Originally Posted by
westgrandboulevard
well, i carried on down those stairs to the basement at arr&bee's house.
You were right. There was indeed a baby and a rattle down there, in the company of a woman of indescribable looks, who emerged tottering from the shadows, peering at us. There was a haze of pure alcohol around her. Said she was looking after the baby, to raise money. Asked if i had any cash on me [[well,that didn't surprise me, with me being in arr&bee's house....) so i gave her what i had, and she told me about her life. Had worked in alabama as a dancer, going by the name of mobile lil, before the days of go-go had all gone-gone. Had then starting reading classic old stories and, to give her stage image a bit of edge, renamed herself gagool, after the evil hag in 'king solomon's mines'.
Had been working as housekeeper for arr&bee for years, living in his basement, which she says he lets her have for 1,000% over invoice price, with occasional gifts of diamonds to humour her, all the while entrusting her to 'keep the secret'.
While thinking i already knew the answer, i asked her "what is the secret?". She thought for a while, then said there was a curse, which she dare not risk. "instead, i will offer you and the lady [[that was moe) some drinks, and i will entertain the three of you in dance". She reached into the darkness, and brought out an ancient tambourine, then shook it in the air, singing very high notes and muttering to herself. "will you join me in song and dance?" she asked.
While i declined, moe jumped up in excitement and said "i'll do it!". Gagool said "first we must make up. The lovely lady here must look as bad as possible, and i must look as good as possible".
A few minutes later, moe had painted her face to resemble gagool. The transfomation was terrifying. As for gagool, while she had made a valiant effort to change her own appearance, she and moe closely resembled each other.
From nowhere, music blasted through the basement. Incredibly, the baby slept on [[probably while in an alcohol induced stupor). Gagool shook her tambourine with great ferocity, crying "inspired by the classic production of king solomon's mines...!", while moe seized the baby's rattle, and they both launched into raucous song :
"diamonds are a gagool's best friend"......
At the end of the number, when gagool fell to the floor exhausted, the members of gagool's audience ran back up the stairs as fast as we possibly could, moe clutching the baby's rattle in her panic, which she then placed in her purse for safety.
So, you weren't dreaming, after all, were you.....because you were there.....;)