Her radio star

CHAPTER 1

I left my Amsterdam flat to get on a private aircraft back to Los Angeles, California a place that I haven’t been to in decades it’s gonna be my first time in front of the camera in a very long time “ are you sure you want to do this grandma” my granddaughter Esme always by my side

" Yes, I’m sure it’s time to spill on the beans. I’m almost 90 years old, what do I have to lose” grabbing Esme hand. My granddaughter Esme has a very special place in my heart. We’ve been very close ever since she was a small child and now she takes care of me now that I’m in my older state.

A cane in my hand, my arm interlocked with my granddaughters, we walked to our private cab that’ll take us back to Columbia Pictures. Where my career really took off where I became her radio star. Esmee fluffed my short silver hair and people started to mic me.

" I’ll be sitting behind the camera,” Esmee said, giving me a quick kiss on my cheek.

" I want to thank you for letting me cover your story, Arabella. This is my biggest story yet. I’m Julianna I’ll be interviewing you” the young brunette reporter sat in front of me.

" It’s my pleasure, dear” the young reporter Julianna gave me a smile.

" If anything is getting too much for you just let me know we want you to be as natural as possible” I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous.

The cameraman counted down from 3 and then we were rolling ” Arabella thank you for joining us you don’t know how much we appreciate you being here in the studio with us today. A true Hollywood legend and the first superstar our world has ever seen” my heart pounded in my chest but as soon as the camera started rolling it was like I never even left.

" Thank you for having me. I’m ready to give you guys a detailed history lesson” the small crew behind the camera laughed.

" We want to know everything about Arabella from your start in Hollywood, your greatest friend Maisie Mae, and why you left Hollywood at the height of your stardom. Why don’t you start from the beginning with an 18 year old Arabella Chang and how you made it into Hollywood” the memories started to flow back to me.

" I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I lived with my parents in a small one story house where I struggled to find work. I didn’t know what to do with my life but all I knew was that I wanted to be a singer” I came back home with still no luck after searching for a job for the past 2 weeks.

I telephoned my best friend Collin ” Arabella, oh how I miss the sound of your voice. How’s the job hunting going?” He’s a couple of years older than me. We met at the cinema where we quickly became the closest of friends.

He moved to Los Angeles a year ago for a fresh start ” not so great. I hate it here, I feel like I’m suffocating here Collin” twirling the phone cord around my index finger.

" Why don’t you come down here. They have lots of clubs you can sing at , I can get you a job at the hotel I work at. I’ll put in a good word for you, you can stay with me. I miss you, LA has a lot more opportunities than there. I’ll even pick you up from the train station” at the end of the month.I took the train down to Los Angeles.

I stepped off the train looking in the crowd for my friend ” Arabella” . I ran to my dear friend with open arms as he lifted me off the ground, spinning me around.

" About time you made the move down here. Let me grab your things” the buildings look even bigger in person than in pictures that I had on my bedroom wall, the streets were crowded with people.

I grabbed his arm as we started to walk down the street Collin chatted away while I was distracted and fascinated with the new city life ” it’s not fancy or anything but we have to start from bottom to get to the top” as he lead me inside an dirty and sketchy old apartment building that smells strong of urine.

′ Out of order’ read on the elevator ” oh bloody hell” I chuckled.

" It’s okay we’ll take the stairs” we went up the 10 flights of stairs arriving at his apartment door out of breath and tired.

" Welcome to your new home” The small apartment was ordinary with a small bedroom, kitchen, the tiniest family room and bathroom.

I don’t have the right to complain Collin is offering a part of his home to me and I am grateful ” I didn’t have time to clean. I worked a late night shift at the hotel and then I went to pick you up. I know it’s not like you’re expecting but the rent is cheap, affordable, and is a decent walk to the hotel. You can take the bedroom and I’ll take the couch” you can hear the hustle and the bustle of the city from down below.

" Oh, Collin I can’t take your room from you” he pulled apart the couch to reveal a springy pulled out couch that squeaked loudly when he sat on it.

" No, no I already have it settled for you” the bedroom sat a twin sized bed with plain white sheets that laid on the floor, a light brown nightstand with a simple lamp, and a dresser.

