LuLu's Back In Town

LuLu's Back In Town

Perley J. Thibodeau

Copyright © 2011 Perley J. Thibodeau

TALES OF MYSTERY PUBLICATIONS

All rights reserved.

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A RAG A BONE

A HANK OF HAIR

LULU’S BACK IN TOWN

BETTER BEWARE

The proceeding is a fictional account containing many instances of fact!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

A huge jet plane is seen circling an airport runway. It glides down into a smooth landing with the wheels continuing to spin as the plane comes to a full stop on the airport’s tarmac. A black lettering on a white background sign proclaims the landing strip to be;

BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

WELCOME TO BANGOR, MAINE!

LuLu is seen coming out, and pausing at the top of the stairs. She’s wearing a form fitting brown beige and black Leopard print silk dress, chunky bracelets, and dangling earrings. She’s also wearing high heel mule slippers, big pocket book and an auburn red corkscrew curled wig. A dark brown faux Ranch Mink stole loosely wrapped around her shoulders completes the whole flashy look of the outfit. The whole effect is that of Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth as Sadie Thompson in Rain looking for yet another island.

Where’s that careless chambermaid?

Where’d she put my razor blade?

She mislaid it I’m afraid,

It’s gotta be foun’!

Ask her when she cleaned my room

What she did with my perfume;

I just can’t lose it,

I gotta use it,

‘Cause Lulu’s Back in Town.

Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed

Gotta sew a button on my vest,

‘Cause tonight I’ve gotta look my best

Lulu’s Back In Town.

Gotta get a half a buck somewhere,

Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair’

Gotta get myself a boutonniere

Lulu’s Back in Town.

You can tell all my pets.

All my little coquettes,

Mr. Otis regrets

that he won’t be around.

You can tell the mailman not to call’

I won’t be coming home until the fall,

And I might not get back home at all,

Lulu’s Back In Town!

While the song continues to play in her mind LuLu walks down stairs of plane and is greeted by a young man standing at the foot of the stairs with a small nose gay of flowers which he proudly presents to her. He then walks toward the waiting black New York Town Car which is parked on the tarmac near the plane. LuLu follows at a short distance. The young man stands holding the door of the limousine open until LuLu gets in the back seat. He closes the door after she’s safely in the car, and opens the front passenger door, and gets into the passenger seat, then closes the door behind him. The car pulls slowly away from the plane heading for the exit. LuLu continues to hum the tune over the car’s exit.

Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed

Gotta sew a button on my vest

"Cause tonight I gotta look my best,

Lulu’s Back in Town.

Gotta get a half a buck somewhere

Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair

Gotta get myself a boutonniere,

Lulu’s Back in Town.

You can tell all my pets

All my blondes and brunettes

Mister Otis regrets,

He won’t be aroun’

You can tell the mailman not to call,

I won’t be coming home until the fall,

And I might not get back home at all,

Lulu’s Back in Town.

The car reaches the exit and heads out of sight into traffic. With the last bar of the music ending in LuLu’s head coinciding with the car’s exit, She relaxes back into the car’s seat and heaves a sigh.

"Louie’s

+image+

Back in Town "

Chapter 2

LuLu is sitting in the dressing room of the night club she has been brought to town to perform in for a week’s engagement. Sitting with her is a very sedately dressed and acting woman of a slightly younger age than she is. She has high cheek bones, chestnut colored hair streaked with grey that is pinned in a tight bun at the nape of her slender neck. She has downcast brownish hazel eyes that portray a long suffering look in their depths

The woman now says with sweet sincerity. " I am rather ashamed that I feel like a common criminal sneaking in here like this, but I’d literally have Hell to pay if any one were to ever find out that I was here.

Slightly amused, LuLu replies. You don’t look like the type of woman who has been to many gay night clubs, or any other nightclubs for that matter. You’re much too innocent and sweet. With a sudden look of wonder Almost an air of reverential holiness about you.

I don’t know about the holiness. She offers. More like innocently devout, I’d say. My father was a Pentecostal Minister and my mother helped him with his sermons. I helped out around the church and house.

Always willing to hear another person’s story, LuLu encourages her to continue. That’s very nice to hear, but now you have me all the more confused as to why you stopped by the club tonight and asked to talk to me.

It’s a long involved story that I was told you might be able to help me with. She says, glancing down at her lap and the folded hands resting in them)

Oh, I see. LuLu says, skeptically. You think I’m a rich show business personality from New York City, and you want me to make a large contribution to your father’s church?

The woman is surprised, and now gently fingering the plain gold wedding band on her third finger left hand with the index finger of her right hand, says Oh, no. Nothing like that. I can assure you.

Slightly impatient. I’m getting ready to go onstage in a few minutes, so I really don’t have much time. Would it be better if we made an appointment to meet each other here tomorrow afternoon, then you can tell me the whole sad tale?

