ruby, part 2

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ruby was sad ruby was blue ruby didn't know what to do another day almost gone by and still no slice of life's pie would she get a ride when she got outside? or the long empty night greet her weary sight? maybe gus would be waiting gus with his voice so grating and his hair dissipating and his twitching lips and his careful tips and his restless eyes with nothing to disguise gus could be faithful and true but not much to look forward to and then there was frankie ruby felt her brain cells burn at the thought of frankie's possible return frankie from the old neighborhood was no good with his smile so twisted and evil eye not to be resisted in a universe by justice kissed a creature like frankie would not exist he was a bum scum always on the run always with a plan to make an end run around the man looking for the perfect score just needing a few cents more to get started his hair was parted in the middle with perfect precision a satanic surgical incision and his nasty little mustache crying out, i need some cash frankie was a cancer not exactly the answer ruby was tired uninspired maybe she would go out and get wired she knew a little spot nothing too hot where she could relax the bartender was named max he had a little business on the side keeping gentlemen supplied with ladies from every continent and nation ruby had a standing invitation to take advantage of max's services but the thought made her a little nervous, yes but max hadn't mentioned it in a while maybe she wasn't the latest style or maybe - the thought made her brain stop cold she was just getting old the hours flowed and bended the day was almost ended ruby's feet were sore she couldn't wait to get off the floor but what was this? her relentless nemesis mrs carson with her icy smile and her impeccable sense of style had invaded ruby's station and was displaying a full ration of her perfect teeth so white ruby could not take flight and gave up the fight mrs carson smiled like an elf those shoes on the bottom shelf take them out please miss to myself i would be remiss if i didn't try them on sometime before dawn the rituals were performed ruby's back felt deformed while mrs carson looked at the ceiling ruby was feeling nothing at all half an hour later with her back a little straighter ruby stood at the back stair inhaling the halfway fresh air when who should she look up and see but her ancient enemy - mrs carson with her chauffeur named (what else?) garcon and her eyes of midnight ink and her mink would you like a lift, my dear? ruby felt like a mere spectator at a show but you don't know where i want to go mrs carson's laugh was blue oh, but i think i do garcon opened the door of the bentley clicking his heels like a sentry as they sped down main street the lights of the city were spreading their wings in flight then the city was left behind and they raced through the night dark and blind mrs carson leaned back in her furs and took ruby's hand in hers

part 3

ruby, part 1

anyone familiar with the writings of joseph moncure march, best known for his long poem "the wild party" will recognize this immediately as an imitation

ruby was a redhead and she knew the score she worked in a department store but she wanted more much more persian rugs on the floor a house by the seashore a rich husband who wasn't a bore rings on every knuckle golden slippers with silver buckles high heel sneakers with silken laces every hand - four aces she wanted to be a rich mans wife and never work another day in her life as she stood on her little feet all day she thought there must be a better way some people in this lonesome town never look up and always look down and say i'm lucky that i am not them and thank the lord amen but that was not ruby's way today or any other day like a buttercup drinking the suns rays ruby always looked up like a teacup lifted to elegant lips in stylish sips on round the world trips ruby looked around but no satisfaction she found her ship had run aground right into the dog pound when would it be her turn? was it too late to learn how this low account life to spurn and began to seriously earn ruby's avaricious dreams flowed in never ending streams as she stood at her post like a restless little ghost mrs carson approached and the subject was broached of the return of a pair of shoes this was old news mrs carson's persistence was the curse of ruby's existence she would waste ruby's time for a dollar or a dime buy and return buy and return with fate's permission she taunted ruby with unearned commission ruby managed a smile but all the while as the blue earth turned her white hot ambition burned

part 2