Cracked Ice - Part 3

“CRACKED ICE” - Part 3 by Leora Tozer © 2013 


The next day I arrived at 7:15am. Since I was uncertain about the Yellow Car schedule, I decided that it’s best to be early. No one was there; the building was locked. I didn’t mind. I brought a copy of the book “Dodsworth” to read. 

I sat on the step, leaned against the wall and read. The sun was rising and getting warmer. I was pretty engrossed in my reading and didn’t notice a car driving up. Suddenly, a shadow was cast on my book page, and I looked up. 

“Hey toots, I wasn’t serious when I said to come in at 7,” Henry said. 

“I know. I figured it was more fun to read outside than at the musty boardinghouse I’m staying at,” I answered. I stood up, and straightened the skirt of my dress. When putting my book away in my satchel, I noticed he was trying to read the title. 

I was able to gain a better insight into my new boss when I followed Henry down the hall. Just from his walk and quiet nature, I could see that he’s a person who can be serious; he reads and thinks too much at times. He’s a handsome man, but doesn’t realize it. He’s a man who’s witty and smart, but is wracked by some insecurity, even though he’s in his early 40s and is in a successful part of his life. 

After getting settled in at my desk, I go back out into the hall to pick up the rest of the letters, crawling on my hands and knees in order to scoop them up quicker. Since I was preoccupied, I didn’t notice Henry standing in the doorway, watching me with amusement. 

Once I saw him standing there, I stood up quickly and asked, “How did these letters get strewn around like this?” 

Henry shook his head, “Leo’s last girlfriend caused this.” 

 I took a few steps forward, but was not able to walk into the office, since he was standing in the doorway. “I’ll start sorting these letters today. Was there anything else you wanted me for?” I innocently asked. 

I could see something cross his mind, but he didn’t say anything. He kept a semi-stern expression; he replied, “No, that should be fine for now.” He moved so I could pass by. I quickly entered the office. 

I sat down on my chair and sorted the letters. I couldn’t help but watch him walk back into his office. Just from watching their movies, I would have never guessed how handsome and intriguing Henry appeared to me in person. I didn’t put much thought into this new fascination, since I’m not the type of woman that guys generally notice. Besides, I’m here to learn, and not get distracted in any sort of crush. I decided to focus on my work and to learn within this experience. 

By the end of the day, I sorted the letters into four piles. I had sorted out all of Herb’s letters and had started a couple of templates for him, in case his secretary wanted to borrow the idea. Henry mentioned this morning that I wouldn’t need to do his younger brother’s letters, since Herb had his own office across town. I put them all into an envelope marked his name on it, and placed them in the top right desk drawer, so I’d know where they were in case he stopped by. 


To be continued...

Cracked Ice - Part 2

“CRACKED ICE” - Part 2 by Leora Tozer © 2013

I entered the office and saw Leo standing by what will be my desk. He’s smiling, and says to Art, “Did you find the new temp?”

“Yes, I think so. What’s your name?” Art asked.

“I’m Leora Benson,” I replied; then, I held out my hand.

Art beamed, “Yes; another Benson.”

 Leo shakes my hand and asks, “Nice to meet you. Hope you’ll be here a while longer than our last secretary.”

“Thank you Mr. Archer. I don’t know how long the temp agency will want me here,” I replied. As we talked, I calculated mentally that Leo is 46 and Art is 45, but neither man looks their age.

They explained that the letters in the hall and in a file cabinet all need to be organized and answered. I looked at a few, and decided it’s easier to sort them by who they are to and when they were sent.

It will take a while to sort through, but my mind quickly mapped the next steps. It would be easy to figure out a few templates that could be personalized for each answer. After that, they could be typed up fairly efficiently on the Underwood typewriter.

While I was sorting the letters, I sensed someone was watching me. Leo walked over, stood next to my desk and asked, “Do you want to go out on the town after work?”

“No thanks,” I answered. “You know, if you keep asking the secretaries out, you won’t have anyone left in town to answer all these letters.”

I thought I heard muffled laughter from the closed office nearest to my desk. Leo replied, “That’s fine. It doesn’t hurt a fellow to ask.”

He went back to his office and I kept sorting the letters. After an hour or so, Leo and Art left the office for the day. It was quiet and I still wasn’t sure who was in the main office by my desk, since the door was shut and no one had come out of there since I arrived.

After they left, I was sorting some of Leo’s letters. I found one from well-known gangster stating that Leo owed him money, and that he was going to be stopping by if he didn’t receive payment in 30 days. I looked at the date the letter was written and quickly realized that today was 30 days later.

