Perchance to Dream

Perchance to Dream

"Do you come here often?"
Sam turned her head at the sound of the intruding voice. It was a nice
voice, rich and rather deep and masculine, although Sam did have to
stifle a giggle at the choice of words the stranger had greeted her
with. The voice was connected to just as attractive a person -
early-30s, tall, dark, nice smile, short dark hair, and piercing blue
eyes.

She fixed the man with a faint smile, hoping he would take the hint,
but he was settling himself into the seat next to her. She had come
here to see the play, not to meet men. However attractive and polite
they were.
"Actually, it's my first time here in a long time. My sister bought me
the ticket for my birthday."
"I thought I hadn't seen you here. It's sure to be a great performance.
I'm Jonathon, by the way".
"Hmm, oh, Samantha&;#8230;Sam", Sam introduced myself, still wanting
to be left alone. It wasn't that Jonathon - who was now rambling on
about the cast members and plot of the play that was about to start -
wouldn't be good company. The problem was that he was likely to be too
good company. Her weakness had always been being too dependent on men.
After David had left her, a year ago, she had felt like part of her
life was over. So she had returned to the village were she grew up,
staying with her sister. She hadn't visited the small independent
theatre since her childhood, yet now it drew her in, a strange
attraction that had its roots in an almost-forgotten desire to be an
actress.
"Sorry, what?" she asked, aware of a break in the one-sided
conversation and of Jonathon's expectant gaze.
"I asked if you wanted to see the programme", he repeated with a
smile.
He handed it over, and Sam read it, a faint smile creeping it's way
reluctantly onto her face.

An hour later, and thoroughly mesmerised by the story that was
unfolding in front of her, Sam blinked into the bright light that
signalled the interval.
"Enjoying the show?"
Sam turned to him. She'd almost forgotten he was there, but now felt
glad that there was someone there with whom to share this
experience.
"It's amazing!" she exclaimed in reply.
It was a tale of doomed romance, love and loss, and bittersweet
memories.
"It's just so sad. That part about his long-lost brother, and his
girlfriend&;#8230;"

By the end of the interval, the two of them were like old friends. Sam
found she had to revise her initial opinion of Jonathon. He wasn't as
stuffy as he'd first seemed. He was a computer software developer, and
actually used to be an actor - or, at least attempted to be one. He was
still involved behind the scenes with local theatre. To Sam's surprise,
they had a lot in common - they both hated herbal teas, loved
science-fiction novels, and were addicted to cappuccino, white
chocolate, spaghetti, and cheap Italian wine. Sam almost didn't want
the interval to end. She could definitely imagine seeing more of
Jonathon.

A drink in the interval led to a longer one after the performance, and
to a very enjoyable end to the evening. Unfortunately, in Sam's view at
least, it was over all too soon.
"I have to go. I've got to be at work early tomorrow&;#8230;.", she
explained, getting ready to leave the bar. She looked at Jonathon,
willing him to say something. For once, her amateur telepathy
worked.
"Erm, they're showing a version of Hamlet in a few weeks. I was
planning on going to see it. I'm sure you'd enjoy it, Sam. Maybe we
could go&;#8230;?"
"Together?" she asked, smiling.
"Well, I could go one night and you the next, but I think we kind of
lose the 'we' idea there."
"Well, ok&;#8230;I'd like that." Hamlet was one of her favourite
plays, although she'd never actually seen a live performance of
it.
"It's a date then. Why don't we meet here on the fifteenth? At eight.
I'll be out of town until then."
She nodded slowly, sure that he would keep the date.

The next few weeks passed quickly. Getting ready to leave the house on
the fifteenth, Sam was surprised by how much she was looking forward to
seeing Jonathon again, and hoped that maybe this was a change in her
life for the better. The first real positive thing to happen to her
since her split with David and return to the village. She had proven
that she could go out, have fun, develop her own interests, and had
even made a new friend at the same time. She grinned. Well, maybe more
than a friend, she thought.

The first suspicion she had that something was not quite right at the
theatre was the lack of crowds waiting to enter the small building.
True, the lights were on, but it was very quiet. There was no one at
the ticket window, and Jonathon was no-where to be seen. She gulped,
telling herself not to panic, as she paced around outside, wondering
what was going on. He wouldn't have stood her up, surely. Would he? How
did she really know? She'd only seen him once, after all. No, she
refused to be stood up, she told herself. She would wait ten minutes,
and if he didn't appear, she would go in without him, even if the show
had already started.

She continued pacing, worried and panicking now. Maybe Jonathon had
been hurt and couldn't make it, maybe he was lying half-dead somewhere
on his way there&;#8230;Maybe he was just standing her up.
"Are you alright?" a voice inquired. Sam recognised it as belonging to
the man who ran the ticket office.
"Erm. I'm supposed to meet&;#8230;see Hamlet&;#8230;Jonathon at
eight o'clock&;#8230;" she babbled, flustered and panicked.
"Oh, right. Come on in", he replied, cheerfully, holding the door open
for her and pointing out the way.

Approaching the bottom of the stairs, she saw a small room, the door
open. The only noise in the whole building drifted out, including what
sounded like Shakespearean dialect. Sam's curiosity outweighed her
nervousness and she peered into the room.
She gasped in surprise at what she saw. For there, in the centre of the
room, was Jonathon. As if sensing her arrival, he looked up at her,
meeting her inquisitive gaze with a large smile.
"Sam. Great, you made it! Come in and meet the cast".
"Cast?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't come along if I
asked you outright, but I really wanted you here. There is going to be
a performance of Hamlet, but not yet. I'm directing it. This is the
rest of the cast, but we're still missing an Ophelia. I'd really like
you to audition for the role. I think you'd be great".
"You do? I mean, I would&;#8230;?" she questioned, instantly
forgiving his deceit.
"Definitely. Why don't you give it a go? And afterwards, I'd like to
take you out in celebration", he whispered invitingly. Sam blushed, and
took her place upon on the makeshift stage. Where she belonged.