Mary Sullivan Esseff<meta property="fb:pages" content="131410006996888" />​​​

The four eager young women—Rebecca and Lizbett Butler, Elizabeth Sheridan and Hope Denker, Lizbett’s roommate and high school friend— huddled in front of the CBS Theater waiting for the usher to admit ticket holders to The Ed Sullivan Show.

 

Khalil escorted the four young ladies into the room set aside for the Columbia Records’ private party. The other Jesuits were already seated. Rebecca and her friends were the focus of conversation as Khalil ushered them to their seats and introduced them to the other singers. Rebecca realized they were the only women in the room.

 

Elizabeth chatted easily with Ray Chavez seated next to her until he leaned over and asked in a tone of mingled disbelief, wonder and concern: “Who are you anyway? What are you doing here?”

 

Elizabeth laughed her wonderful throaty laugh, batted her long thick eyelashes that emphasized how beautiful her violet eyes were and said with supreme innocence, “We’re here with Khalil.”

 

A Columbia Records’ exec laughed when he heard her response, “Well, that explains everything. It’s always the quiet ones who fool you!” he said nodding his head in Khalil’s direction.

 

Blushing, Rebecca whispered to Elizabeth, “They probably think we’re ladies hired for the evening!”

 

“I almost feel that way myself,” Elizabeth countered. “But, who cares? It’s more fun than I’ve had in a long time!”