“No-Good Man” as the title of this chapter, at the beginning, reader will think it means “No, he is a good man”.
In 1948 John Levy, a owner of the Ebony club on 52nd street got Billie out of jail, and gave her a job when no one else dared. In Billie’s eyes, Mr. Levy is a very good man. Billie had Bobby Tucker and his great group backing her; she still got a fancy dress with very expensive jewelry from Mr. Levy.
“I never had had a mink coat in my life, John Levy bought me my first one… the biggest surprise of all was that he never once suggested or insisted that I go to bed with him”.
Mr. Levy also fixed Billie’s relationship with her husband---Jimmy, and chased Jimmy away from her. Everything happens too fast and perfect. Billie had a car and chauffeur to drive her around; she got a fabulous place in St. Albans Queens, and furnished in modern stuff and antiques. All these make Billie feels like she is the most lucky and happy woman in the world. She thought this had to be part of a build-up and the love eyes had to come later.
But reader forgets another meaning of the title of this chapter; “No-Good Man” also means “no man is good”.
After happiness, trouble was coming. Billie had to start to work seven days a week, five shows a day. She lost her freedom, and became a machine of money maker. And Mr. Levy became a nightmare of her. Things are clearer and clearer that Mr. Levy used Billie to make money for him, and he does not love her at all.
“I was making thirty-five hundred dollars a week, but I didn’t have a nickel in my pocket. John handled all the finances, and I wasn’t even allowed to draw five bucks”.
Outside, people thought Billie is great, famous and successful, she has a great life. But the fact is she can not do what she wants, she lost herself, all she had to work over and over. Finally, she made a decision to end relationship with Mr. Levy. “This was the beginning of the end with Mr. Levy, I decided”.
My question is, have you ever got hurt from love? When you fall in love with someone, could you distinguished is it true love? Did anyone fooling you and use you before? If he or she just used you, how have you deal with it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
of course yes. When I was still young, it's so hard to tell what's true love and just wanted to stay with someone and do something for him. I'm the lucky one that nobody fools my love. If he did, I would say nothing and leave at once. I believe time could heal my heart well except tears.
ReplyDeletefirst question should be No; second quesiton is Yes; third question is No;last answer is ignore and leave her away;
ReplyDeleteI have just fell in love for less than 5 months.He is my first boyfriend.I don't know what is love,but I know I have already met a right man.He treats me very well.IF not,we won't begin our relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think one really does not know what love is unless one has been hurt by love at least once in their life. With out that feeling I do not believe one could ever know what love truly is.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have definitely fallen in love with someone before... it's tough. I've definitely gotten hurt by someone in love as well. But for me, it's always been that one sided love, a simple crush. I really don't know if people take advantage of the fact that I like them and just use me though. Although that would be horrible.
ReplyDelete