Laid Bare: Essays and Observations by Tom Judson Read Free Book Online Page B

(Mark?) stood over me to say that breakfast was waiting down in the kitchen. He was already showered and fully dressed. I rubbed my eyes and mumbled that I’d be down in a few minutes as I watched him close the bedroom door and leave the room.
     
    The twins were whispering to each other as I entered the kitchen. They were not dressed identically this morning. One of them put his cup down on the granite countertop and walked to the coffee pot.
     
    “Coffee, Gus?”
     
    I nodded yes and watched as his delicate hands lifted the pot from its holder and tipped it to pour the steaming liquid into a fresh cup, which he then handed to me.
     
    “Half and half and sugar on the table…”
     
    I sat at the table and selected a muffin from the woven straw basket full of baked goods. The towel lining the basket was of the same blue-striped cotton as the tablecloth. The twins then joined me at the table, one sitting on either side of me. Mark (Scott?) poured orange juice into three glasses before distributing them.
     
    I lifted the glass, the parallel rings etched into the surface creating an alternating smooth/rough sensation in my hand. I looked from one identical face to the other and raised my glass in front of me. After a moment’s pause I toasted them; “Vive la difference,” I uttered, and swallowed the tangy liquid in one gulp. Mark and Scott looked at me and then at each other and then they drank their orange juice.
     
    The men stood in the entryway as I pulled away from their enormous house. The double door was fully open to allow them to stand side by side and they waved to me before turning back inside. I watched in the rear-view mirror as the two halves of the door swung closed and met to become one complete unit.
     
    My mind mulled over the previous evening’s events as I approached the Holland Tunnel in the light Saturday morning traffic. Sailing through the tollbooth as the sensor read my pre-paid tag I looked up and caught a glimpse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center just as my car entered the tile-lined tunnel that would take me to Manhattan and home.

RECOUNTING THE ABBOTTS
     
     
     
    With Apologies to Ruth Draper...
     
     
     
    Hello?... Well, good morning... Oh, my, it was a fantastic night. I was a participant in the 2005 George Abbott Awards for Excellence in the Theater presented to Rob Marshall, Kathleen Marshall and Harvey Fierstein! I'm still recovering. Not even out of bed yet, to be honest. You know how these benefits are; fun but exhausting... Details, details, it is all about details with you, isn't it? Very well, I'll be happy to tell you about the evening. Well you know, we opened the show with that charming “Wilkommen” from “Cabaret” that Robbie choreographed. A slightly shorter version, of course... What? Yes I dragged out the old alto sax for the occasion. Thank god there was a reed in the case. I haven't played it since last fall... No, my dear, we had one rehearsal a few days before. Yes, just the one... It's called "professionalism", darling. You wouldn't know about that... Joking... I'm joking ! You know I have the ultimate respect for your cruise ship work... So demanding, all that rolling as you come out of the Panama Canal and all... Yes, I do remember hearing all about your rendition of “Memory” while wearing taps. Legendary, really. Anyway, darling, the evening closed with a bunch of us gypsies singing “So Long, Farewell” because, well, I'm sure you know, Robbie and Kathleen Marshall's first job in the theater was playing two of those charming Von Trapp children in Pittsburgh... Yes, Pittsburgh... Kathleen? Well, my dear, she never looked lovelier. I've always thought she resembled a younger, more lithe Tammy Grimes. So much like Tammy, don't you think?... Yes, I suppose you would have to add “but sane” to that list. You are wicked. We do love la Grimes , though, don't we? Simply worship her... Now, where was I? Oh, of course, the finale... we had