Arriving to San Francisco was depressing: David was there to meet Ali, "Granny" was there to meet Lisett, -and Lilly Haley? Let's not get into sad descriptions: Lilly Haley was used to be left out. So what if nobody minded me...

Anyway, why should I get blue? I had the entire San Francisco city to entertain me, and it was a very nice place. On the "way back" of our tour the work schedule was lighter so we could spend more time visiting the attractions of the city. Though, in San Francisco our main diversion was Lisett´s grandmother which was bigger a brat than Lisett herself, and considering her 80 years of age and grand lady appearance, it was quite comical.

In fact, I think Lisett got all her peculiar personality from her. I had met the lady once before but briefly. Now that I had the chance to know her somewhat better I decided I should make a character out of her if I ever became a real actress. She's the kind of grandmother that would never tell you to behave -rather the contrary!

It was quite an experience to stay at her place during our visit to San Francisco. Partly because we were all fed up of hotels and also because she was so full of life she was never boring. We would get home after the show late at night, all tired out and there she was: all dressed, awake and waiting for us to push us out the door saying "Let's go party!" Sometimes she made me feel old even...

Our life was still quiet and routinary so I won't abuse your patience, readers, with empty details about our work. I'll only say that the weeks moved fast and our schedule took us East, visiting the same cities we'd been to before and spending a week or two in each one.

The number was doing fine and life was plain and simple. My few diversions were the same: walking around for site see, taking ice creams once in a while and attending to movie shows often. I was finally getting fond of pictures after my visit to Keystone. Now watching a Keystone film made me feel a bit important because I had met the gang. The movies were still the same anarchy and confusion, but there was Mabel and Chas that held my interest for 2 whole reels.

I managed to befriend the staff at the theatres and reserve my ticket in advance to save me the long queue people had to make to get to see one of those pictures. And I never tired of watching them. The Blue Terror was over now. There was nothing to make fun of or criticise: just sit there and enjoy myself like the other viewers, watching the penguin-man twirling his cane and making me laugh in a way that nothing else did those weary days. I think these comedies were the only thing that kept my sanity during a period when I had no reason to smile at all.

In Kansas city Anne, another girl from the troupe, met her lover again, which, permit me to add, made my depression grow. And due to that grumpy state of mind I often stayed up late at night victim of insomnia which caused me to oversleep the final morning when we were supposed to leave for Chicago, and I woke up to find I'd lost the train and my partners.

To make my luck worse: that day several trains suffered some technical problems and a lot of people travelling to Chicago from different parts of the country had to get off in Kansas city to take a different train. Most of them complained about having to give up a very comfy seat and a nice train acquaintance to start a new ride in different conditions, but I didn't join in for the argument: I considered myself lucky for having found a new seat the same day.

However the ride had hardly started and was bitter already since I had this persona non grata following me all around the train station and going in the same direction. I had a heck of a time trying to lose him.

I was in a very bad mood as I took my seat and anxious to get to Chicago and have this journey over with. I felt quite uneasy for travelling alone precisely today when I was being hunted and wished I had caught the morning train with the girls and David. I feared Mr. Freak perhaps wandered the train searching for me. It was a nice relief to see a gentleman walk into my compartment and take the seat in front of me by the window. His presence calmed down my anguish a little bit. At least if the jerk tried to assault me this handsome man could defend me. Well, okay, he was young and thin and hardly any taller than me -not exactly a hero that spends his time rescuing damsels in distress, but at least he could lend me a hand.

The ride was long and uncomfortably silent. For a very long while we just sat there looking out the window, occasionally glancing at each other, but without saying a word. I felt lonely and bored and even wished to converse a little, but didn't bring myself to strike up a chat. He seemed concentrated in his own thoughts.

Anyway, it was nice to have him as a company. And having nothing to do I merely killed the time looking at him, with the same amused curiosity of a child staring at a panda bear in a zoo.

He was rather good looking, even if he was pale and plain and far from resembling Adonis. But there was a certain charm about him: the shine of his jet black hair that struggled to stay combed backwards and straight, through its natural curly shape that waved so nicely in the light of the window, his boyish face lightened up by two cute blue eyes that fixed on the glass thoughtfully, sadly, timidly. He looked like a picture from a book and I fell into the silly diversion of trying to guess the story such a character could illustrate.

He seemed deadly serious and introverted. I figured he was travelling on business since he looked so tense and worried. And surely he was another victim of the train mess and had to take this one of hurry since he looked a bit annoyed too. Must have travelled a long way because he looked rather tired. Whatever he worked on wouldn't pay a fortune as I could tell from the plain simple suit he was wearing, without a single jewel or ornament in his entire attire. In fact there was little to observe in his outfit; his face was more interesting.

I looked at him so much that after a little while he even started to look familiar.

I finally decided to go out on the corridor and stretch my legs. But, as I got up, the train stumbled on something, turning and shaking quickly, pulling me off balance and I fell... right on his lap!

