance like that. We’re going to learn together, you and me. It’ll be swell.”
Jesse believed it, too. If there was anywhere in the world that could help him become an even better dancer, this was it.
The next windows allowed them to see smaller rooms where it appeared that more focused lessons were being held.
A man was busy flipping through pages of the script in his hand while a woman was speaking in a very animated way to someone else.
Jesse couldn’t hear what she was saying with the door closed, but she did not look pleased.
When they made it about halfway down the hall, a young man with a dark complexion wearing red plaid trousers that sat high on his waist stepped into their path with wide eyes and an even wider smile.
“My stars!” he exclaimed with a clap of his hands.
“Mr. Campbell, it’s an honor to be working with you on your first musical, sir.
A dream come true.” He shook Cal’s hand a little frantically and then reached for Jesse.
“And you, Mr. Morgan, have a reputation that precedes you, which is hardly an accomplishment in this town, but certainly speaks volumes when I’ve only heard excellent things. ”
“Oh—” Jesse blinked rapidly as he struggled to catch up, but there was no time.
“Well, there’s no time to waste,” the man confirmed as he pushed his way between them and placed a hand on their backs, ushering them into another private room with a large and very expensive looking piano in the corner.
The door got kicked shut behind them and the man was already seated on the bench, readying his fingers for the keys.
“Just to be clear,” Cal said, “you are the choreographer, correct?”
“That’s what they pay me for, Mr. Campbell,” the man quipped as he started in on a bouncy little melody. “Call me Price. Now, let’s see what I’ve got to work with here. Go ahead, gentlemen, the floor is yours.”
Jesse removed his coat, hooking it on the empty rack to the left of the door before stepping out into the open space of the room.
He scuffed the toe of his shoe against the black streaks on the shiny wood floor.
These were the marks of other musical movie stars; the stamps of some of the greatest talent in the country, possibly the entire world.
And Jesse was about to add his own into the mix.
A smile broke across Jesse’s face. With a little hop, he closed his eyes and reached for his magic.
Dancing in front of people had never made him nervous before, but there was a distinct flutter in his stomach as he stepped along with the notes.
He wanted to prove he could do anything their choreographer asked of him.
But more than that, he desperately wanted to impress the tall, handsome man still standing off to the side.
Within seconds, Jesse had lost himself to the tune, filling the small space with the slap of his shoes against the floor. He marveled at the way there was no sticky residue on it to slow him down, nor smoke in the air to bother his lungs as he drew in deep breaths to keep up with his own fast pace.
The familiar press of his suspenders against his shoulders as he moved his arms along with his low kicks kept him going.
What would it be like to dance wearing a costume?
After reading through the script, it seemed that his character was a young man similar to himself with one glaring difference: he had no idea how to dance.
Jesse stole a look at Cal, who was set to play the role of his dance instructor in the film.
What an adventure they were about to have.
“Excellent, excellent,” Mr. Price called out over his playing.
“A little wild, but I always prefer to lasso in my talent rather than drag it out of the barn.” His fingers finally slowed a bit and Jesse took that as permission to stop.
“Speaking of,” he went on with a little more demand than he’d had before, “Mr. Campbell, please show us what you’ve got. ”
With his hands on his hips, Jesse took a few steps to the side so Cal could take his place. Their eyes met across the floor and Jesse nodded his encouragement.
“I’m afraid you’re both about to be deeply disappointed,” Cal said as he moved onto the floor and turned to face the piano.
“You must know at least one dance,” Jesse said, finally able to speak after catching his breath. “A little swing or something?”
“I believe I’m familiar with the Charleston.”
Without a word, Mr. Price started to play again, this time with a more focused beat that was perfect for the Charleston. He and Jesse watched as Cal stood still for a full thirty seconds, staring at his feet.
The playing abruptly stopped. “Sweet cheese and crackers,” the choreographer muttered from behind the piano. “Mr. Morgan, help the poor man before someone sees and the picture gets canceled.”
Jesse had never shown anyone else how to dance before.
“Um…” He stepped closer to Cal and turned so their feet were pointed in the same direction.
The music started again, exactly the same as before.
He patted his right thigh. “This leg back.” He took a step back onto his right foot and waited for Cal to do the same.
“Back together.” Jesse brought his right foot forward again and Cal copied him.
“Other leg,” he instructed, stepping up with his left as Cal went backward again.
“In front of you this time,” Jesse corrected, and Cal unsteadily moved his left foot from behind him all the way to the front in one awkward sweep.
Jesse choked down a tiny laugh. “Good. Now back together again and you’ve done it,” he said, returning to the starting position.
Cal heaved a sigh when his feet came together. “That wasn’t so bad.”
“Now you just have to do it about ten times faster.” Jesse fell into stride with the music, following through the steps he’d just demonstrated for Cal with ease, working in a twist with his heels and straight arms moving side to side to match. “See? Easy.”
“I believe I’ve collected all of the notes I need to get started, gentlemen,” Mr. Price said finally. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”