Mink Stole Suzy

(Part 1) This week's "As the Pegasus Flies." Mink Stole Suzy was the name everyone knew her by. She'd been modeling for several years, with her eyes set on Hollywood--and breaking into films as an actress. The brunette Marilyn Monroe. But sometimes the dream seemed WAY out of reach. This was one of those days. Maybe she actually had to, you know, GO to Hollywood, she thought. That would be a good start. Instead she was at the 1953 Magazine Trade Show at the NY Coliseum, modeling for Reader's Digest, showing off the new hi-tech vending machine that allows readers to buy the current issue anywhere, anytime. RD was a little conservative for her taste, but a paying gig was a paying gig. One day she'd save enough money for air fare to California so she could be where the real action was. She was taking a cigarette break at the side of the booth when a dashing young man approached her. "Hello," he said, "my name is Hugh." "Hey, Hugh," Suzy said, "my friends call me Mink Stole Suzy." "Well, Mink Stole Suzy, I like your look," he said, handing her a business card. She read the card, saw his name with the title Publisher underneath. There was a line art squiggle of a rabbit's head on top. "I'm launching a new magazine. Maybe you'd be interested in modeling for it." "Well, I don't know. Maybe," Suzy said. "We're based in California," Hugh added. "When did you say the magazine was coming out?" she asked.


(Part 2) Next thing Suzy knew, she was on a jumbo jet, heading toward the land of dreams--California. She had never been out of New York state, and felt a little green. Or maybe it was just air sickness. Hugh picked her up at LA airport, driving a white convertible Chevy Corvette. They went to his small two bedroom apartment in West Hollywood, where he and his wife and their young baby lived. "One day I'm going to have a big mansion, with a pool!" he said. "Cool!" she said. He handed her an iced tea and said, "You know, it's too hot out here for a mink stole. We're going to have to think of a new name for you." "How about Suzy Sunshine?" she said. "I like it!" he said, "Though I was thinking more along the lines of Miss December." The doorbell rang. "That's probably my photographer, Rudy. He's bringing over some test slides." The photographer came inside and plugged in a small light table, and began to line up slides. Hugh stuck an unlit pipe in his mouth and looked at the pictures, nodding his head, saying "Mmm, good, yes, nice, not bad." He turned to Suzy and said, "Come take a look at these." Suzy joined them at the light table. She couldn't believe what she was looking at! The moment stretched out as if in slow motion. Hugh and Rudy half-turned toward her, their smiles holding steady at the corner of their mouths. Suddenly, Suzy missed RD, wished she was back at that boring trade show booth. An image of the Pegasus came to her then, strong and powerful, trying to flap her clamped wings. Mr. Wallace had brought her to see Peggy once, so Suzy would understand what she would be out in the world representing. Suzy had reached out tentatively, petted the Pegasus, thought she felt something pass between them, but decided later on it was just her imagination. She knew now what she had to do...

(Part 3) "I came to Hollywood to be a star! Not to pose like that!" Suzy said. "Honey, you'll be a bigger star than any actress." Hugh said. "But, it's just a STAG magazine!" "No, it's legit. Marilyn Monroe herself is going to be in the first issue." "Really, Marilyn?" "Sure. Rudy, show her that calendar shot." Rudy produced the print from his portfolio. Hugh said, "Classy, right?" Suzy said, "NO, I can't do it!" She ran out of the apartment, but didn't know where to go. So she sat down on the steps to collect herself. Just then a black limo pulled to a stop. The back door opened and Joe DiMaggio and Frank Sinatra stepped out. The passed her on the steps, said "Excuse me, miss," and stopped on the porch to read the names on the doorbells. Hugh opened the door and they pushed their way in, closing the door behind them. Suzy heard some muted, shouted threats, then a few minutes later the door opened and they came back out. They stood straightening their suit jackets and nodding to each other. On their way back past Suzy, Sinatra said, "Can we give you a ride? You shouldn't hang around with this punk." "Well," Suzy said, "I need to go back to New York." "Great, that's where we're heading. Come with us," Sinatra said. Suzy climbed into the back of the limo with them. DiMaggio sat staring out the window, quietly seething, as the limo driver pulled the car into traffic. Sinatra said, "Stay away from this Hugh guy." DiMaggio turned to Suzy and said, "His type is only out to use people like you." Then he went back to staring out the window. Sinatra said to the driver, "Take us to the airport!"

(Part 4) [The conclusion of this (shutdown) week's "As the Pegasus Flies"] Sinatra's limo arrived at L.A. airport and stopped in front of his private jet. They got out and made their way to the plane. Sinatra said to DiMaggio, "Marilyn should already be on board." As if on cue, Marilyn appeared in the open door of the plane, smiling and waving down at them. "Joe!" she called. DiMaggio bounded up the stairs and took her in his arms. Suzy stopped walking and just stood there, amazed. "Come on, kid, let's go," Sinatra said, taking her by the hand. Once inside, Sinatra introduced Suzy to Marilyn, then poured everyone a hard one. "To Joe and Marilyn, soon to be married!" he said. They all downed their shot of liquor. Then Sinatra poured himself another one. Marilyn sat down next to Suzy. "Joe told me what happened. We girls have to look out for each other," she said. "Though it's good to have these guys on your side once in a while, too," she said, winking at DiMaggio. DiMaggio smiled. He was more at ease now, relaxed, happy to be back with Marilyn. Suzy was still mute. Marilyn continued, "I did that calendar years ago, when I was broke and needed the money. Hugh just got his hands on it now, it's not like I went in and posed for him. My studio is trying to figure out what to do if he prints it." Sinatra said, "We scared him good. He ain't gonna print it." Marilyn said to Suzy, "Just don't do something you can't take back. It's all about who you know in this business, and you know us now. I'll call my agent, he'll get you some good modeling jobs." "Thanks so much, Miss Monroe," Suzy managed to say. "Please, call me Marilyn." Hours later, as they were approaching Westchester County Airport, Suzy looked out the window, saw the RD campus below. She wondered where the Pegasus was now, where she was secreted away. Wherever she was, Suzy felt her presence, felt the luck of her touch that had stretched across three thousand miles to help her out, and to bring her back home safely. The limo dropped her off at home and she said goodbye to her new friends, whom she never saw again. But she did get in touch with that agent.