[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Leah grinned.
"Who are you?" Sophia asked.
Leah laughed. She patted Sophia's hand.
Adam tapped the glass again.
"The opera awaits," Leah said. She got out of the car. Adam offered
her his arm. Sophia took Ward's. Leah felt like she was playing dress-
up. They all giggled together, and went into the opera house.
Ward and Leah opted for orange juice while Sophia and Adam split
a flute of champagne.
"Five bucks, do they think I'm royalty?" Adam said.
"You're a famous playwright, darling."
"Still." He took a sip and passed it to Sophia.
"Do you not drink?" Sophia asked Leah.
"I don't drink before shows. Whether I'm in them or otherwise. I fall
asleep."
"Or forgets her lines," Adam said.
"I never forget my lines," Leah said.
"Oh yeah? Sing 'Oklahoma'" Adam said.
"Oh come on, I was twelve."
"You were sixteen."
Leah put her hand to her head.
Sophia cast a shy glance at Ward.
Ward said, "I'm Baptist. Aren't you?"
"Catholic."
He raised his orange juice to her. She clinked it with the champagne
glass.
"We could make mimosas," Adam said.
"After," Leah said.
Ward finished off his orange juice. He asked, "How long are
operas?"
"Long."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Long-ass," Leah said.
"I'm going to have to pee," Ward said.
"Look," Adam said, putting his arms around Sophia and Leah.
"Hillbillies. I know that some of you are from around here, but we're at
the opera, and we are in theater, so could we please all be a little more
stuck-up and pretentious? I'm feeling a little uncomfortable."
"This is about Poe, isn't it?" Leah asked.
Adam sipped his champagne.
Sophia said, "I really hope this version is as good as the one I saw
in Amsterdam last year."
Adam smiled. People turned their heads to look at them.
"I hope so," Leah said. "But I predict it will be conventional.
Nothing will beat the all gay La Boheme I saw, set in a gritty
Americana street block."
Ward leaned in and whispered, "You're just talking about Rent,
aren't you?"
Leah grinned. "Maybe I am."
Ward said, "Let me tell you, do not mention Angels in America in
this town."
Adam cringed.
Sophia frowned. "What do they have against Mary Louise Parker in
Charlotte?"
"The world may never understand," Ward said.
"Oh, I hope you don't think we're like that," a man said, stepping
closer to enter their conversation. His eyes meaningfully looked over
Ward, as he added, "Anyone's welcome to enjoy the opera."
"Thank you," Ward said. He raised his glass.
"It's our first opera," Leah said. "In Charlotte."
"We're season ticket holders," the man said.
Not to be outdone, Adam offered his hand and said, "We're from
New York."
"Don't tourists usually flow in the other direction?" The man asked,
smiling and shaking Adam's hand.
"We're producing a play. A musical, actually. In Durham."
"A musical. Regional theater? Working the kinks out?"
Adam nodded. "It's a bit safer. The New York crowd can be...
dangerous."
The man smiled. "The last time I was in New York I saw, oh,
what's the name... Once Upon a Mattress. Delightful."
Adam nodded.
Ward choked on his drink.
The man patted Ward on the back and said, "I save the serious
theater for here. New York is for escaping. Hey, didn't I see you in
Death of a Salesman in Columbia last year?"
Ward beamed. "Yes sir, you may have," he said.
"Where's Columbia?" Leah asked Sophia.
Sophia bumped her.
The lights flashed and the man went back to his wife.
Adam said, "I'm writing all that down."
Leah rolled her eyes. She followed Adam to the entrance, walking
side by side with Sophia, wondering whether or not to take her arm, or
her hand, or if that would be too personal for a public space, or too
personal, just in general. She finally settled for brushing her hand
against Sophia's back as they descended the steps. Sophia arched her
back. She looked over at Leah, and looked like she might purr if they
were in another setting.
"Where are we sitting?" Ward asked. "In the movies they always sit
in the boxes."
"These are fourth row house seats," Adam said.
"Do we need to sit that close at the opera? They'll spit on us when
they sing," Ward said.
"Good. You experience it. You spit on me all day long," Leah said.
Ward frowned.
"They'll see me if I sleep. They'll get all offended," Leah said.
