The Opera Diva
an excerpt

This time, she did not have to wait for a cab. The opera company sent a limo to pick her up for her first day of rehearsal. “The Opera Diva” as the papers called her, was the youngest singer to be offered a full one-year term at the Met since Beverly Sills. And she turned out alright, yes? The manicurist did a good job, and she had a hair appointment for later in the day. For now, though, she only wanted to drop by the offices and pick up her “call sheets” and find out her schedule for the next week. Unlike most ingenues, she didn’t even look up at the architectural monstority that is the present-day home of the Met. Concrete, stained glass, marble, and Swarovski crystal did not interest her at all. The materials she would care about in the upcoming weeks were strictly having to do with the acoustics of the place.
Lauren hated to, but she picked up the phone.
“Mario, how are you doing?”
“Lauren, I didn’t expect, well I really wasn’t expecting to hear from you again.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, my friend,” she said cheerily over the phone, as she bit her lip with the emotion. “My friends are lifetime friends, and this life isn’t over yet.”
“That’s nice to know. I was thinking of you the other day, and how things are back at the agency.”
“Well, hoss, your job is still here if you have second thoughts. How has your move worked out.?”
“Actually, I’ve moved again. I’m in New York.”
“Wow, the big time, Mario. An even better job. I should’ve expected that from you.”
“Actually, I’m just starting to look for a job.”
“You moved to New York from a good job, to look for a job?”
“Actually, I’ve got a client, but not an agency yet.”
“Must be some client, paying 20%?”
“Not really a client, but a prospect, and its gratis.”
“Let me get this straight, you’ve moved, no job, working for free. Who is she?”
“She’s a prospect, like I’ve said. Besides, I’m getting into a new racket, and I think I’ll be doing more writing and consulting than representing.”
“But Mario, you were the best. People loved you. Women loved you, men loved to hang out with you, its like you’ve gone off the deep end lately. Everyone I’ve talked with says that you’ve just disappeared off the deep end of the pool. Come back to sunny suburbia and we’ll set you up with the same job, same pay rate; heck we’ll even throw in a cost-of-living raise. And just to humor you, we’ll let you do a little consulting, too. Even though you’re ten years too young to be teaching, that’s for sure, we’ll let you lead some of the very young recruits and mentor them in the right way to do it. The Mario method, so to speak.”
“Lauren, I’m touched, I’m blown away, but really, I’m past all that, its a part of me that I’ve put behind.”
“OK, backwoods boy, let me just tell you, it is. It is not easy to say. I miss you.”
“I miss you too Lauren but I could never come back.”
“Never say never. You’re too young to build bridges.”
“My bridges are burnt, already. I haven’t the strength.... well it’s just not happening.”
“Mario, crazy Mario, you are just the most stubborn person in the whole world. Why.... I.... “
And the phone went dead. Mario sat listening to the line, of the woman who would do anything for him, he guessed.
His line rang again. “You’re late with my laundry, money man. I expect service for my 0%, young man.” And then the Opera Diva hung up, too.

For a second, she stared down at the phone. It made a bit of reflection from the vidscreen - one of the better new phones. Paid for by the last opera company. What was she thinking about? Oh yes. The reflection, that ugly, ugly little girl. Those high cheekbones that everyone talked about. The “aquiline” Roman nose - how 5th century. And the long slender neck; why did all the features of all the comparisons always go to women that she thought were plain, hideous, or incredibly ugly. Why couldn’t she have been a tall blond with huge blue eyes; two of them? And would anyone ever look at her close-up and she would have to say, “I’m up here?” I think not.
For a second, he stared down at the phone. It made a bit of reflection from the vidscreen - one of the better new phones. Paid for by the last talent agency. What was he thinking about? Oh yes. The reflection, that incredible, matchless woman-child. Those high cheekbones that no one appreciated. The nose, a slice of the Middle ages. And the long slender neck, why do all her features look like all the women that he always thought were beautiful, glamorous, or just incredibly magnificent. Why couldn’t she have been a tall blond with forgettable blue eyes. And would anyone ever look at her close-up and be distracted by anything except that face... that face. I think not.