Liz is dreaming and a woman is speaking … talking funny but somehow familiar … such pretty words.

“How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
and the place death, considering who thou art,
if any of my kinsmen find thee here.”

Then a man is saying,

“With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
for stony limits cannot hold love out.”

And Liz thinks “Romeo.”

She smiles and opens her eyes and realizes her face is pressed against the metal grill work floor of the catwalk. Slam the eyes shut. Oh God.

Bad.

Very bad. Her whole body is tense with fear. How the heck does she get out of this? Not opening her eyes. No how, no way.

Better not to look. Where did this come from? It’s terrifying. Get the breathing under control. Try to breathe deeply. Listen to the words in the play. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Listen to the words. Concentrate on Romeo’s words.

Romeo
“I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight,
and but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate,
than death prorogued wanting of thy love.”

Liz knows it’s the balcony scene, but she doesn’t much care.
She has to concentrate, get control. Breathe in, breathe out.

Juliet
“By whose direction found’st thou this place?”

Romeo
“By love, who first did prompt me to inquire
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.”

Liz remembers doing this scene in high school so long ago. She always liked the music of the words but had trouble with the reading. Eyes tight shut, Liz reaches up feeling for the rail. Waving her hand around … nothing … not a good thing to do. Heart beating too fast again. Strained like it will burst.

Breathe. Breathe. Concentrate on Juliet’s words …

Juliet
“Dost thou love me?
I know thou wilt say ‘Ay,’ And I will take thy word.
Yet if thou swear’st Thou mayst prove false;
At lover’s perjuries they say Jove laughs.

Okay, the only way out is to crawl. But which way. Think. Open eyes just now. She can see the stage just there.

Juliet
“O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won,
I’ll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,

… so back is the other way … breathe … listen … breathe …

In truth fair Montague I am too fond.
And therefore thou mayst think my ‘havior light
But trust me gentleman I’ll prove more true
than those that have more cunning to be strange.

… listen … breathe … listen … concentrate … crawl …

Juliet
I should have been more strange, I must confess …
But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware, my true love’s passion:
therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.”

Liz freezes as her head bumps something solid … she pulls back and opens her eyes. Looking up she sees Jake.

Romeo
“Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops–“

Jake reaches out a hand but Liz shakes her head violently and waves him away, convulsively gripping the edges of the catwalk floor. A little hurt, not understanding, Jake steps back.
Liz closes her eyes and breathes, listening again.

Juliet
“O, swear not by the moon!
The inconstant moon
that monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”

Jake is confused but he does what she wants, backing out of the doorway. Liz’s gingerly begins crawling again. Suddenly Liz feels cool tiles under her hands. Not mesh. Floor. Solid. Through the doorway then she collapses in a heap.

Romeo
“What shall I swear by?”

Jake steps around the really weird girl on the floor and carefully pushes the door closed soundlessly. With the theater closed off it’s safe to talk aloud.

“What’s wrong Liz? Should I get a doctor?”

Liz looks pretty shaky but she’s sitting up.

“Are you all right?”

“No. Yes. Sorry, Jake.” She nods, breathing deeply. “I … I think I just discovered I’m scared of heights.”

“Oh.” Jake is trying to process this. “I guess this wasn’t such a hot idea then.”

“It was an awesome idea.” Liz smiles shakily. “Maybe not for me, but I got some pictures anyway. But I’m done now. Boy am I done.” She gets shakily to her feet. “Lets just go, okay?”

They go back out and down the stairs. At the bottom Liz stops and rests against the bench just inside the rear doors. She flops down into the seat. “I’ve gotta rest a minute. You can go on, I know I’ve been a real pain, but I’m okay now.”

“It’s fine. I’ll wait. I’m sorry Liz, I didn’t know.”

Liz smiles ruefully, “That’s okay, I didn’t know either.”

Jake looks at her. “I don’t get it. How can you not know something like that?”

“I guess because I’ve never been in that kind of situation before. Flimsy railings you can’t hardly see and …” she shudders. “Huh, maybe that’s why I never liked carnival rides. That floor up there, it’s made of holes. You can see all the people underneath. It’s almost invisible.” Liz closes her eyes. “Not doing that again real soon.”

Jake points to Ethan and Oscar walking past outside. “Look, there’s Oz. I’ll just–”

“No!” snaps Liz. “Don’t tell Ethan, or anybody! Look, just don’t say anything to anybody.”

