Welcome to A View of the Town, the adventures of Dr. Willis Fletcher in the small coastal town of misty Cove along the coast Maine. Offering tidbits of local color and the lay of the land, we now return to Dr. Fletcher and another of his stories of the the sleepy seaport town.
This episode of A View of the Town is brought to you by carrots. They're orange and healthy and delish too. Slice them, dice them, bake them, put them in a stew. Carrots are good for all the ails you. Carrots.
I've met many a stranger passing through Misty Cove. Most looking to get away from the heat of the cities during the summer. Some looking for fresh seafood. I've met writers, artists, and professors. Some have left their mark on my nostalgic mind. And a few leave a deeper mark. Like Bernice Hull.
One afternoon, I sat napping in my office, enjoying a quiet day which was often rare in Misty Cove, when I heard the door's bell tinkle. Standing in my waiting room was the most most fairest young lady I ever saw. Brunette, plain dressed, and shy. Her name was Bernice Hull and she was visiting friends. She asked if she could examine her throat and provide her with something to help sooth it. The night sea air gave her a sore throat, according to her. I was smitten. And fortunately, she was unmarried.
With a bottle of gargle tonic, she was appreciative and I took my chances to ask her to lunch at Charlotte's Diner. Fortunately, Charlotte was not there and we lunched in peace. She told me she traveled up from New York City. She told me of her difficult upbringing by an alcoholic abusive father after her mother had died.
Her father worked but often spent the money on spirits. She found solace at her local church where she helped with whatever they needed. She took in laundry and became well known for her baking skills on her neighborhood. She was lucky she could give her earnings for the priest at the church to keep safe. It was a rough life for a young girl. Her older brother had run away as soon as he was able, keeping in touch with her. He had settled in Misty Cove. I knew him, Buster Hull, a local woodworker known for his excellent work. And when she had turned 16, she ran away as well into New York City.
When I asked her how she was able to travel and feed herself, she simply replied "I entertain." Now at first, I was a bit concerned about the form of entertainment. Misty Cove had no such place or would be interested in such "entertainment." With a puzzled look, I couldn't help but ask further. She grinned. And there it was. I realized who I was looking at. Her stage look included rouge, a blond wig, flashy dresses. Everyone in town thought she was staying with her orchestra in the back of the theatre, but Bernice Hull would emerge after her performance as Babette Le Blond and walk about town and visiting her brother. I kept her secret. And she was grateful for it.
Babette Le Blond and her orchestra left Misty Cove after their second weekend performances. I kept in touch with her for many years. They ended up in Los Angeles after years of traveling across country, performing wherever they could. We exchanged cards and letters. I, of course, would ask Buster about his sister. She retired after the orchestra broke up and married, settling in Los Angeles where she and her husband opened a small bakery.
Over the years, I have meet some many interesting people in Misty Cove. The visit of Bernice Hull was always one of my favorites. And sometime, I'll have to tell you about her return to Misty Cove many years later.
This episode of A View of the Town is brought to you by carrots. Bugs, Peter, and the Easter bunny could see the benefits of eating carrots and so should you. They grow underground but don't taste like dirt. They're good for your eyes and easy on your thighs. Carrots.
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