I was trying to figure out what to do. Suddenly, two burly guys in pinstriped suits came in the office. I turned on the intercom and covered it with some letters, not certain that anyone was in the other office. Both men wore fedora hats and walked towards my desk. The main tough guy asks, “Is Leo here?”

“No, Mr. Archer isn’t here.” I reply.

“Where is he?” he demanded.

“I don’t know,” I answer.

“Why don’t you know?” he pressed.

“It’s my first day working here. Why would anyone tell the temp where they’re going?” I stated. “I can take down your name and contact information, so Mr. Archer can get back to you.”

“Nah,” he answered. “I’ll find him tomorrow.” The two fellows left.

The door closed. I shut off the intercom.

The office door that had been closed opened and a serious man in a nice suit came out. When he spoke, I was taken aback, because even without his stage makeup, I’d know that voice anywhere. I’ve heard him in so many movies.

He said, “Sorry you had to deal with that. Leo didn’t say anything about this.”

I handed Henry the letter I had found. “I’m sure he forgot. I just found this letter. Why didn’t the last secretary give this letter to him?”

 Henry smiled, “Leo was too busy messing around with her. It’s nice to know that won’t be a problem.”

“Would you mind if I leave early after that friendly visit?” I asked.

Henry had a look of concern cross his face, “You could wait a bit and I could drive you home. Maybe they’re still out there.”

“No, it’s alright. I don’t think they’ll bother me, since I didn’t know anything.” I replied. I had a gut feeling from their behavior that they needed to go and check with their boss before they did anything else. “What time did you want me here tomorrow?” I asked.

Henry joked, “Earlier than today.”

“Next time you’ll need to hire a clairvoyant if you want someone here before being hired.” I teased back. Henry gave me a disarming smile. I clarified, “So, 7 or 8 am?”

“You can be here at 7, but I won’t be here until 8,” Henry answered.



To be continued...

Cracked Ice, Part 1

The Time Travel Agency had a vital mission to increase the positive vibrational frequency of our time. This work is done by twin flames when they meet. Since many twin flames are incarnated on earth in different time periods, it became the Agency’s mission to connect people to their twin flame from another time period. The positive vibrations will increase exponentially and finally counteract the negative energy in the current time. 

It took at least a week to get ready for the trip. Each person had to meet with the counselors to be evaluated, learn about culture and history. It was also necessary to meet with a doctor to have a complete physical and to have shots protecting us against the various diseases of the era we were traveling to. In addition, each traveler needed to research specific places, meet with teachers to learn speech patterns, language usage, and manners, and receive lessons on clothing and hair styles. In addition, a personal stylist met with the women to pick new glasses frames, learn makeup tips and have their hair cut in the historical way. The personal stylists had been employed at the movie studios. They needed new work, however, since much of their old work is now replaced by CGI technology. 

The Agency also determined after the styling how old you would “be”. [The Agency determined after the first travelers entering the past returned that people’s ages need to be adjusted. Our current methods of diet and general health make us look much younger than we actually are when compared to people several generations ago.] 

The Agency also suggested that people work on their own research before signing up. Some of us have done deeper research on some of the people we were hoping to meet once we’ve arrived to our planned destination. Of course, the Agency didn’t tell us who they believed our twin flame was, since only twin flames know for certain that they are linked. 

Overall, the Time Travel Agency made sure there were safety nets in place, so that peoples’ lives in the past were not adversely change or affected by these temporary visitors. It also worked on ensuring that the travelers were safe and undetected by the people who populated the time period they traveled to. After all, twin flame work was not understood by many in the past, and it could jeopardize both the travelers and the mission if they were detected. Part of how this was done was that they didn’t allow several people who were interested or traveling to the same time period travel together. 

So, here I am, Leora Benson, Agency-determined age of 35, traveling alone to Hollywood, California, Fall 1932. The travel destination was a special “safe house” that was set up by the Time Travel Agency to be the time traveler’s place of residence. It appeared to be an ordinary boarding house; of course the boarding house owner is an agent with the travel agency. 

After spending at least 12 hours napping, the recommended way to acclimate to the weather and air, I woke up and sat up in my brass bed, stretched and walked across the room to wash my face in the small basin on the table. I found the antibiotic prescription left for me, and took the prescribed dosage. After washing up, I got dressed, which took me longer than I figured because of buttons on my dress and putting my stockings with garters on straight. 

I quietly slipped downstairs for breakfast and ate a hard boiled egg and toast and glanced at the newspaper being passed around the table. The other boarders didn’t seem to notice me; they talked amongst themselves or read the paper. 

