.:Guys&Dolls:. - .:Aces in the Sky:. [Pt. 1]

March 10th, 1935.

Dear Alice,

Hey, girl, how're you doing? I can't believe it's been so long since we've talked- seven years maybe? Yes, it must've at least been seven years, because it's Nathan and I's seventh anniversery! Oh, how time does fly with a long term engagement, and I'm sure when Nathan comes to his senses about his devilish crapgames, we'll finally get married! Wouldn't it be marvelous, Alice? I can just hear those church bells, followed by the calm silence out in the country, just Nathan and me...

Oh, but either way, I know your birthday is coming up, which is the real reason I took the trouble to write to you all the way in Rhode Island. I know how much you love to travel and I know how much you love the big city and I know that I've missed seeing and talking to you all these years so...

I bought you a one way ticket plane departing from Rhode Island to New York! I enclosed the ticket inside the envelope, and don't worry about the cost! It was supposed to be a surprise and mother was the one that was supposed to give it to you... Oh, I just couldn't wait! And don't worry about hospitality either, darling, Nathan and I set you up in a hotel just a couple streets down from the Hot Box.

Speaking of- I gotta run, Alice. I'm on a few minutes. I can't wait to see you and finally catch up! G'bye now! See you soon!

- Adelaide*

--------------------------------------------------------------------


"New York City," Alice Alexander gasped, as she stepped outside the Idlewild Airport doors. The place was filled with men and women, all in New York's best style. She noticed how all the women were wearing very nice dresses with colorful frills and such. Tugging at her boyish style pants and vest, she hoped no one would look down upon her as a low class tourist. Living in Rhode Island in a small rented house never had Alice much exposed to the public and fancy stores and such. Maybe Adelaide will help me buy some new clothes... She thought. But she didn't want to worry about that, now. Alice wanted to always remember this moment- her first time in the big city- the center of the universe!

Alice took a deep breath, trying to savor the moment with the city air, but choked on the smoke of a taxi driving past.

"Ugh, taxi..." she muttered to herself, coughing. "Oh, taxi. Wait! Taxi!"

Waving her arm, dropping her suitcase at her side running out to the curb, she caught the drivers attention. The car haulted to a complete stop. Alice grasped the suitcase handle again, advancing to the car. Extending her arm out in front of her, she was just about to grab the car door when someone else beat her to it. Looking up, she was face to face with a handsome man- eye brow cocked. He wore a dark blue coat and a black tie; what seemed very rich and fine wear. Alice was left a little confused, but the man looked calm and chilled. Was this man some sort of proffesional taxi door holder? Do they have that in New York? Or was this some charming desperate guy trying to be smart? Either way, the moment was awkward enough, and if no one was going in the cab, then Alice was going to take advantage of the situation. She broke eye contact with the man, and stepped around him. Just as she was about to throw her suitcase in the back seat, the man casually said, "Thanks, doll," swiftly sat down in the taxi and closed the door right in Alice's face.

He didn't look back.

She couldn't feel more humiliated.


Alice managed to catch the next cab without trouble, although after the rude smart ass she just encountered with, she took the precaution of making sure no other "taxi door men" were around. The rude man's words still lingered, following Alice as she boarded the white taxi. The driver inside wore a ragged red and white plad coat and smelled of what reminded Alice of a down town bar at three AM (not that she would know what that was like). When he turned around from his seat and faced her, she could see he was well over fifty, and a cheap cigar was hanging down from his bottom lip.

He examined his passanger and then looked Alice in the eyes, which left her both disgusted and lost for words. Nearly twenty seconds passed before the man shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "Where to?"
"Oh! Right. Um..." Alice took a moment to search in her pockets for the address, leaving the moment still and awkward. The driver grunted rather unpleasantly as if saying, "Hurry up, I ain't got all day."
But before too long, she pulled out a napkin from her back pocket. Smoothing it out, Alice told him the address Adelaide had given her.

"The New Yorker hotel, on 481 Eighth Avenue."
"You got it, kid."
The car steadily began to move. Not another word was said between them.

For the half hour drive, Alice was lost in her thoughts. Thanks, doll, he had said so tranquil; him and his black fedora hat. In other words, thanks newcomer for catching the cab driver's attention and flagging him down for me with your doll-like femenine assets, which seems to be the only good of your kind. You couldn't have done a better job. Bravo. Alice snorted aloud at her silent thoughts, which rewarded her a rather strange look from the driver. Alice stared back at him and stuck out her tongue. The man scrunched his face and turned back to his job. Alice laughed to herself. Yes, this week in the big city will be a week well spent.

Alice turned her head and gazed out the cab window.

Welcome to New York.