Oh, I had really better not press my luck too much. she says. You see my husband is a very well known Fundamentalist Minister here in the Bangor area, and he‘d never forgive me for coming to a nightclub or associating with people who do.

Then why are you here? LuLu is suddenly very curious.

The woman now sighs wearily. It’s all so confusing and completely alien to me that I just don’t know where to begin. It would take much too long to start at the very beginning, but it just seems so abrupt to start in the middle and go from there

Glancing at the advancing hands on the clock in front of her on the mirror lighted dressing table It really doesn’t matter where you start just as long as you start.

The woman now takes a deep breath. My oldest son was gay.

Almost smiling as she glances down to hide her sudden emotion, LuLu says. And you either think that I can cure him or have your elderly father and husband the two ministers accept that fact?

My father is deceased, as is my mother. It’s my husband that I’m worried about. The woman confesses quietly.

Trying a new tact to the questioning, LuLu asks. "But you said that your son was gay. As in past tense?

My son is dead. The woman chokes up in stating. As much as I grieve for his departed soul, I now have the extra added worry of how it affected my husband and the rest of my family as a whole.

I’m sorry to hear that. He must have been quite young. Was it… a slight painful pause ensues. …AIDS?

Now quickly spoken. Oh, no. No, no, no. Thankfully he and the rest of us didn’t have to suffer the consequences of that slow killing disease with the terrible social stigma attached to it, and all. And now plaintively You see, my son was killed.

Spoken sincerely I’m so sorry to hear that. What a terrible shock it must have been for all of you.

The woman nods in sad agreement.

A terrible shock, indeed. Something that I don’t believe any of us will ever be able to quite get past the knowledge of! A faraway look now enters her eyes.

LuLu prompting slightly. Was it an auto accident?

No. He was murdered in cold blood. This simply stated.

With compassionate surprise. How tragic. Did all of this take place here in Bangor? Faltering slightly. I mean, even though I’ve been away for years I do pride myself on keeping up on the local happenings through friends, and I didn’t hear anything about this?

It all happened two years ago, and took place in Boston. The woman now breaks down as she chokes back a sob.. It’s all so difficult for me to speak of it even to this day. Please forgive me. She begs.

She reaches into her black handbag and extracts a plain white man’s handkerchief and dabs at her eyes that are now brimming with motherly tears

Contritely said, now having heard enough of the heartache that this poor woman must feel. Take your time, dear. I realize how heart rending this experience must be to have to live with and to constantly recall.

You’re a kind person just as I was told that you are.

Now helplessly at a loss for words I’m improving with age. LuLu agrees. I’m improving with age.

They found his lifeless body in a hotel room in Boston, she goes on. He had been brutally strangled to death with the killer’s bare hands.

And the killer was never apprehended?

:No, how did you know? She inquires, with slight surprise.

Fortunately or unfortunately according to what ever mood I happen to be in at the time, I have had first hand experience with big city police departments, and the homicide detectives who are employed by them.

That was what I have been told, she agrees. And why I have asked you for this meeting. I’m sure if you would help, and also by promising not to involve me in the investigation then I could make it worth your while monetary wise, and it would bring closure to my husband, my other son and me.

Your other son?

Yes. I have another son two years younger than the son who was killed Uneasily looking toward the door I would really like to leave now in order to both free you for your up coming performance, and for me to have time to gather my wits about me before I go home to my husband and, pretend that this vital to me meeting never took place. But just how am I supposed to know what you expect me to do for you if you don’t tell me outright just what it is that you want from me?

I’m sorry. She apologizes. I’m afraid that I’m just not thinking rationally. If you’ll kindly agree to investigate this matter, then I’ll have my surviving son contact you, and he’ll give you all the details. I’m sure that you’ll please be kind to him as; it will be just as difficult for him as he thought the world of his late brother also. But he’s of course, younger than I am, and naturally not having as much on his mind will be able to assist you better in the work that you will have hopefully agreed to do."

And your husband will never know that you became involved with such unsavory characters in order to ease a mother and father’s mind?

Benignly spoken. Precisely.

Musing slightly, LuLu replies. Although I came up here to Bangor to revisit the scene of past triumphs and failures and to give the local gay community a much needed morale boost, your situation has provided me with a challenge, and I have never been a person to back down when confronted with one.

Getting up and starting for the dressing room door That’s what I have been told, and why I have appealed to you for help!

And when might I expect your other son to contact me?

Now smiling faintly at the words that are reassuring her of LuLu’s agreed upon involvement If you are not too tired, I have told him to talk to you right after tonight’s show!

You knew I would agree to get involved? A slight smile now crosses LuLu’s face.

I was told that you were a person who never backed off from a challenge. The woman offers, in reply.

And the challenge of my investigation expenses? LuLu inquires, flatly.

