Hold The Mirror Up To Nature

by Jeff Baker

Marcus stared at the audience through the little opening in the stage curtain.

“Holy mackerel! There’s a crowd out there!” he breathed.

“Don’t look through that!” Erik said, slapping his arm. “Someone’ll see you.”

Millington College was doing “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” for their Spring Drama Production. It was, (as the posters put it) “A Shakespeare Play Probably Not By Shakespeare.” William Shakespeare probably had written some of it, with most of the rest being written by someone named John Fletcher.

Marcus Wayland and Erik Castaigne had met their Junior year when they had bit parts in another production, and had dated (discreetly, Erik wasn’t out) since last spring. Now they both had the leads in “Two Noble Kinsmen,” playing two best buddies whose friendship “hits some big bumps” Erik had said.

“Yeah, I get the girl but I get killed accidentally,” Marcus said to his Mom.

“Oh, good,” she’d said. “You’re more into boys, aren’t you?”

Erik sighed. The hat with the feathers he was wearing felt silly. He had it pinned to his hair so it wouldn’t fall off.

“First night,” Marcus said.

“Yeah, glad the rehearsals went well,” Erik said.

“Yeah. Hey, come here. I gotta use the bathroom,” Marcus said.

“You need my help to use the bathroom?” Erik said, following him.

“No, I need something else.” They walked back around to the ancient men’s room and stepped in. A couple of stalls and a urinal and it was empty. Marcus blocked the door shut, grabbed Erik and kissed him.

“The play doesn’t end well for these guys, but at least we get a happy ending,” Marcus said.

“Or a beginning.” Erik added.

—end—

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Not too long this week. Wanted to avoid all the cliches about theater stories. Someday I’ll write a good haunted stage story although it’s hard to top Fritz Leiber’s “Four Ghosts In Hamlet” or “The Tale Of The Walking Shadow” from the old “Are You Afraid Of the Dark?” series. —–jeff