Today you will read the story "The Savoy" by Scott C. Mikula, about a young man living in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s and 1930s. As you read the passage, you will gather information and answer questions so you can write a response about the theme.
The Savoy
by Scott C. Mikula
1 Them boys got magic in their feet, Momma said, leaning out the window while I sat on the fire escape. "You best come inside now, Eugene, and help me shell these peas."
2 I crawled in through the window, but my thoughts were still on the boys and girls down on Lenox Avenue. They had nothing but their own clapping for a beat, but they'd practice their dance moves till the ballroom opened. Frankie was the wildest of them, flipping the girl over his shoulder or catching her from a flying leap-always trying out some daring new "air step" to one-up the others later that night.
3 Soon light from the windows of the second floor ballroom would blaze into the night, the music would strike up, and the dancers would crowd inside. heard that music near every night-Chick Webb whaling on his drums, or Duke Ellington, or some other hot dance band-but Momma couldn't ever spare me the thirty cents admission to go to the Savoy myself.
That's why I let Willa Mae talk me into sneaking in.
"My momma will skin me alive if she finds out." Momma had left for her night shift at the hotel down on 132nd Street, but she had a way of knowing if I even thought about doing something wrong.
I beat out a rhythm on the kitchen table while Willa Mae worked on her footwork. She was one of the real dancers-one of those that practiced with Frankie down on the street-but she was my friend, top. Sometimes wed brave Momma's consternation and push all the living room furniture aside so we could try out some moves.
"Don't you want to try dancing to a real swing band?" she called. Sweat clung to her face, but she didn't stop moving. "If we get there after the bands set up, we can sneak in the delivery entrance on 141 st.....
"It's Benny Goodman tonight, battlin' Chick Webb for King of Swing." Benny Goodman and Chick Webb! I'd only heard Goodman's big band orchestra on our tinny old Victrola. His drummer was the best, maybe. But against Chick? My mind was made up.
The day's heat still radiated from the pavement as we rounded the corner onto Lenox Avenue. All the ballroom windows were open, and we could hear the bandmen warming up. Willa Mae grinned at me, practically skipping along the sidewalk, but she couldn't be more excited than I was. was about to listen
The blazing marquee lights turned night as bright as midday in front of the ballroom's grand entrance. Big George eyed us as we passed by, but we acted casual and didn't look at him. Big George was the Savoy's broad-shouldered ticket taker-and I knew if he caught us sneaking in hed throw us out on our ears. We left the lights behind and hurried around the corner.
The delivery entrance was halfway down a side street. Willa Mae waved for me to follow as she tried the handle on one of the double doors. Sure enough, it was unlocked.
"Hey, you kids!" | froze. Willa Maes eyes went wide. Leaning against a parked car was one of the bandmen, in a suit and tie. He had thick eyebrows and wavy black hair. We were sunk, I knew it. Caught, before I even got to set one foot on the dance floor. "You aren't supposed to-"
14) That's all I heard before Willa Mae yanked me through the door. "C'mon, Gene!"
stumbled after her as we ran down a long hallway. Tantalizing music nitered through the floor from upstairs, but my heart was beating so fierce I could hardly hear it. I kept looking back, but it didn't seem the bandman was chasing us.
"I thought you said no oned be around, I panted.
*I got us in, didn't I?"
Willa Mae led me up a dim staircase and past a back office. And then we came to the main hall.
19 Everyone knew music at the Savoy never stopped, but I'd always wondered how the band could play all night without a break. The answer was two bands, on side-by-side bandstands. As Chick's band wound down, Benny's musicians jumped in, eager to prove they could swing harder and faster. I saw the white bandman slip in behind the drums.
20
I grinned at Willa Mae. "Dance?"
For answer, she punched my shoulder. We wove our way out onto the floor. It was packed, mostly black folks but some white, too, all decked out in dress coats and fine shoes, and everyone dancing. I was too enraptured to feel self-conscious over my plain slacks and shirt. The ballroom was enormous, the length of the whole city block. A railing surrounded the dance floor, and behind that was a lounge area trimmed in blue and gold. I had never imagined
In one paragraph Write a response analyzing how the author develops the theme of taking chances in the passage "The Savoy. Use evidence of the character, setting, and plot to support your analysis.