The Emperor's Bracelet

Book excerpt: Other friends reacted differently to her decision to move to Los Angeles. But less dramatically! Kitten perceived negativism towards the United States of America of the Sixties. No one had said anything bad about her moving to Rome in the past. Aside from elders' backbiters' slanderous remarks about Kitten being pregnant, youngsters had praised her for her choice. This time, comments abounded as if she was heading for the moon. As if she were about to reach a point of no return. -"With this decision, you have ratted on your past!" declared a friend of hers she was particularly fond of. -"You have forsworn your ancestors. You have betrayed Paris!" said another. Amazingly enough, these deeply rooted bourgeois had admitted Kitten in their closed-in Parisian circle. In their minds, Rome had belonged to France once. Vogue Magazine was an extremely chic advocate of French fashion. Yet, at twenty-three, the girl-who was about to move on-had lived more years outside France! Outside Paris to be exact! It was as if her entourage knew nothing of her birthplace, her childhood stage, and her many school years abroad. Everyone was outraged by her eminent departure.