After my meal, I stepped outside and looked at my map. I walked down the street towards the temp worker agency the Time Travel Agency. The T. T. Temp Agency (TTTA) was set up as a way for travelers to earn money, interact with society and potentially connect with their twin souls while they were visiting. The Hollywood studios considered temps from TTTA highly skilled, knowledgeable and hard working. 

After my skills were tested by the TTTA, they told me the 3 jobs they had available. While I read the descriptions, the placement worker went and talked with her colleague who just took a new phone order. They both came over to me and said, “We just received a call and a secretary is needed immediately. 

They handed me a public transport schedule, the address and fare for the Yellow Car and sent me on my way without telling me anything else about the new assignment. On the way to the Yellow Car stop, I found a newsstand and picked up the current issue of Time Magazine. It caught my eye since my favorite comedy team was on the cover. After paying for it, I slipped it into my satchel to read later, since the Yellow Car had arrived. 

Within 15 minutes, I arrived to the small office building off of a residential street. I really didn’t have time to even be nervous about this surreal situation. I snapped into my routine temp worker mode and walked in, quiet, humble, and polite. 

I entered the building and am surprised to find a paper trail of letters strewn on the floor. Automatically, I crouched down and picked up each letter, following the trail and collecting the letters down a hallway on my hands and knees. Due to the overwhelming number of letters, I hadn’t read who they were to. I’m so involved in taking the letters from the floor that I didn’t hear a door opening at the end of the hall. 

I adjusted my wire-rim glasses, since I’m still getting used to them. I picked up another letter in front of me and then turned around to gather some I missed behind me. I heard a clear baritone voice ask, “Can I help you?” This startles me and a few letters go flying out of my left hand. 

I looked up, quite embarrassed, and am met with the kindest eyes and smile I’ve seen. The man in the door is dressed in a nice suit, shirt and tie. His face was familiar even without his stage wig. He quickly moved down the hall, picked up the spilled letters and helped me up in one quick swoop. He touched my shoulder and I felt a strange shock on my upper arm that took my breath away. “Thank you,” I said inaudibly. 

He shepherded me towards the door; “The temp agency said they’d send someone right away and we’ve wondering what happened. Come in, meet my brothers and get settled in before we gather the rest of the letters.” 

I couldn’t help but be stunned and speechless as Art Archer (of the famous comedic brothers) directed me into the office. 



To be continued...





Copyright Reserved © Leora Tozer 2013

Breaking down the 4th wall

As a long time fan of film, it usually catches my attention when a character breaks down the 4th wall and talks directly to the audience. Some people get annoyed when film characters do this, since it can interfere with suspension of disbelief. However, I really like it, since many times it's used in a creative way. In general, it has been used with great effect in comedy movies, since these movies are seeking react against audience's expectations of what should occur in a movie.

In re-watching some of my favorite comedies, Groucho Marx is the first person to break down the fourth wall in Hollywood movies. Groucho often looks at the camera and talks directly to the movie audience. Many times, Groucho is making sure the audience is in on the joke of making fun of the rich or the authority figures within the movie. In the Marx Brothers movies, it has a great effect of drawing the audience in. 

The comedians who have come later and have broke the 4th wall in their movies (such as Woody Allen and Mel Brooks) are paying tribute and expanding on this technique with great comedic effect.

Animal Crackers (1930) - Groucho "Pardon me while I have a strange interlude..."




Horse Feathers (1932) - Music Lesson scene



Slate has a great video highlighting various scenes from several decades of movies where characters are breaking down the fourth wall.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/03/07/breaking_the_fourth_wall_supercut_a_video_essay_we_re_sure_you_yes_you_will.html 

If you need more examples, this website that has a list of films that break down the fourth wall: http://www.artandpopularculture.com/List_of_films_that_break_the_fourth_wall

If you know of earlier movies or have favorite scenes from movies of characters breaking down the fourth wall, please share in the comments below.

Just a friendly neighborhood gathering

As a divorced woman in a small town, it’s a rare event for me to be invited anywhere. So, of course when the girls and I were invited to a neighborhood potluck, I RSVPed. It should be a positive experience and an opportunity for the girls to expand their (as well as my) social circle.

The girls stuck by me as we ate. “I don’t know anybody here,” my eldest complained. “I don’t know many people here either, but that’s how you get to meet people,” I replied.

Later on, after my encouragement, the twins went and introduced themselves to another girl close to their age. My eldest later decided to play with them, since she wasn’t interested in video game playing.

I wandered over to a table of adults, who welcomed me to sit down. I spent some time listening. One of the guests talked to me briefly and the host did go out of his way to say a few encouraging words.