"So don't sleep."
"But it's opera. I'm not sure what else to do."
"Read the subtitles."
Leah perked. "Okay."
They crowded into their row, stepping on people, apologizing,
beginning to sweat already from the cramped space. Sophia, then Leah,
then Adam, then Ward.
"Are we sharing the arm rest?" Sophia asked.
Leah shook her head. She reached into Sophia's lap, took her hand,
and brought it into her own lap, linking their fingers together. Sophia
scooted closer, putting her cheek on Leah's shoulder.
"Aw," Ward said.
"Does he really spit on you?" Sophia asked.
"Only when he sings."
Adam said, "And don't forget, it's a musical."
The house lights went down. The orchestra began to play. Leah
wondered if she knew anyone in the pit. And then, with Sophia's
fingers stroking along hers, and Sophia breathing softly to her right, she
wondered if she'd follow any of the opera at all.
* * *
The house lights came up. "Half time," Ward announced. He bolted
for the bathroom.
"Why's he rushing? He's a boy," Leah said.
Sophia squeezed her hand.
The last hour had been a blur of affection and German farce. Leah
had settled against Sophia's hair until she'd gotten a crick in her neck.
In the shifting around, her hand had traveled to Sophia's lap, and settled
on Sophia's thigh. Sophia had squeaked. No one had shushed them, but
Sophia had blushed and refused to look at Leah for the rest of the act.
Their eyes met in the light. Leah smiled. She leaned in and Sophia
leaned in to meet her. They pressed their foreheads together, noses not
quite touching. Sophia whispered, "You're fun."
Leah had to bite her tongue to keep from asking, "Is that all?" She
instead asked, "What on earth happened in the first act?"
Sophia blinked. "I have no idea."
"It's in the playbill," Adam said.
"Do you need more champagne?" Leah asked, turning around,
keeping her hand in Sophia's.
"I had more than enough. Do you want to get a hotel room
tonight?"
"Adam," Leah said. "Sophia's right here."
Sophia giggled. She leaned around Leah and peered at Adam.
"The four of us," Adam said.
"Kinky," Sophia said. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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Leah grinned.
"Who are you?" Sophia asked.
Leah laughed. She patted Sophia's hand.
Adam tapped the glass again.
"The opera awaits," Leah said. She got out of the car. Adam offered
her his arm. Sophia took Ward's. Leah felt like she was playing dress-
up. They all giggled together, and went into the opera house.
Ward and Leah opted for orange juice while Sophia and Adam split
a flute of champagne.
"Five bucks, do they think I'm royalty?" Adam said.
"You're a famous playwright, darling."
"Still." He took a sip and passed it to Sophia.
"Do you not drink?" Sophia asked Leah.
"I don't drink before shows. Whether I'm in them or otherwise. I fall
asleep."
"Or forgets her lines," Adam said.
"I never forget my lines," Leah said.
"Oh yeah? Sing 'Oklahoma'" Adam said.
"Oh come on, I was twelve."
"You were sixteen."
Leah put her hand to her head.
Sophia cast a shy glance at Ward.
Ward said, "I'm Baptist. Aren't you?"
"Catholic."
He raised his orange juice to her. She clinked it with the champagne
glass.
"We could make mimosas," Adam said.
"After," Leah said.
Ward finished off his orange juice. He asked, "How long are
operas?"
"Long."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Long-ass," Leah said.
"I'm going to have to pee," Ward said.
"Look," Adam said, putting his arms around Sophia and Leah.
"Hillbillies. I know that some of you are from around here, but we're at
the opera, and we are in theater, so could we please all be a little more
stuck-up and pretentious? I'm feeling a little uncomfortable."
"This is about Poe, isn't it?" Leah asked.
Adam sipped his champagne.
Sophia said, "I really hope this version is as good as the one I saw
in Amsterdam last year."
Adam smiled. People turned their heads to look at them.
"I hope so," Leah said. "But I predict it will be conventional.
Nothing will beat the all gay La Boheme I saw, set in a gritty
Americana street block."
Ward leaned in and whispered, "You're just talking about Rent,
aren't you?"
Leah grinned. "Maybe I am."
Ward said, "Let me tell you, do not mention Angels in America in
this town."