I don't know which one of us was more shocked. We quickly exchanged apologies and I ran out before I turned any redder. While I wandered the corridor giggling at that silly incident I spotted the guy that had annoyed me before. And now he had a friend too! The two men grinned and looked at me in a way that almost made my breakfast come back up my throat as I realised the train was not a safe place for a young unescorted woman like me.

I hastily returned to my compartment only to find that my companion was gone. When I have 2 men after me with clear bad intentions in mind I would not feel like sitting alone in a cell like that, so I decided to go to the restaurant car where, at least, there was people around. The guys were still following me without any discretion and I began to feel truly afraid now. All the way to the restaurant they kept after me, chilling my blood every time they tried to get my attention with wicked "pst!"s that resounded right behind my back.

Lo and behold! The very first person I saw in the restaurant: the bloke from my cell, quietly sitting at a table, ordering a cup of tea. No time to think when I'm in danger: must follow the first plan that crossed my head. I ran to him smiling, exclaiming loudly: "Darling! I've been looking all over for you!"

His whole face covered with confusion, he began to stutter something, probably trying to explain that I was mistaking him, but I didn't let him speak and kept on chatting gladly as if we were old acquaintance. Presently I sat down and whispered distressed that I was in big trouble and he had to play along for my sake to help me lose my dreaded pursuers. But he had barely turned to look when both of them jet off. "Bloody chickens!" I thought. It takes 2 men to accost a girl alone and they run like rabbits if they think she's got company.

I started to explain to the guy why I had to invent that scene to escape them, and I was going to tell him I wouldn't bother him anymore. But as the 2 jerks continued to peek my way from a prudent distance I had to remain with him and keep pretending we were travelling together to discourage them from following me anymore. The guy, that turned out to be English, and very polite, as he helped me out with that farce, suggested I should call a guard and complain, but I didn't want a scandal.

We continued to pretend we were old friends and to keep up that impression we shared the table for a long while and he even offered me his arm when we returned to the cell. I wanted to make sure everyone would see that we were together, especially those two creeps. But they didn't show up anymore and I was glad that he had saved me the trouble of punching them on the nose.

It was a funny way to break the ice but after that we managed to chat a little during the rest of the ride which was over shortly after that incident. He was really nice and even escorted me out of the train when we got to Chicago so I wouldn't be seen alone in the station, in case these 2 guys were still stalking me.

I was eager to take my cab and go straight to the hotel where the girls were staying and he was in a hurry to meet some people that had come to pick him up at the station, so our good bye was rushed. Just then I remembered we'd been so busy pretending we were old friends, we'd even forgotten we were actually strangers so I remarked "We haven't been introduced properly, have we?" with my brightest smile.

He laughed and we exchanged names and a warm handshake before we parted. I looked around to make sure the other guys were not after me anymore and then from the cab window I turned to look at him as he greeted his other friends while I thought to myself "You're, indeed, a very nice gent Mr. Chaplin"

...Strange... why did his name ring a bell in my mind?...

Now, was it the blue eyes, or his politeness, or his cute shyness, or his lovely voice -or the darn accent that gets me every time! Or the name, that still rang a bell... why was I thinking about him the entire ride to the hotel and I was still thinking about him the next morning, and I was still thinking about him throughout the holidays and New Year, day after day?

Perhaps because this episode had been far more interesting and exciting than the things that usually happened to me during that tour. Or perhaps because it had been so very long since I'd last made a new acquaintance (a male acquaintance) that I had little else to think about. Whatever...

Our schedule in Chicago was light like the other cities so we took a bit of time off to celebrate the holidays. David was now with us, following the tour. Anne's beau came over for a quick visit, Lisett had a brand new boyfriend to spend the party with, so I consoled myself thinking about Charlie just to keep myself from thinking of Bobby which would have destroyed any remote glimpse of good mood that I had that New Year's eve.

In the back of my mind I had the hope of running into him some time and getting to know him better, but this was too big a city to relay on that chance.

After performing our number so many times around the country we hardly bothered rehearsing. Besides the winter was very cold and we all felt lazy. Just a quick practice every day in the morning, then give 2 shows in the evenings and that left us afternoons and nights off. With so much unemployed time we decided to write new songs for our act to try to improve it, now that Ali had David near and she was inspired to write cheerful songs... if only I could feel inspired to write cheerful lyrics too.

Our director had finally caught up on our tour and he would join us for the trip from now on. We all felt more secure having our manager with us, even if he said he hadn't found any good contract yet. He had been receiving new offers from Europe and the London theatres where he had more influence, but with all the conflict going on and the rumour of a future war running we preferred to avoid the old continent as long as we could.

We had been in Chicago for a brief time and the winter chilled, so when the miracle happened one day and the sun began to shine a little, I couldn't resist it. It was as cold a day as all the others and the light had to share the sky with a few clouds, of course, but I decided the day was nice enough and went out for a walk. I missed taking a bit of sun. Sure, I would prefer to take the sun in my bathing suit by the ocean, and not covered from head to toes in a heavy coat, but we have to resign sometimes.

