Just as we turn the corner on Wacker to get to our building, a powerful gust of Lake Michigan wind pushes me backwards and long before I can hit the ground, Mike is right there, his big arms steadying me. In that split second, I'm a terrified high school kid again, unable to bear the nearness of a hero.
"Holy shit man! Are you O.K.?�"
"Look at me, let me see your eyes�"
"You're Grayce Connors, aren't you?�"
"I think you're a really good actor...."
"You got plans for after the show on Saturday?�"
"Man! They don't call it the Windy City for nothing huh?" he says, laughing at my temporary lack of co-ordination.
"This corner is always bad." I mumble, annoyed more at my loss of emotional self-control than anything else.
We arrive in the lobby of our building where the security guard at the front desk is in animated conversation with a gorgeous brunette. Her little black dress is completely living up to its' name, needing occasional attention from her hands to bring it down to a respectable length.
"Hey Mike, this lady here says she knows you. I told her you couldn't possibly know such a classy dame."
"Fuck you Manny!" Mike laughs. "Why don't you go direct traffic out on Lake Shore Drive? He pulls Danna to him, kisses her thoroughly then takes her by the hand and leads her towards the elevators. As he runs ahead with her, he briefly whispers something into her ear that he just finishes as I catch up. Once again, I get that look.
"Hey honey." Danna hugs me and plants a slightly-more-than-friendly kiss on my mouth, her huge mass of curly, black, coconut-smelling hair surrounding my face. "Now tell me if I look O.K. 'cause you know I can't trust this one for an honest opinion." She says poking Mike in the side.
"Baby, you always look good to me." Mike says, sinking his teeth into the back of her neck and pressing the elevator button at the same time.
"See what I mean?" she says disengaging herself from him and giving me her best supermodel turn for my inspection. "Well?" she asks.
"Well darlin', the dress is a little too short, the hair is a little too wild and you know the saying 'Look in the mirror and take of the first accessory that catches your eye'?
"Yes."
"You needed to do that about three or four times." I tell her just as the elevator arrives to cut off her reaction. We jump inside.
"Hey Pops!" Mike greets the elderly elevator operator sitting in the corner on a battered burgundy stool older than he is. "How goes it tonight?"
"Same shit different day." He replies. "You boys all set for the party?"
"I think we're about as ready as we're gonna be." Mike replies giving me a big grin. He gives me that look again as Pops closes the gate and pulls the brass handle taking us swiftly up.
"Actually Pops, could you take me up to my office first?" I ask.
"What are we going up there for?" Mike asks.
"I'm gonna do a Henry Higgins number on Danna before we come down."
"Who's Henry Higgins?" Danna asks.
"You know babe, it's that movie with Julie what's-her name. You know, 'All I Want is a Room Somewhere.' he sings in a bad cockney accent. "He means he's gonna make you over into a real lady."
"Ooh." Danna giggles, squeezing my arm. Pops brings the elevator to a perfect stop on twelve and opens the gate for us. Danna and I step out into the top floor reception area that serves as my office.
"By the way Mike, it's not Julie Andrews, it was Audrey Hepburn." He gives me the finger in reply as the elevator goes down.
The front half of the top floor serves as the law library and file room. An enormous dance studio occupies the back half and all day long I'm treated to the music drifting in from there. I often go to the back of the room and look in on the dancers through the huge plate-glass windows separating the two rooms. Originally, the layout of our two floors was to be just the opposite but the dance studio's lease was iron clad. Apparently, poor Mr. Harnick has to wait 5 more years for his top floor office. In the meantime, Mike and I basically have it all to ourselves since hardly anyone ever comes up here.
I reach into the tiny closet built into the partial wall behind the reception desk and pull out my black double-breasted blazer. "Here you go hon. Try this on." I help her into it and tell her to roll up the sleeves. As she does so, I remove the giant lace bow from her head and gather up her massive hair, wrapping it in an elegant French twist, revealing her beautiful neck. I secure it using a pair of ebony chopsticks I find in my top desk drawer.
