Chapter 1
Camille rushed into the house letting the screen door slam behind her. Her long tan legs carried her up the wooden stairs and into her sister Emmeline’s room. Camille did not have much time to decide which dress she would secretly borrow from her older sister. Her own wardrobe consisted of everyday clothes and a Sunday dress.
Tonight was special and she wanted something that looked fancy. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, noting that she had about ten minutes before Emmie came home from her job at the Parish Council. She sifted through the armoire. Selected one with tiny pink roses that had a laced bodice and ruffled sleeves. Holding it up to herself, she wondered why Emmie inherited their mother’s ample breasts and not her.
She paused her movements and focused on the sound of the screen door slamming shut. Frozen in place for a moment, she realized that it must be the twins returning from school. Clutching the dress tightly, she hurried off to her own room before Angelo and Antonio saw her. After a few minutes had passed, Camille cautiously peeked out of her bedroom door to check if they were home yet
“That you Angie and Tony?”
The boys were already seated at the kitchen table, squabbling over how to divide up the remaining slices of blueberry la tarte from last night’s dinner. Glancing into the kitchen, she sighed and gave the boys a stern warning.
“If you make a mess in here, Emmeline will be furious.”
The boys nodded, their faces covered in blueberry juice as it dripped onto the kitchen table. Camille rolled her eyes and headed back upstairs. She had more important things to do than babysit two twelve-year-old boys. They were old enough to clean up after themselves, and she was tired of picking up after them. As she walked, her thoughts drifted to getting ready for the dance later that night. Her boyfriend Charlie Thibodeau and his band had a gig at a real club called T Bo’s, not just another high school gym where they usually played. She couldn’t help but feel proud of Charlie and the Woodchucks as she twirled around in her room with her dress on.
Chet, Charlie’s cousin, drove up in his Tin Lizzie and honked the horn impatiently. Charlie emerged from the repair garage, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a greasy arm. He raised his voice to be heard over the clunking engine. “Hold on, Chet. I need to let Pa know I’m heading out.” His father didn’t mind that Charlie played in a band with his cousins and friends; he knew it was just a young boy’s dream. But when he graduated this year, he would have to buckle down and join the family business working full time at the garage.
As soon as Charlie hopped into the car, he spread his long weary legs and leaned back to relax. But before he could settle in, Chet blurted out the exciting news.
“Guess what? We landed a gig at La Reux’s Dance Hall in New Orleans for the first week of July!”
“New Orleans!”
Charlie’s blue eyes widened in surprise, a habitual gesture. Growing up in Lake Trowley, he had only left the small town a handful of times - to visit cousins in Baton Rouge and once to New Orleans when he was seven.
“How on earth did you pull that off?” Charlie asked, amazed.
“I have connections, my dear Charlie boy,” Chet replied with a mischievous grin. He went on to regale Charlie with all the details, while Charlie couldn’t help but think about how thrilled Camille would be.
As evening fell, Camille carefully lowered the dress she borrowed from her sisters closet and hung it from a string outside her bedroom window, then closed the window as quietly as she could. She changed into a simple blue sundress and made her way downstairs to join her family, who gathered together every Friday night. The twins, Tony and Angie, sat by the radio eagerly awaiting the new episode of Superman. Her father Aubrey was settled in his favorite armchair, engaged in conversation with her older brother Roberto and his new wife Rene’. Emmeline and her boyfriend Joe Bo sat in a love seat. Seated at a proper distance from each other.
“Honey, what happened at work today?” Rene asked with concern in her voice as she gently placed a hand on Roberto’s back. He took a deep breath and began to explain,” It was the darnest thing I was just sitting at my desk when suddenly my nose started bleedin. I had to use my entire shirt to try and stop it.”
”
Aunt Na walked from the kitchen into the parlor and wagged her finger at Roberto. “You may laugh, but you’ll soon see I’m correct. Your bloody nose is proof enough for me. You have a bun in the oven. Your bloody nose just told me it is so.” Roberto laughed, “It is too soon for that Aunt Na.”
Camille tried to silently slip out of the parlor and began to make her way towards the front door. “Where are you headed tonight, cher?” Her father asked with interest.
“To see Charlie and the band, Poppa.”
He nodded, pleased with the situation. He could tell that Charlie would soon ask for Camille’s hand in marriage. He thought highly of the young man and his family.
Emmeline was eagerly waiting for an opportunity to speak up. “Papa, Camille never mentioned where she was going to see Charlie play.”
Camille turned her head, her long dark brown hair whipped around her face like a storm of silk. her eyes narrowed to slits. She shot her sister a look that would have knocked her and the love seat over. Aubrey waited for Camille to respond; in fact everyone in parlor had her attention now.
With a frustrated breath Camille replied, “At little place called T Bo’s.”
Emmeline’s body jolted upright, her chest puffed out with pride. Her voice was loud and commanding as she spoke, her hands gesturing dramatically as she shouted.
“That is a swing club Poppa!”
Camille took a few menacing steps towards her sister “Shut up Emmie you’re not my mother.”
Aubrey raised his hand to stop the quarrel, as he did so many times before. Ever since his wife passed away of the cancer eight years ago, Emmeline had tried to play the role of surrogate mother to Camille and the boys.
Aubrey exchanged a reassuring glance with Emmeline before turning to Camille. “I have no doubt that Charlie Thibodeau will take good care of your sister.” He then directed his intense blue gaze towards Camille. “But be mindful and stick close to the band while you’re there, okay?”
“Oh, I promise Poppa.”
Camille crossed the room to give her father a peck on the cheek. “May I wait for Charlie on the porch?”
He patted her affectionately. “Go ahead cher and be careful.” Camille walked out the door making sure her sister could see her very smug smile.
Camille quickly left the room and made her way to the outhouse in the back. She hastily changed into her sister’s more fashionable dress. As soon as she heard Charlie’s car approaching, she dashed out of the outhouse and headed straight for the car. Emmeline happened to glance out the window and caught a glimpse of Camille leaving. She could have sworn that just a few minutes ago, Camille was wearing something entirely different when she walked out of the house.
Camille jumped in Charlie’s black Chevy barely letting him slow down to a stop. “Floor it Charlie!”
Charlie hit the gas without asking any questions. When it came to Camille, he knew it was better to do as he was told and not ask questions. When they were a fair distance from her house, he told her the good news about the band. Camille threw both of her arms around him while he drove.
“I just knew it. You are the best crooner in all of Louisiana. You are gonna be big someday Charlie boy. They will be asking for Charlie and Woodchucks all the way to New York City. I bet you get a record deal before Christmas!”
Charlie smiled and listened. He loved to hear Camille dream about their future. Even if he knew deep down it was only a dream. He already planned to buy her engagement ring with the extra money he made over the summer.
