She first heard this sing-song taunt when she was five, but it took her a while before she realized it was not cheering her on.
Still, she stuck with it.
And by her mid 20s she was playing in an orchestra. Not a top orchestra, but she was on her way. Her parents, who had immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, were very proud of her artistic success. (And, yes, they were prouder of her Engineer older brother.)
Julie had indeed had some lovers, but they all were clumsy and young. Not at all like Warren Belloc.
Musicians are all horny and ribald -- so it seemed to Julie. She could hold her own in bandiage, though. "What are you, a queeb?" "What are you, a dyke?" Ha ha ha.
Yet she was unprepared for Warren Belloc.
He was a visiting conductor. It was like he could see the music, could smell and taste it. Six feet tall, counting his thick brown hair.
Full shouldered and narrow waisted. And very well dressed.
Julie herself was tiny. Under five feet, under a hundred pounds. Apple-ish tits. Whispy straight pubes. Leaf-shaped brown eyes. And masterful with a violin.
Small and shy, she found closing parties depressing.
Until the party for Warren Belloc.
He had been so professional the last four weeks, then he saught her out early and stayed with her all night. Drinking, chatting, drinking, chatting, drinking.