That's Show Biz, Kid

Here is a short story that I wrote for my writer's craft class assignment, enjoy!

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That's Show Biz, Kid

The year was 1928. The club smelt of vanilla cigars and sounded of people chattering with jazz music being played in the background. Ashley Rosewood, the hottest new jazz singer from the Bronx was performing tonight at a popular jazz club. The sign outside was lit up with shimmering lights that read: "James's Place Presents: Ashley Rosewood LIVE! One Night Only!" Ashley Rosewood sat in her dressing room with a cigarette in one hand, and powdered her face with the other. Ashley's back up singer Roxanne Farwell stumbled into the changeroom, clearly drunk.

"Ashley darling!" Shouted Roxanne. "Break a leg baby, you look spectacular in that dress. I wish I could look like that!" Roxanne said as she was trying to stand up straight.

"Why, thank you darling." Said Ashley as she kissed Roxanne's cheek. The stage manager burst into the dressing room in a frantic.

"Ladies! There you are. Two minutes until showtime! Let's go!" He shouted.

Ashley put out her cigarette and ran to the door. Before leaving she turned pushing the door slightly open.

"Roxanne, are you coming dear?" Asked Ashley.

"Yes, of course. I will be there in just a moment. You can go on ahead without me." She said.

Ashley left closing the door behind her. Roxanne began to browse through Ashley's dressing room. She picked at the different things on Ashley's vanity and examined them individually. Roxanne spotted a small box. She pulled out a pearl necklace and admired it. Then, she took a bright pink boa from behind a chair and danced around the dressing room with it. When she put the boa back, she noticed a small photograph stuck onto the mirror. She picked it up and glared at it. It was a photo of Ashley onstage in a sparkly silver dress, and a decorative head piece. Roxanne looked around to make sure that no one was in the changeroom with her, slid the photo into her bra and exited the dressing room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, James' Place presents... Ashley Rosewood!" Announced the stage manager.

Ashley appeared from behind the red velvet curtain wearing a silver and black sequin dress, a headband with a feather on it, singing all night long. The show finally ended at around 2:00am, and Ashley ended it with her signature finale. A crew member backstage brought her a bouquet of red roses, and Ashley threw them into the audience. Ashley walked off the stage and into the street for some fresh air, but she was surrounded by the press hounding her with questions.

"Miss Rosewood, please can I have a signature?!" exclaimed a fan.

"Ashley! Ashley! Ashley! When and where is your next show?" shouted another.

Ashley answered some questions and signed some autographs.

"I am so sorry everyone but I cannot answer all of your questions. It's very late. Thank you for coming out tonight, take care." Said Ashley as she adjusted her fur coat and waved goodbye.

Ashley walked back into the club with the sound of her heels tapping behind her. Once she got in, she exited through the side door into the back alley of the club. The wind whistled through the buildings and the sound of the busy New York street was heard in the background. She paused and took a deep breath giving herself a moment to rest. Her breath was visible whenever she exhaled because it was so cold. Ashley lifted up the side of her dress on her right leg and pulled out a pink flask that was attached to a garter, chugging the leftover booze in it. Leaning against the frozen brick wall, she lit a cigarette. The side door swung open, it was Roxanne.

"Goodness gracious!" Ashley started. "Oh, Roxanne... It's just you. You startled me. On another note, fantastic job tonight." Ashley took another pull from her cigarette.

"I thought so too, Ashley. I took a rose from that bouquet of yours. I like it how you do that at the end of every show. You throw roses because your last name is Rosewood. Clever." Roxanne said in a mischievous monotone.

"Oh, why thank you dear." Said Ashley slightly concerned.

Roxanne began to stare at the rose in her hand. She began to crush the rose that was covered in thorns, causing her hand to drip blood slowly. Roxanne had a straight face, almost as if she couldn't feel the pain of the thorns pinching her hand at all.

"Roxanne... what are you doing? Those thorns are sharp, you're bleeding!" Said Ashley in a state of shock.

"I'm a struggling artist." Said Roxanne glaring at Ashley with no expression. "I'm just a rose that didn't bloom fast enough. So, I need to crush the roses that bloomed faster than I did." Roxanne dropped the rose and put her hand to her side as the blood dripped down her fingers.

"What are you saying Roxanne? You aren't making any sense, and it's scaring me. I'm going to go now if you'll excuse me." Said Ashley in a nervous tone heading for the door.

Roxanne stood in front of the door in Ashley's way. She then took out the photo of Ashley that she had in her bra, and lit it on fire with her lighter. She threw the burning photo of Ashley onto the floor on top of the blood covered rose. Ashley had no facial expression other than shock. Roxanne stabbed Ashley with a sharp pocket knife, causing Ashley to stumble and fall to the ground.

"Why... why did you do this...?" Ashley said faintly gasping for air.

"That's show biz, kid." Sneered Roxanne.

THE END

#shortstory #stories