“I do not have a fear of heights, I have a fear of falling through the sky.”
“I mean, it feels like it’s kind of the same thing. In a way.”
“Let’s focus on you instead of my irrational – yet, I do feel that is a very rational fear to have. What if the chute doesn’t open? It happens.”
“So does getting hit by an asteroid.”
“I have never heard of anyone getting hit by an asteroid.”
“I saw it on TikTok. It can happen.”
It could also be AI,” he snickered.
“This is why I do not watch the news,” I laughed and grabbed my bottle of water.
“Do you need anything?”
“I want Jack to get better so I don’t have to do this,” I groaned.
“Oh, sorry, that is beyond my capabilities. However, your… uh… boyfriend – the man who loves the shit out of you, is very excited to finally watch his boyfriend perform.”
“I perform for you nightly.”
“Doing the splits on my dick is not the same thing as…”
Buffy’s cackle made us both spin around. “That was perfect timing. How do you do that?”
“And I am going back to rehearsing.”
“You are coming with me,” Buffy grinned wickedly. “Jack is going to be out the whole weekend.”
“I heard.”
“We need to refit your costume. I need you to get naked, get in that old man costume, and let me alter it for you. Jack is about forty pounds heavier than you.”
“I didn’t even think about that,” I frowned. “God, his nightgown alone is gonna drag like a train around me.”
“I got you, boo. Come with momma so momma can provide.” She linked her arm through mine and walked me backstage and into the dressing room. “Put on the first costume and let’s see what I can do?”
One after another, I put on the costumes, and Buffy stuck pins in them. A few of them she safety-pinned and said that would be as good as I could get in a few hours, but by the time the cast started arriving, and I rehearsed a couple of songs with the pianist, she had worked her magic.
I was as ready as I could get.
The rest of the cast was excited that I was going to join them on stage. Having a Broadway pedigree went a long way in a place like Foggy Basin.
“Are we ready?” I asked at five minutes until places.
“Are you?” One of the children slapped me on my leg.
“Listen, Tiny Tim, I’ll have you know that I can’t answer that until this show is over,” I sighed heavily. “Alright, hands in, everyone.”
I stuck my hand out, and the rest of the cast did their best to add one of their own on top of mine.
“This wasn’t planned or anything, but I’m very excited to share the stage with you tonight. I think I know everything, but if I’m in the wrong place at any time, please pull me where I need to go. We’re all in this together. Let’s have a great show. Any questions?”
“You sounded great earlier. I snuck into the wings and listened. You have a beautiful voice even when you’re doing Scrooge.”
“Thanks, Marie. Now let’s go and break a leg tonight. On three.”
