Cinders

ELLA'S FELLA

 

Ella and her stepmother have never gotten along well. That old lady is a witch, Ella thinks. All the drudgery tasks, cleaning, mopping, ironing fall on her while her father's wife primps in the hall mirror and shops for funky clothes for her two daughters, Bess and Josey. They both torture Ella even more than their mamma. Ella's only real ally is her older brother, Chris. Once in a blue moon her father may growl and order Myrtle to get off his daughter's back.  Of course, her father, who is nicknamed 'Bloke', is ignored.

 

Ella has a good wit about her and cracks a lot of sarcastic answers at the family that was thrust upon her five years ago. Of the three girls, Ella is by far the prettiest. She has black shiny hair that Dad's barber, Lester, keeps straight and even. Her bangs barely touch her dark eyebrows, clearly highlighting her round bright black eyes. A raving beauty she isn't but does win a beauty contest at City Hall. Had there been more than fifteen contestants she might not have won  a fantastic trip to Hollywood and a glamourous job at a movie studio. Overnight Ella becomes queen of the household. Her step-sisters are green with envy. Bloke gives her money for a new wardrobe and his blessing.

 

Arriving in Hollywood, searching for the studio, she is shocked to find it closed, defunct, out of business. Still she realizes she is no longer a Cinderella and will have to make the best of her awful situation. Rolling her suitcase along the street, she locates a small, seedy motel. With little choice, goes in and lets honest tears run down her face as she explains her position to the desk clerk. The old man in charge calls someone on his intercom, a Mr. Gordon, who has a kind looking face, she bursts out, 'I need a place to stay, a job. Can you help me?' Most of the desk cubbyholes have keys in them and smart Ella understands at once that business is awful. 'Mr. Gordon, let me stay here at no charge, until I can find a better job in the movies, and I will keep your rooms clean, change the linens, do whatever I have to.' Mr. Gordon tells her that may be forever. 'I'll give you one month tryout. You can have room 302, a single, and the desk clerk will take your bag up the steps for you.' Ella wipes the sweat off her forehead and the tears from her eyes and walks up the threadbare carpet to the third floor.

 

She was never thrilled with her bedroom at home, but it was paradise compared to this hole in the wall with a single bed, a nite table with one lamp, no shade, one locked window, a chair and a bathroom that turns her stomach which is empty. It growls. Ella had noticed a few eateries before finding this clap trap, locks her door and goes out to get something substantial to eat. When feeling a little stronger, she locates a public telephone and calls her father collect. Actually gulping, swallowing her pride, she explains the closed movie lot, where she is staying and is stopped mid -sentence. 'Ella, you have a choice. I will wire you $200 dollars first thing in the morning, IF, you give me your address, call me every evening, and promise to come back here if you are not okay, comfortable, safe, in two weeks. What do you say?' 'I say, Yes, Father. I love you. I am at Jack's Shack, 1110 34th St. Wildwood, CA 90026- Room 302. They have a phone but I don't know the #. I'll let you know night when I call you again. Remember, CA is on PDT. Thank you, Daddy. Thank you. Goodnight.'

 

Ella cleans the few rooms plus her own and heads out for breakfast early in the day. By chance she walks past a large building that says
Watner Movies, sneaks in the gate when the guard is talking to a gorgeous young lady wearing an old fashioned costume. This must be a movie lot. It is busy. Rolls Royces, Audis are parked under palm trees.
Her heart beats so fast she is sure it will explode. A few young males, possibly extras, wear cowboy outfits, tip their hats to her. One, tall very handsome man with a dark moustache catches up to her and says, 'Hello. Are you new here?' With a bit of vinegar in her voice she responds, 'What do you think?' His grey eyes look right into her black ones when he says, 'Howdy, Miss. My name is Grable.' Ella almost faints dead away. ' Clark Gable?' Mr. Grable pouts and tells her he is Mr. Grable with an 'R', Mr. Gable's understudy, or Extra for dangerous roles. Ella keeps a straight face, offers her hand to shake, tells him her name, and off they go for a hearty breakfast.

 

Ella relaxes, eats everything but the tablecloth and thanks Clark a hundred times. He has a suggestion, 'Ella, would you like me to try to get you a job at the commissary as a hostess? They are always busy, stars hang around relaxing. You won't wait tables, just welcome diners and lead them to tables. It sounds easy, but it isn't, at least not until you recognize people.' Surprising herself, she gets up, hugs him and gives him a peck on his cheek. 'How wonderful you are. Of course, thank you.'

 

Now, Dear Readers, I believe you can easily guess where my story is going so I'll cut it short–Yes, Ella gets a job and she gets Grable too.
Her father stops sending her hand-outs after the two weeks are up and comes to visit California for her wedding to Clark Grable.