Hollywood Stardust Supporting Roles - Wilson and Giselle by Kim Carmichael Page B

back when a clown jumped up from
behind the bar. “Giselle!” In order to protect his woman at all
costs, he grabbed her and pulled her tight.
    “ This is Floopy!” She
jumped and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Floopy, this is
Wilson, the owner!”
    The clown bowed and handed Giselle a balloon
flower.
    She took the gift and proceeded to put it to
her nose as if it were real.
    “ Aww.” Several of his
guests gathered around to take in the new entertainment. Surprises
abounded for this gala.
    The clown, complete with creepy hair, red
nose and makeup smile held his hand up, then made a gigantic ordeal
out of blowing up another few balloons. He proceeded to twist and
weave the squeaky rubber into some sort of crown. Floopy gave the
monstrosity to Giselle, and she proceeded to put it on top of his
head.
    After blowing a horn, the clown trundled out
from behind his bar and tended to the other guests.
    “ Do I have to wear the
balloon crown?” He wrinkled his nose. Letting loose was one thing,
insane was another.
    “ You are the party king.”
Again, she kissed him, and this time he got a little tongue. “If
you wear the crown, I promise to use my tongue elsewhere
later.”
    “ Do I still get to be the
king later?” A little bargaining was in order.
    She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
“Anything you want.”
    Out of the corner of his eye he spied two of
his guests now wearing balloon hats, and Ike high-fived the clown
when presented with his balloon tie. “Fine, I’ll wear the
crown.”
    “ Why don’t you see your
public, my liege, while I go check on the cake and ice cream and
then you can blow out the candles?” She mock curtseyed. “And you
don’t need to say the obvious about blowing, you are the
king.”
    The best words in the world out of her
mouth, or at least some of the best words, she left, turning over
her shoulder twice to wave at him.
    As he went to go check on the bar, someone
tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to find Ivy standing
there with a present.
    “ For you.” She held out the
bright yellow wrapped box with a huge white bow. “Open
it.”
    “ You really didn’t have
to.” Like a little kid, he lightly shook the box then took the lid
off revealing a vintage martini shaker, chrome and shiny with an
art deco flair. “Giselle had everyone bring gifts, but this is the
first non-alcoholic present I have received, and it’s beautiful,
thank you.”
    “ You are welcome.” She
leaned up and gave him a hug.
    “ Come with me while I find
it an honored space.” He went behind the bar, squeezing in between
it and his worker and placed the art piece among the more expensive
bottles of liquor he stored back there. “What do you
think?”
    “ I was about to ask you
that same question.” She turned the item slightly and gave it a
thumbs-up.
    Though he knew what she was asking, he still
needed to draw it out a little. He turned to the bar and watched
the staff pour some drinks.
    “ Wilson, you are finally
behind the bar where you belong. Are you finally going to make
something?” Harvey the plumber put his elbow on the bar and lifted
his eyebrows.
    “ You know what I found out
since being with your best friend?” Taking the challenge, he slid
over and began collecting some ingredients while continuing to talk
with Ivy.
    “ Tell me.” Ivy watched
him.
    “ Not unlike any drink, you
have to have just the right balance.” He took two glasses and began
his creation by pouring in some gin, and both dry and sweet
vermouth. “Sometimes you want to add more, but you have to stop
yourself, for fear of ruining the drink.”
    “ That is true.” She
laughed.
    “ With Giselle, it’s
important to add a little something sweet.” He added some orange
juice. “And to pay attention to detail.” For a finale, he stirred
the drinks and hung a piece of curled orange peel off the side of
each one and handed one glass to his buddy, the other to
Ivy.
    “ So, what do you get in
return?”