Greasepaint by David C. Hayes Read Free Book Online Page B

basement,” Michael says. He squeezes his eyes shut and hopes it would be like this forever.
    Michael and Mona re-enter the club through the exit doors. Ricky and Monty are still at the wall. Ricky manages to slink into the shadows before either Mona or Michael see him.
    Connie sees Michael and Mona from across the bar and bee-lines toward them. She massages her wrist as she jogs up to them, shaking out a cramp. She grabs Michael by the arm and drags him toward the stage.
    â€œCome on! You guys have to get moving!” she says. “You’re flippin’ late!”
    Even as Connie leads Michael by the arm he manages to turn and shoot Monty a final glare. The TV host just waves and smiles and, laughing, exits the club. Michael turns back as Connie pushes roughly him up on to the stage. Mona follows. Seeing the band get back up, the milling audience starts to gather again.
    Ricky slips up on stage unnoticed. Skeezer is already seated at the drums.
    â€œYou guys okay?” Ricky asks.
    Michael nods. Mona picks up her bass.
    Michael takes a deep breath. “Bride of the Monster on 4. 1…2…3…4!”
    The guitar screams, the drums shake the building, the bass thunders the spine of the song and, for the first time in a long time, Michael pours himself, his real self, into the music.

Chapter Seven
    Michael and Mona cuddle on the couch in the loft. The evening spent with shared secrets and reaffirmations temporarily quells the shadows, the demons. As they doze, the blue light of the television flows over and around them, creating allegorical cave shadows, dark representations of the real beings, against the wall by the drums. Mona’s breathing is even and untroubled, her head lying on Michael’s chest. Michael fights the tug of sleep, his head bouncing to an unheard rhythm. He snaps his head up one final time, eyes wide trying to shake off the drowsiness. Michael manages to flip the channel with the remote before his head falls one more time. His eyes shut. He breathes three…two…just a breath. Action.
    INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Two CHILDREN are playing in the living room. They are incredibly bored. The usual cars and trucks hold no interest for them. Child #1 pushes a fire truck across the carpeted living area. Child #2 watches the truck roll along and hit a couch. Both of them sigh.
    NARRATOR (O.S.): You kids bored?
    Both of the children nod their heads.
    NARRATOR (O.S.): Want to have some fun?
    The children perk up and nod their heads enthusiastically.
    NARRATOR (O.S.): Then it’s ORZO TIME!
    A loud bang is heard and the room explodes in confetti. Circus music begins to play…the theme of the Orzo show. The children look around in disbelief and wonder. From behind the couch, two white-gloved hands pop out. One hand is holding an Orzo Action Figure. The other hand is holding a Dumpy Dan Action Figure.
    NARRATOR (O.S.): How about some Orzo Action Figures?
    The children leap up and run to the couch.
    CHILDREN: Yay!
    The children snatch up the Orzo figures and the white-gloved hands recede behind the couch. The children immediately begin playing with the figures on the floor. They push away the other toys in order to make room.
    NARRATOR (O.S.): That’s right, folks, your kids can now have Orzo and Dumpy Dan right at home!
    The children continue to play. From behind the couch Orzo rises up, a malicious grin on his face. The children have disappeared and Michael, fully grown, is playing with the action figures. He voices the figures as he acts out the action.
    MIKEY (using an Orzo voice): Come here and I’ll show you the most wonderful things!
    Michael answers himself in his normal voice.
    MIKEY (CONT’D): I dunno, Mr. Orzo…my parents are waiting.
    The real Orzo stands behind Michael placing the white gloved hands on his shoulders. Michael stiffens and the action figures fall from his hands to the floor.
    ORZO: Awww…c’mon Mikey! What little boy