Since I'd left Florida, where I'd grown up, I had learnt to appreciate the light and warmth I used to take for granted at home. We had been to all the warm cities in a fall-winter period. When it was summer, we happened to be somewhere north and the "hot days" were not half as hot as we knew them at home. The heat I never cared about before now seemed to me a rare precious luxury and I wondered when I would feel the baking sun on my skin and breath in the warm air around me again. I must admit it: we all missed that. Especially Lisett that had always been a beach-lover.

It was cold and snowy, but as long as the sun beamed I found the afternoon delicious. Going nowhere I just walked on and on, taking my time since we had a late show that night and they wouldn't need me at the theatre for a few more hours. I had just stopped in a corner wondering which way to turn now to continue my abstract walk when a figure brushed past me. And what do you know? My train acquaintance no less: Mr. Charles Chaplin!

He seemed so thoughtful and upset at the moment, he nearly didn't see me and I suppose he would have passed me by without even looking if I hadn't called his name.

He was going nowhere, just like me; merely walking around with no specific direction, he said. So we strolled together along a couple of streets trying to find something to talk about. We were both surprised to see each other again, and I think the meeting was opportune: since we both happened to be in a bad moment just then, it was nice to have company. Though he was not terribly amusing at the time, actually.

Apparently the business he has come to attend to in Chicago was not going so well. I tried to change the subject to something more cheerful, because he was so overtly upset and worried that he was even beginning to spoil my day. We ended up chatting about show business and acting and music and England and any other little thing we could find we had in common.

I was hoping to see him again before I left the city but doubted he would ask me out since he seemed rather shy and introverted. But when he mentioned he had no friends around the city yet, I made up my mind to take initiative and invited him to come to the party my gang would have the next evening to celebrate Ali's official engagement. I said this little entertainment could help him clear his mind and cheer him up. Of course I carefully avoided to mention that the real reason I had asked him was because I couldn't stand another party as the only lonely pathetic one that would show up without a date. I'd had quite enough of that during the holidays and I wasn't looking forward to repeat it so soon. The last thing I wanted now was to spend the entire evening sitting alone in a corner while everyone else looked my way with pity, whispering "Poor Lilly..." and feel totally left out and depressed when everyone else danced.

At least for this party I would have someone to talk to when the others were busy... if Lisett didn't try to steal my date's attention. But, fortunately, she cared nothing about shy guys or accents. In fact, when we walked in during the party and I said "Hi, everyone. This is Charlie" and all the others turned a minute to say a gay and careless "Hi, Charlie!", Lisett was the first one to take me aside and whisper, with her best mockery, that this pale and quiet bloke was exactly my type. "You two must have an awesome mute conversation!" ...the bitch...

But she wouldn't spoil my day or make me think less of my date just because she didn't think him a movie star. I was glad I had a companion and I was glad it turned out to be him. As much as I hate parties I enjoyed this one. Maybe because we were few people; a bunch of 10 or so, just us and our friends from the theatre. In so little a group I couldn't feel too left out. The time was spent in jokes and laughter, music and singing, dancing and clowning. And Charlie became the centre of attention when he got hold of a violin that chanced to be there and mesmerised us all with his skilled fingers. Then somebody shouted "Lights off! You guys have to see this!" and pulled a reel of film in a rustic projector to show us his home movies.

I promised the Blue Terror would be quiet and behave. But Charlie was a terror of his own! He had to turn this film into a major comedy, improvising words in the bits where the people moved their lips, doing different voices for every character, inventing and adding sound effects to the action and cracking jokes that rejoiced the audience, until the owner of the film got irritated.

At first I had thought him shy, but now I saw he loved to be the star of a reunion. He proved himself a gifted comedian improvising pantomime and slapstick every minute. He made an impression of everyone in the room, and even imitated some movie characters and famous personalities. He made an impression of the Keystone guy, the one with the penguin walk, and we all dropped to the floor in laughter, for he moved exactly like him. He was such a success that even Lisett had to admit at the end that my friend was really cool and I was lucky for having met him. I definitely agreed. He was wonderful and I should certainly wish to see him again.

After the party the crowd dispersed and all the girls went to say good bye to their friends and dates. Ali and David had discretely disappeared before that point, Anne slipped into the top floor terrace with her beau to enjoy the stars and moon and say good bye before he returned to Kansas the next morning. And Lisett decided to accompany her friend back to his hotel for a party of their own, so Charlie and I ended up alone in the deserted room surrounded by empty glasses and coloured paper scattered all over the table and floor.

He seemed as reluctant to leave as I felt to let him go, and he lingered long enough in putting his hat and coat back on and finding his cane, which I had deliberately hidden just to retain him for a few more minutes, now that I had him all to myself for a quiet chat. I remarked his imitation of the Keystone tramp was the best I ever saw and sentenced he should be an actor. And that really made him laugh. "Why, didn't you know it was me?" he said in genuine surprise.

And that's when it finally hit me. DUH!!! Charlie Chaplin!!!!

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