4. The Unstable Self

I took a deep breath and enjoyed the sounds going on below me. This was the last performance of The Comedy of Errors and each line brought me a little closer to being home and playing HaloWars. Julie’s voice started to creep up again, I turned a knob controlling the volume of her microphone. She has a habit of getting louder and louder as the show progresses. I wouldn’t mind seeing a show of just her dancing around speaking long elegant phrases, like Madame de Pompadour, I’d be in heaven.

“Ja-ja-jake, o-ov-over there.”

I saw it from the corner of my eye but didn’t recognize anything amiss until now. A grandpa with thin white hair sitting alone in the back of the threatre had his hand down his pants.

“Gra-gra-Grandpa Jack.”

I don’t know his real name but that’s what we like to call him. He comes to the plays once a season to jerk it while watching the young girls on stage. I climbed down from the sound booth to find the House Manager. He was preparing the concessions for the intermission. I told him about Grandpa Jack and rushed inside to kick him out before we had any accidents to clean up.

Intermission was starting soon so I headed to the green room. I brought a few snacks to eat during the show. As my brownie cooked in the microwave a familiar voice startled me.

“Hey Jake.” Julia said.

“Ju-ju-ju … Hi.” I was grinning like a damned fool and I knew it.  I had to make a conscious effort to keep my eyes above her large breasts.

“Have you been watching the show?”

“Ja-ja-jake  … th-thi-thinks yo-yo-your great.”

“Thanks, I heard Grandpa Jack was back.”

“ye-yeah”

“Thanks for looking out for me. I feel so violated just thinking that some pervert is, just, you know? Thanks Jake, your really sweet.” The microwave dinged. “Hey is that one of those Warm Delights? I just love those things but they always make me feel so fat.”

“Ja-ja-jake thinks yo-you’re pretty, here ta-ta-tak” I handed the brownie to her.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to steal your snack or anything.”

I nodded and pushed her outstretched hand away. Her skin was cool to the touch; it sent shivers up my spine. My eyes wondered up her arm and paused on her sculpted chest pushed out of her wench’s costume. She smiled at me. I swallowed my pride; it’s now or never.

“Wo-would  you” I inspected my shifting feet “mo-movie with Ja-ja-jake?”

“Aw Jake you’re like the sweetest guy in the world, we’re friends right?”

My face beat red. “Ye-yeah”

“Hey I have to get going, intermission is almost over.” Julia grabbed a fork out of the drawer, stuck it into the brownie, and walked out of the green room.

I fell back on the couch. Friends, well at least that means she’ll keep talking to me.

© Chris Richards 2009