Page 47 of The Cannon
Hopemy plans will be well received. Not every man enjoys the theater. Shit. I may be about to bore his pants off. Wait. Okay, that would be a win win.
Driving up to the curb I see him standing, waiting. Holy mother of all things sacred. The man can wear the hell out of a tuxedo. I adjust the shoulder of my Grecian-style gown and smooth the skirt. This pale green makes my eyes look bluer.
Our eyes meet. He smiles and I’m completely swept up and away. Walking to the car, he opens the passenger side door and leans in.
“Want me to drive?” he says.
“No. I’m taking you on the date tonight. Get in.”
Sliding into the seat he leans over and I get a kiss followed by an appreciative look. “You’re going to be the prettiest girl there. A goddess. All the actresses will be jealous.”
“See that right there, what you just said, it’s adorable,” I say pulling away from the curb. “By the way, I’ve never seen a man wear a tuxedo quite like you do,” I add.
“I hope that’s a compliment.”
“Oh, it is.”
Heading for South Main Street, I sense he’s a little nervous.
“So, is this your first play?”
“Yeah. That sounds a little pathetic but it’s true.”
“Not pathetic. You just weren’t exposed to it like I was. My grandparents have been giving me season tickets ever since they took me to seeThe Wizwhen I was nine.”
“You go to every play?”
“Not all of them. But most. Sometimes I gift my tickets to one of my patients and their mothers. You know just to give them a great night.”
“That’s compassionate. So, are you going to tell me what we’re seeing?”
I make a turn towards downtown.
“It’s a musical. I think you’re going to love it.Chicago.It’s about gangsters in the nineteen twenties and sexy women who murdered their husbands. It’s awesome.”
His head turns to me and he chuckles.
“Sounds intriguing.”
“The music is great. It’s by an American playwright and I guarantee we’ll be singing the songs when we walk out.”
“Cool.”
* * *
The Orpheum Theaterdazzles all who enter. I’ve been enamored since Grandma Birdie and Grandpa Davis introduced her to me. Tonight she wears a special sparkle. Maybe because I get to introduce Sawyer to something he’s not known before. And once you experience a play that moves you, theater becomes part of your life.
Walking under the marquee and into the red and gold lobby, he takes my hand. Theater goers are gathered having a cocktail or talking in small groups. Sawyer looks dazzled.
“What a beautiful room. Wow,” he says eyes scanning the ceiling.
“It’s from the nineteen twenties. Aren’t those chandeliers fabulous?”
“They’re huge.”
“Shall we have a drink?” I ask.
“Definitely.”