Later on, the hostess stated to a friend her theory that children of artists see art differently than other children, since they see the business side of it. That may be true, but in my mind they would also see the fulfillment of creating, which most people in our world have lost. 

Just a sideline into “who is an artist”: Last night made me understand what Sinclair Lewis was saying in “Work of Art.” Art can be in any profession, as long as the person has passion, conviction and soul-fulfillment in what they do. One does not have to have the word “Artist” stamped to their forehead to be one. {Regarding Lewis’ work, don’t take this comment as a recommendation to read “Work of Art” unless you want to get lost into the minutia details of hotel management and hollandaise sauce.}

The kids all played and enjoyed themselves. At one point, the group of boys ran outside to a nearby park. The adults all mused, “Boys will be boys.” 

I noticed the tree swing keeping busy the whole evening. Several boys were swinging on it wildly. The adults didn’t seem to notice. Later on, one of my twins was on there, twisting around. I walked over and told her to not twist the chain, it could wreck the swing. I went back to the table. After a short while, I heard the hostess state, “Somebody should parent that child.” Sure enough, it was one of the twins. 

I walked over and told the girls we needed to go, since she didn’t listen to me regarding how she was swinging on the swing. My eldest defended her sisters stating, “The boys were doing that earlier.” The twins were merely entertaining their new friends by creating skits and filming it with their new cameras. {In typing this sentence, the true absurdity of the situation astounds me; the artist’s yard is not some place to play wildly and create skits.}

Of course, being raised by my parents, last night I was embarrassed and this morning I was slightly ticked off. Now, I see the humor.

I realize I need to offer others understanding and patience. This mother in a few years will have a better understanding of the repression girls go through in the local school system. She’ll have to deal with things such as I and other moms have. My girls coming home from kindergarten upset; the boys said that they couldn’t be superheroes because “there are no girl superheroes.” So many times girls aren’t called on in math class (even though my eldest is the best math student in her grade). The middle school girl who asked for a flyer to sign up for baseball and the male teacher refuses to give her one. {Fortunately, she was smart enough to outwait him and pull one from the garbage.}

Life isn’t fair sometimes. Life can be repressive for girls and women. I’m looking for ways to encourage all of us (no matter our race, creed or gender) to build each other up, and encourage peace, love and creativity. It’s time to take down the barriers. Who’s with me?

Every day is a new adventure

Sometimes you need to shake your life up a bit; preferably in positive and meaningful ways.

It felt like the right time to invest in me. I carefully planned and signed up for something that would be a fulfilling learning experience.

Sometimes a small change like this can force you to open up yourself in new ways.

I walked to the class this morning and looked around. I was immediately rewarded 1 block into my walk by seeing a gorgeous tall vision in sunglasses, black pants, and shirtless. He was casually holding his shirt like a foreign object in his left hand. As I crossed the street, I smiled to myself.

Later on, during lunch break, I walked around, watching the people and seeing the different restaurants near the school. On one block, I noticed a woman talking on the cell phone. She started sobbing, "It's my first day, and you are yelling at me. How could you treat me this way as I'm just trying to find some place to eat." 

I had turned the corner and didn't hear more. My heart ached to hear her pain, and I turned around to see if I could see where she was. I hoped someone in her life would show her kindness later, or at least give her a hug.

So much information today, I can't really absorb it all. I did take time to relax, and find some quiet time to reflect. I feel centered and at peace. Yes, it's good to stretch your mind and soul from time to time.

Why do I only find lovers in dreams?

He slipped into my dreams only the last week or so...unexpected and strange.

When I was a young and innocent teen, he was my harmless (ie: safe) celebrity crush. Safe because he was from another time period.

But why has he reappeared in my dream-scape? Maybe it's simply the ideal I see in him as a man. In all I've read over the years, he is kind, a good listener, funny, and fair-minded.

When watching the movies, you see the pure soul within him when he plays music. 

Funny, wistful...yet had a tough life as a child. Worked hard, not much school; although, back then, many people didn't complete school. Family is the all important dynamic; the brothers became successful together, as a team.

These are all ideal qualities. Perhaps no one can really compare.

Yet, I'm surprised by the few dreams of the last week~~time machine dreams. I'm a temporary visitor to the past, with only a few days time. Yet, I have to act as though I belong within that time, which is oddly familiar, yet difficult.

The dreams leave my soul feeling stirred, unsettled by hiding in fantasy. Should I be concerned?

After some consideration, no, not really. I should allow myself the pleasure of fantasy. Let myself lighten up. Enjoy life a bit. Fantasy can add a spark to life that we would otherwise forget if we were left to our own devices.