Jake frowns at her. “Why not? If you get dizzy again.”

“Now that I’m on solid ground I’m not dizzy. Just a little shaky. It’s just a delayed reaction. Really.”

“They can help me get you back to the residence.”

“You don’t have to, I’ll get myself back. I’m all right now.”

“Like I’m gonna leave you.” Jake throws up his hands in frustration. “Why you don’t want any help, it’s not a big deal.”

”People around here already think I’m enough of a freak, okay? I just don’t need the aggro.”

“You’re just talking trash now. You’re cool, Liz, nobody thinks you’re a freak.”

“That’s nice of you to say.”

Jake is examining her face, “It’s Ethan, isn’t it?”

Liz snaps, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You weren’t worried about Oz, you were worried about what Ethan thinks.” Jake grins, examining her now flushed complexion. “You like him, don’t you.”

“Time to be getting back Jake.”

“You do!”

“Just stop it. I don’t have time for guys. I have stuff I need to do with my life.”

Jake grins. “I won’t tell him.”

Liz stands up and pushes open the door. “Good.”

“But maybe I can find out if he likes you too.”

Liz is mortified. “No! Don’t even think that.”

“I’ll bet he does.”

“Look Jake, just give it a rest. Besides, what makes you think he’d be interested in a giraffe anyway?” Liz pushes through the door. Jake works hard to match her deliberately fast pace.

“You aren’t that much taller than Ethan– probably only a few inches. What does that matter?”

“I’m taller than everybody except maybe Kobe Bryant. Trust me, it matters. Just give it a rest, Jake.”

Jake stops in his tracks, watching Liz keep right on going. At least he’s no longer worried she’s going to pass out, but he is worried that she might not want to be his friend now he’s tumbled to her secret.

That is so weird, Liz doesn’t know she’s cool. Or pretty. Maybe that’s why she’s his friend, she doesn’t know any better. Come to think of it, Ethan doesn’t know he’s cool either. Hmmmm. Maybe he can fix them up. Nobody cares about how tall anybody is. After all, Krystal is taller than he is. That is not gonna stop him.

Tweet

Hair wound in a towel atop her head, swaddled in her fluffy purple robe and green bunny slippers, Amelia carries her bathroom bag back to the corner room she shares with Liz.

Too bad Liz couldn’t come along tonight. Some assignment she had to work on with Jake.

Amelia is so glad she could get the night off to see the play. It was exquisite. She smiles to herself as favorite scenes play out in her mind. That actress was an excellent Juliet. And the sword fight was incredible.

There’s just something about Shakespeare.

Amelia is startled when Elsie’s door opens abruptly just as she passes. She’s about to say, ‘hey’ when she realizes it isn’t Elsie — or Eric either — everyone on the floor is accustomed to his occasional illicit presence. But this … this is some total stranger guy. Good looking, in a biker kind of way, but a total stranger.

He grins broadly at Amelia, eying her up and down, then he winks and says, “Nice threads.”

Amelia flushes violently at the ignominious reminder she’s dressed for bed. The guy blows her a kiss then slips out the fire door. She waits a beat and then checks to make sure that the heavy door really did latch behind him. Overcome with fury, she leans against the door, shaking, as the anger washes over her.

§

Liz looks up from her desk with a smile as the dorm room door swings open, but the smile dissolves at the sight of Amelia’s face. Liz asks, “What’s wrong?”

“I just about ran into some strange man in the hall.”

“Well heck, we’ve gotta report this.” Liz is reaching for her cell phone when she sees Amelia’s head shake. “Why not?”

“He was coming out of Elsie’s room.”

“You’re kidding!” says Liz. “She only just dumped Eric.”

Amelia nods, “Guess she’s a fast worker.”

Hanging her bathroom bag on its hook, she shrugs off the purple robe, revealing an equally purple nightgown. Kicking off the clashing slippers, she drapes the robe on her desk chair and climbs into bed, switching on the reading lamp.

“Let’s hope it’s a one time thing.” Liz suggests hopefully.

“You know it wasn’t that bad with Eric slinking around because at least we know him, but I’m not so keen on running into total strangers when I’m wandering around in my jammies.”

Liz nods, “Lets see how it goes.”

“I just hope it doesn’t turn into a parade,” replies Amelia as she picks up her book. Thinking, it was a parade when Elsie was with Eric. It’s only gonna get worse now she’s not.