Now lightly embarrassed. Oh, I’m so sorry. As she a fish into her hand bag again and passes her a plastic card This is a MasterCard that has a five thousand dollar line of credit on it. Almost assuredly businesslike in her demeanor This is besides the ample gratuity that I will pay you at the end of the investigation. If more is needed to complete your solving of this case then that can be arranged through my surviving son, also!

I can see that your surviving son and I will be getting to know each other quite well. LuLu agrees, in accepting the challenge.

Now confidently speaking. He’s a very nice young man. She assures. I’m sure the two of you will get along very well together.

Does he know that I’m a……

Abruptly cutting her words off. A female impersonator?

Lu Lu nods agreement

I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This simply stated.

Philosophically, LuLu utters. I may be up to new challenges, but I don’t know if I’m able to take many more surprises.

By the way. My name is Faith. Faith Adams. Her serious expression now softens considerably. Again, I do pray that you will keep all of this involvement on my part our secret for my own safety. Killers don’t like to be found out as being such, I should surmise.

Shaking her head slowly in agreement. That’s exactly what I have found out from personal experience.

Taking Lu Lu’s two hands in hers and looking directly into her eyes. God bless you for helping my family and me out in the midsts of our ongoing anguish. God will bless you, I’m sure.

I can only do my best. That’s all that I can do. LuLu says, in utter humbleness.

Faith, continuing on. I hope that you’ll also be available for update reports to me personally, as there may be other details that I can supply in future regarding your investigation.

I’ll be looking forward to speaking to you again on this subject. These words of encouragement coming forth from LuLu.

The woman stands to leave. Fingering one of the brightly sequined and feathered gowns hanging from an iron bar on chains suspended from the ceiling)

You have lovely costumes, Lu Lu. If I may call you that? (Lu Lu nods agreement once again) I was never allowed to have pretty things in my life, as both my father and now my husband have preached that physical adornment is a sign of the Devil!

LuLu speaks prophetically) The Devil comes in many disguises.

With her back now turned to LuLu, and her voice fading as she exits the open dressing room door. So, I’ve been told, my dear. So, I’ve been told!

When the woman leaves LuLu sits down at the lighted dressing table to finish the last touches on her make up and wig. She notices a white envelope on the table directly in front of her. It was the envelope that Faith Adams had taken the credit card from. Picking it up she notices that there is a letter sized paper folded within. Without opening the letter to read it she automatically looks back at the now almost closed dressing room door, but of course if the woman Faith Adams has left it there by mistake or on purpose then it was too late to return it to her just then.

Muttering audibly to herself, she says, It must be further written instructions.

She shrugs as she places the envelope into her hand bag and stands up to start to take her lightweight dressing kimono off preparatory to getting dressed and going out to do her act

Chapter 3

The nightclub tables are filled to capacity with patrons. The merriment and alcohol fueled laughter subside when the club’s house light goes down and the stage area lights come up signaling that the performance is about to start

Still baffled from the strange meeting in the dressing room with the woman who called herself Faith Adams, LuLu is now on stage under the spotlight, and wearing the silvery green sequined gown with the multiple tiers of silver beaded fringe that has been hanging on the dressing rack, and the woman had randomly touched with silent wistful longing She takes the cordless microphone in hand and as the drummer and piano player finish the ten note introduction by performing the last notes of the song, she gives the audience a huge smile and a broad wink as she shakes the dress fringes and starts to repeat her carefully rehearsed lively musical number.

‘DON’T BRING LULU"

SONG

You can bring Pearl; she's a darn nice girl,

But don't bring Lulu!

You can bring Rose with the turned-up nose,

But don't bring Lulu!

Lulu always wants to do

What the boys don't want her to.

When she struts her stuff around,

London bridge is falling down

You can bring cake or a porterhouse steak,

But don't bring Lulu!

Lulu gets blue and goes cuckoo

Like the clock upon the shelf.

She's the kind of smarty breaks up every party,

Hullabaloo loo, loo, don't bring Lulu,

I'll bring her myself!

You can bring Flo, her dad's got dough

But don't bring Lulu!

You can bring Lil; she's an awful pill,

But don't bring Lulu!

Lulu has the reddest hair, it’s redder here and redder there.

How can we boys keep our head?

Bulls go wild when they see red.

You can bring peas and crackers and cheese,

But don't bring Lulu!

When she gets sore and slams the door

The plates fly off the shelf.

She can make a feller wild on sarsaparilla.

Hullabaloo loo, don't bring Lulu,

She'll come here herself.

(Quick Shimmy Dance)

You can bring ham and crackers and jam

But don't bring Lulu!

Lulu goes wild, and when she's wild

She climbs upon the shelf!

She can make a pastor be a dancing master.

Hullabaloo-loo, don't bring Lulu,

I'll bring her myself

You can bring Jan she’s a real dead pan

But don’t bring Lulu

You can bring