Adam cringed.
Sophia frowned. "What do they have against Mary Louise Parker in
Charlotte?"
"The world may never understand," Ward said.
"Oh, I hope you don't think we're like that," a man said, stepping
closer to enter their conversation. His eyes meaningfully looked over
Ward, as he added, "Anyone's welcome to enjoy the opera."
"Thank you," Ward said. He raised his glass.
"It's our first opera," Leah said. "In Charlotte."
"We're season ticket holders," the man said.
Not to be outdone, Adam offered his hand and said, "We're from
New York."
"Don't tourists usually flow in the other direction?" The man asked,
smiling and shaking Adam's hand.
"We're producing a play. A musical, actually. In Durham."
"A musical. Regional theater? Working the kinks out?"
Adam nodded. "It's a bit safer. The New York crowd can be...
dangerous."
The man smiled. "The last time I was in New York I saw, oh,
what's the name... Once Upon a Mattress. Delightful."
Adam nodded.
Ward choked on his drink.
The man patted Ward on the back and said, "I save the serious
theater for here. New York is for escaping. Hey, didn't I see you in
Death of a Salesman in Columbia last year?"
Ward beamed. "Yes sir, you may have," he said.
"Where's Columbia?" Leah asked Sophia.
Sophia bumped her.
The lights flashed and the man went back to his wife.
Adam said, "I'm writing all that down."
Leah rolled her eyes. She followed Adam to the entrance, walking
side by side with Sophia, wondering whether or not to take her arm, or
her hand, or if that would be too personal for a public space, or too
personal, just in general. She finally settled for brushing her hand
against Sophia's back as they descended the steps. Sophia arched her
back. She looked over at Leah, and looked like she might purr if they
were in another setting.
"Where are we sitting?" Ward asked. "In the movies they always sit
in the boxes."
"These are fourth row house seats," Adam said.
"Do we need to sit that close at the opera? They'll spit on us when
they sing," Ward said.
"Good. You experience it. You spit on me all day long," Leah said.
Ward frowned.
"They'll see me if I sleep. They'll get all offended," Leah said.
"So don't sleep."
"But it's opera. I'm not sure what else to do."
"Read the subtitles."
Leah perked. "Okay."
They crowded into their row, stepping on people, apologizing,
beginning to sweat already from the cramped space. Sophia, then Leah,
then Adam, then Ward.
"Are we sharing the arm rest?" Sophia asked.
Leah shook her head. She reached into Sophia's lap, took her hand,
and brought it into her own lap, linking their fingers together. Sophia
scooted closer, putting her cheek on Leah's shoulder.
"Aw," Ward said.
"Does he really spit on you?" Sophia asked.
"Only when he sings."
Adam said, "And don't forget, it's a musical."
The house lights went down. The orchestra began to play. Leah
wondered if she knew anyone in the pit. And then, with Sophia's
fingers stroking along hers, and Sophia breathing softly to her right, she
wondered if she'd follow any of the opera at all.
* * *
The house lights came up. "Half time," Ward announced. He bolted
for the bathroom.
"Why's he rushing? He's a boy," Leah said.
Sophia squeezed her hand.
The last hour had been a blur of affection and German farce. Leah
had settled against Sophia's hair until she'd gotten a crick in her neck.
In the shifting around, her hand had traveled to Sophia's lap, and settled
on Sophia's thigh. Sophia had squeaked. No one had shushed them, but
Sophia had blushed and refused to look at Leah for the rest of the act.
Their eyes met in the light. Leah smiled. She leaned in and Sophia
leaned in to meet her. They pressed their foreheads together, noses not
quite touching. Sophia whispered, "You're fun."
Leah had to bite her tongue to keep from asking, "Is that all?" She
instead asked, "What on earth happened in the first act?"
Sophia blinked. "I have no idea."
"It's in the playbill," Adam said.
"Do you need more champagne?" Leah asked, turning around,
keeping her hand in Sophia's.
"I had more than enough. Do you want to get a hotel room
tonight?"
"Adam," Leah said. "Sophia's right here."
Sophia giggled. She leaned around Leah and peered at Adam.
"The four of us," Adam said.
"Kinky," Sophia said. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]