Tweet

tuesday

Adam sits at the wheel of his car outside the record store.  He drums his fingers on the dashboard, waiting impatiently for the store to open.

The problem is that it doesn’t even look like there’s anyone inside yet.  He glances at his watch, then gets out of the car and goes up to the door.  White painted letters tell him the hours of operation.  The store doesn’t even open until ten.  That’s ridiculous.  And people wonder why there’s a recession on.

He’ll be late for class if he stays and waits.

Ruin his perfect record.

A surge of anger prompts Adam to punch the wall by the door in frustration.  The impulse is instantly regretted as skin breaks and pain shoots up his arm.

Clutching skinned knuckles he stuffs his wounded hand into the protection of his armpit.  Clenching his teeth he paces back and forth in front of the unhelpful storefront.  Eventually  the waves of pain subside.

With the pain level dropping to manageable, Adam returns to the car and opens the door with his right hand. He climbs in, being very careful not to injure himself further as he pulls the door closed.  Examining his knuckles he notes the scrape will certainly leave bruises.  But the skin is only broken in two places.

Adam shakes his head ruefully.  What a stupid thing to do.

Reaching under the passenger seat Adam pulls out his first aid kit.  A little rubbing alcohol, a couple of Band-Aids, and a few breathing exercises later, he’s good as new.

At this point he decides to stay.

Going back for Web Design now will make him miss at least part of Computer Architecture after lunch since he’ll have to come back.  Better for his schedule if he stays.  Some people cut classes all the time.  Of course, those people don’t have his grade point average.  Still, missing half a lecture is hardly going to ruin his life.  Maybe it’s time he started taking control.  Be the master of his own destiny.   Adam smiles.

He pulls out his laptop, he could at least do some work from here.  While it cycles through the start up Adam waves around his Wi-Fi finder.  Not a whiff.  He’s surprised.  Sure, Canada may have terrible connection speeds and some of the worst price gouging in the world, but it’s not the UK so there is usually some open Wi-Fi to be had.

Except there does not seem to be any around here.  This is the old part of town, and, well, really, this store still calls itself  a record store.  A thought.  Maybe they sell records not CDs.  He jumps out of the car and goes to peer in the window.  He’s relieved to see CDs in there.  Still, it is old tech when you get down to it.  Maybe they don’t even know what Wi-Fi is.

It doesn’t look like that bad a neighborhood.

Just nothing looks very new, maybe that’s it. Older businesses run by older people probably.  He pulls into a parking spot right in front.

Driving around will turn up something.  Settling the computer in the passenger seat he pulls the seat belt around to secure it, then places the Wi-Fi finder on the dashboard.  Snapping on his own seat belt he starts the car and drives more downtown, keeping an eye on the finder.

The LED starts to pulse as he nears the library.  Something to be said for coming to the library before it opens; good parking anyway.

Adam’s watch shows it is only eight thirty.  Well.  He can at least get some work done anyway while he’s waiting.

Tweet

Maggie is sitting at the games table absently stirring her tea, ostensibly reading the paper when Oscar comes in with a steaming mug of coffee.

“Morning, Miss Maggie.”

“Hey Oz,” she murmurs without looking up.

Oscar settles across from her, taking in the circles under her red rimmed eyes that aren’t meeting his.

“Maggie?  Have I done something to offend?” he asks.

Maggie looks up, surprised.  “Offend?  No of course not.  Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know.”  Oscar sighs.  “You’ve been distant, and now you’re unhappy to see me, so I’d thought perhaps your Stuart had an objection to our friendship, or some such thing.”

Her eyes are brimming with unshed tears, “Oh Oz, no, nothing like that.  Actually, Stu suggested I talk to you.”

Knowing he’s on the wrong page, but it’s not so bad as he feared, Oscar nods.  “I’ll do whatever I can do to help, Maggs.”

Maggie blows her nose a then takes a fortifying breath.  “I thought I could carry it myself but, I just can’t.  Someone I’ve been getting close to, am pretty close to, well, this friend is really sick.”

“Sick?   How, exactly.”

“Very sick.  Very very sick.”

“Oh my god not Katie,” blurts Oscar.

She shakes her head, “No, no. Not Katie, Oz, it’s Krystal.”

“What’s wrong with Krystal?”

“She has a tumor.”

