Diva's Last Curtain Call Read Online Free PDF Page A

being quite personable and charming to her fans. The only time she got testy was when a nerdy-looking middle-aged white guy with thick horn-rimmed glasses tried to come behind the table she was sitting at and hug her.
    “I don’t think so, young man,” said Vivianne with a look of disdain. She looked at the man’s outstretched hand as though it was a wasp trying to land on her shoulder. “Please step back behind the table or I refuse to give you an autograph.” Her graciousness apparently didn’t extend to being touched.
    The poor nerdy guy looked as if he might cry, but he complied with the diva’s demands and stepped back behind the table. He rushed off looking quite embarrassed after getting his autograph.
    It was after this that her assistant, Harriet Randall, a squat sour-faced black woman with the demeanor of an army sergeant, called a halt to the autographs and led Vivianne away to her dressing room. Allegra hadn’t exaggerated when she’d described Harriet. It was no wonder she couldn’t get an interview.
    When I’d gotten up that morning, after a sex-and Carl-free night spent sleeping on my couch, Allegra was already dressed and gone, leaving my bedroom looking as if a tornado had torn through it. I really wasn’t in the mood to be bothered with her anyway, but I couldn’t help wondering where she was off to so early in the morning. After a breakfast of cold cereal, I picked up Mama, who was still acting a little frosty over the shower, and we headed off to the ceremony. I was worried Allegra would show up, trying to get an interview, and get herself in trouble again. But, by the time the ceremony started, I was relieved that she didn’t appear to be anywhere around.
    “Your mom is gonna be so sorry she wasn’t able to get home for this. She’s a big Vivi fan, too,” Mama whispered during the retrospective, causing some die-hard Vivi fans to shush her.
    My parents lived in Florida and had recently left to go backpacking around Europe, a dream trip they’d been planning for over a year. Witnessing an aging actress get an award hardly compared to the trip of a lifetime. But I nodded in agreement anyway.
    “I thought Allie was going to be here,” said Mama.
    “She’s probably here someplace,” I replied, ignoring the irritated disembodied sighs coming from around me. Mama was craning her neck and peering through the dark auditorium trying to spot her granddaughter. I was so tempted to tell her about Allegra getting caught in Vivianne’s house, but decided it wasn’t my place, and, besides, that would be tattling.
    The film retrospective ended and the lights came back on. People were on their feet applauding and chanting “Vivi! Vivi! Vivi!” I looked toward the front of the auditorium expecting to see Vivianne smiling and waving like a beauty queen. But she was nowhere to be seen. Then a loud piercing fire alarm sounded and cut through the cheering and clapping like a knife. I didn’t see or smell any smoke. Was this a joke? Everyone was looking confused and I heard a chorus of groans and cursing as we were instructed to leave the auditorium quickly by an annoyed-looking member of the film festival committee. As I was guiding Mama through the jostling crowd, I happened to turn and look down the long hallway that led to the basement dressing rooms used by performers. I saw Allegra run up the basement steps looking dazed and terrified. I called out to her, but in the loud commotion she didn’t hear me, and I watched as she turned and rushed out a nearby exit. Once outside, I looked around for her and spotted her rental car tearing out of the parking lot.
    I did not have a good feeling about this. Since Allegra had come from the direction of the dressing rooms, then she must have been trying to see Vivianne again. And Harriet Randall must have called the police again. At least that was the only excuse I could come up with for my sister looking so scared. I was relieved that Mama hadn’t seen