" I emptied the dresser for you so, that is all yours” I pulled Collin in for a hug.

" Thank you for everything”.

Collin guided me into the hotel that was on Hollywood Blvd right across the street from the famous Chinese theater inside the hotel was grand smooth tiled floor that made the sound of my heels echo through the lobby, above me were several chandeliers that glistened, pillars and chairs took most of the lobby it was a very fancy and expensive hotel. Collon led me to the front desk two people were behind it a man with light brown hair that was slick to the side with a deep side part his face was cleanly shaven and wore a nice suit that was busy on the telephone and a woman that was helping people check in ” afternoon, Mr. Lee and who is this?” Her name tag read Margaret.

" This is Arabella the person I told you about” her face brightened up like we just shook her awake.

" Oh, of course. I’ll call Mr. Hearst please, take a seat” I put my purse on my lap and my leg started to bounce.

Collin quickly took notice and put his hand on my knee. It didn’t stop the bouncing ” you’ll be magnificent once you open your mouth you’ll blow them away. What song have you prepared?” before I could open up my mouth to answer him.

" Arabella Chang” I stood. Collin gave me a hug and whispered in my ear ” knock them dead” It made me smile.

The woman led me into the elevator ” 12th floor, please” she told the elevator operator .

" You have a song prepared?” She asked.

" Yes, is it gonna be just Mr. Hearst doing the auditions?” The doorman stopped on the 12th floor with a ding.

" Off you go. Good luck, dear” slightly pushing me off the elevator.

The club on the 12th floor was also very high class with mainly the same interior as the lobby. The floor was a perfect floor to dance, plenty of room and not slippery. The room was filled with tables that they were setting up for the evening. The stage wasn’t big but it wasn’t small either and had multiple seats for the band players to sit and play comfortably ” I don’t have all day!” Mr. Hearst sat in the front center. He was an overweight man that wore a suit and his hair well. He barely had any. He had a cup of Brady on his side with a lit cigar in his hand.

I didn’t even make it to the microphone when he said ” nope, no I don’t need people like you singing in my hotel” flailing his arms.

" You didn’t even hear me sing” he finished the rest of his Brady and took a long drag of his cigar.

" I’ve seen quite enough. You may go” I try to hold back tears in my eyes as I make it back down to the lobby. Collin was still waiting in the lobby for me when he saw me get off the elevator as he stood up with my purse in his hand.

I couldn’t help it. He opened his arms and I sobbed into his chest. He rubbed his hand up and down my back. ” What happened?” he asked.

" He didn’t even let me sing. I didn’t even make it up to the microphone” he kissed the top of my head. ” Let’s go home”.

" He didn’t even let you sing?” the reporter asked, surprised.

" Times were different back then. I’m half Korean and they didn’t understand heritage back then. It was a tough and long journey for people to take me seriously. I almost went back home about to give up. I went to a lot of clubs and most of them wouldn’t let me go past the front door. “It was the most frustrating time of my life trying to get my name into the door.

" What made you go back to the hotel club you were first rejected at?” Collin was there; he kept on pushing me when I had no more confidence left in me.

" Collin, he was my number one supporter. He was working the night shift that night and he kept on insisting for me to come along. Collin looked through my closet to pick out my evening wear.

I was depressed and hadn’t left my bed in almost a week and my parents were telling me to come home. ” He already said no Collin, maybe singing isn’t the right career path for me.” He picked out a dress that was simple but classy due to the lace detailing on the hems.

" You can’t give up just yet. I’ll make you a deal if he doesn’t let you sing I won’t push you no more and you can go back home. I know you can make it big Arabella. I believe in you. Now get dressed we leave in an hour” I knew I got to look my best. My stubborn pin straight black hair couldn’t hold a curl.

Curls are a girl’s best asset but mine kept on falling flat. I put on light eye shadow, winged eyeliner and deep red lipstick on my lips. I put some clipped earrings and a simple necklace to try to dress up my outfit.

" You look gorgeous. He’ll have to let you sing’ he helped me put on my coat taking his arm as we walked the several blocks to the hotel.