destiny was Hollywood. Although she was a fan of Marilyn Monroe, it was Bette Davis who truly inspired her. Frankie had a natural gift for comedy, but it was drama that she was most attracted to. Growing up in a sheltered, affluent life, dramatic roles gave her the opportunity to experience the hardships of life—even if it was only on stage.
A week before a scheduled to fly to Los Angeles, Frankie felt she needed some time to herself. She decided to go horseback riding within the neighborhood of Fresh Meadows. She climbed onto the back of her favorite mare, Libby, and galloped off into the park. A cool misty breeze filled the spring air, and the grass was vivid green from yesterday’s rain. White and pink blossoms fluttered down from the trees, landing on the damp ground as Frankie and her horse trotted by.
Under the blossom-filled trees, Frankie daydreamed of a knight in shining armor.
If love does eventually come to everyone, when will mine?
she thought. As she listened to the rhythmic sound of Libby’s hooves on the macadam, Frankie’s mind entered an almost meditative state. She began to imagine what her future beau would be like and where she might meet him.
Will he ride up to me today? Will he help me if I fall off my horse? Will he be tall, dark, and handsome?
There was so much hope and promise ahead of her.
When Frankie was set free into the world at age eighteen, she was ready to let go of the structures founded by her parents. She wanted to live and experience life, date boys, and hang around with her girlfriends. She found friendship with a young, rising starlet, Katie Todd, a sultry blonde with a pageboy hairdo. Katie was the oldest daughter of a military family and had seen much of the world by the time she turned eighteen. She had lived on military bases in Japan and Germany, but spent most of her life growing up outside San Diego.
Frankie had befriended Katie a year ago when their two families met on a cruise. Their parents seemed to hit it off, especially Frankie and Katie’s mothers. It was a clue to both girls that they were to be lifelong friends; and sometimes it felt as though they had been sisters in a past life. Actually, Frankie and Katie acted more like brothers, jokingly berating each other with insults.
For Katie’s eighteenth birthday, her father (or “the General,” as Frankie liked to call him) bought her a 1963 blue and silver corvette convertible. It was a slick car for a sensuous young star. Katie and Frankie used it to their full advantage, cruising all around Los Angeles, teasing young men of all ages and statures. There was no real reason to succumb to sexual seductions when you had men eating out of your hand. In 1963, Katie Todd and Frankie Robinson had the City of Angels at their feet.
Frankie despised photo shoots, but they were necessary for a rising star; besides, it was hard to turn down the money that modeling agents were offering. Southern California was known for its year-round sunny weather. This November day, however, it was especially cold in the studio while posing in a polka-dot bikini. “Can someone turn up the heat?” she asked. “It is freezing in here!”
“We’ll be done in a few minutes,” said the photographer, looking through the lens. “Just hold still.”
Frankie smirked and then smiled for the camera, when the photographer’s pretty assistant suddenly burst in. Her face was pasty, and there was a haunted look in her eyes. “This better be important,” said the photographer.
“It is,” the assistant stammered. “President Kennedy has just been assassinated.”
The photographer lifted his head from the camera and stared at his assistant with a look of disbelief. “What?” he
A week before a scheduled to fly to Los Angeles, Frankie felt she needed some time to herself. She decided to go horseback riding within the neighborhood of Fresh Meadows. She climbed onto the back of her favorite mare, Libby, and galloped off into the park. A cool misty breeze filled the spring air, and the grass was vivid green from yesterday’s rain. White and pink blossoms fluttered down from the trees, landing on the damp ground as Frankie and her horse trotted by.
Under the blossom-filled trees, Frankie daydreamed of a knight in shining armor.
If love does eventually come to everyone, when will mine?
she thought. As she listened to the rhythmic sound of Libby’s hooves on the macadam, Frankie’s mind entered an almost meditative state. She began to imagine what her future beau would be like and where she might meet him.
Will he ride up to me today? Will he help me if I fall off my horse? Will he be tall, dark, and handsome?
There was so much hope and promise ahead of her.
When Frankie was set free into the world at age eighteen, she was ready to let go of the structures founded by her parents. She wanted to live and experience life, date boys, and hang around with her girlfriends. She found friendship with a young, rising starlet, Katie Todd, a sultry blonde with a pageboy hairdo. Katie was the oldest daughter of a military family and had seen much of the world by the time she turned eighteen. She had lived on military bases in Japan and Germany, but spent most of her life growing up outside San Diego.
Frankie had befriended Katie a year ago when their two families met on a cruise. Their parents seemed to hit it off, especially Frankie and Katie’s mothers. It was a clue to both girls that they were to be lifelong friends; and sometimes it felt as though they had been sisters in a past life. Actually, Frankie and Katie acted more like brothers, jokingly berating each other with insults.
For Katie’s eighteenth birthday, her father (or “the General,” as Frankie liked to call him) bought her a 1963 blue and silver corvette convertible. It was a slick car for a sensuous young star. Katie and Frankie used it to their full advantage, cruising all around Los Angeles, teasing young men of all ages and statures. There was no real reason to succumb to sexual seductions when you had men eating out of your hand. In 1963, Katie Todd and Frankie Robinson had the City of Angels at their feet.
Frankie despised photo shoots, but they were necessary for a rising star; besides, it was hard to turn down the money that modeling agents were offering. Southern California was known for its year-round sunny weather. This November day, however, it was especially cold in the studio while posing in a polka-dot bikini. “Can someone turn up the heat?” she asked. “It is freezing in here!”
“We’ll be done in a few minutes,” said the photographer, looking through the lens. “Just hold still.”
Frankie smirked and then smiled for the camera, when the photographer’s pretty assistant suddenly burst in. Her face was pasty, and there was a haunted look in her eyes. “This better be important,” said the photographer.
“It is,” the assistant stammered. “President Kennedy has just been assassinated.”
The photographer lifted his head from the camera and stared at his assistant with a look of disbelief. “What?” he
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