“Oh, dear lord, I don’t know what to say.”   He reaches over to squeeze her hand.  “This is why you’ve been so moody?” she nods, not speaking,  struggling to get under control.

“It’s fine Maggie.  Take your time.”

Maggie says, “She was having headaches, and nausea too.  But her family only moved here a couple of years ago so they don’t have a family doctor.  She had to go to a clinic for a referral, and it took a long time before they could get the tests scheduled, and, well, they took too long.  The problem is a brain tumor, and it got too big.”

“Too big?” asks Oscar, not quite getting it.

“Too big to take out.  What they call inoperable,”

A gasp from behind grabs their attention.  Maggie and Oscar turn to see Jake in the doorway, his face slack with shock.

“Oh Maggie.”

Oscar beckons Jake over.  “You might as well join us lad.  Come on and sit down.”

Jake moves slowly across the room and pulls up a chair.  He stares at Maggie, clearly stricken.  “Maggie, that can’t be right.”

Maggie pushes the cup of tea she’s been fiddling with over to Jake.  “I’m afraid it is.”

“But Maggie, you don’t look, I mean,  I’m so sorry.”

Maggie doesn’t really know the freshman very well, but his eyes are full of pity.  Then she realizes he must only have heard the tail end of the conversation  and thinks she’s the one dying.

“It’s not me, Jake.  I’m healthy as a horse, it’s a friend of mine who’s sick, not me.”

Oscar cocks an eyebrow.  “That’s what comes of listening at doors, misunderstanding and innuendo. Tsk, tsk.”

Jake starts “I didn’t …”

Maggie turns to Oscar,  “It’s not his fault, Oz.  Obviously this was not something we should have been discussing in the common room.  It’s my fault.  I wasn’t thinking.”

Jake suddenly looks if anything even more upset.

“Oh, Kate!  Oh how awful for poor Nick.”

Maggie says, “Stop.” She takes a breath.  “Look, it’s not my secret, but I see it’ll drive you nuts if you don’t know.”

Jake says.  “It’s driving me nuts already.”

“Here’s the deal; I will tell you who my unlucky friend is.  She doesn’t want people to know, she wants to live her life the way she wants.  She doesn’t want pity.   So you don’t tell anyone, not your mother, your girlfriend or your priest.  Okay?”

Oscar chips in, “It goes no farther, right?”

Both stare intently at Jake who says, “I won’t say a word.”

Maggie says, “Okay, then.”

Jake leans in close to hear, Oscar scans the entrances and the upper balcony of the women’s part of the Res above, making sure there are no other inadvertent listeners.

Maggie says, softly.  “It’s Krystal.”

“Krystal.” Jake is stricken.  “No way.  I mean,  oh shit.”

Maggie nods.  “You can’t tell anybody though.”

“I wouldn’t.”  Jake shakes his head.  “I didn’t … I mean, I thought she was a bit goth, I never thought she might be sick.”

Oscar stands up, and puts on his sternest face, which surprises them both, since he’s usually scattering blarney.  He looks different, this burly serious man with smoldering grey eyes.

“So, this is a secret, right?”  Oscar’s eyes bore into Jake’s, who nods fervently.  “Just know that if this sad tale makes the rounds whoever spread it will answer to me.”

Maggie appraises Oscar carefully as he crosses surprisingly muscular arms over his broad chest.  This is a different Oscar, actually a pretty scary Oscar.

Jake nods, wide eyed.  “Yes, Oscar.” and he gets to his feet.  “Uh, I’ve got a class.”  Jake can’t leave fast enough.

Oscar sits back down.  Maggie looks at him, biting her lip, beginning to giggle.  Oscar relaxes and laughs along with her.

“Where,” asks Maggie, “did you learn to do scary like that.  That was amazing.”

“Count yourself lucky, you’ve never had the pleasure of my sainted sister.”

Maggie cracks up, a mixture of laughter and tears pour out of her in glorious release.

Tweet

Adam ignores the lecture, probably for the first time in his life, as he texts his brother on his new cellphone.

Can you get me tickets to the Black Eyed Peas concert?

The return message from his brother is tersely to the point.

For tonight? You’re kidding.

Never more serious. Whatever it takes.

Have you even heard BEP?

Just get them for me.

When there’s no response, Adam follows it with a single word:

Please.

I’ll see what I can do kid. Just don’t hold your breath.

Tweet