Trick or Treat
You are at work when your phone rings. You answer and hear a wonderfully familiar voice on the other end.
"Trick or Treat."
"It's not Halloween yet Adam."
"Well I know, but we have to start early this year. I mean after all, I'm doing that big show on Halloween. And tomorrow, we've got that party to attend."
"What were you going as again?" You smile as you try to sound nonchalant.
Adam laughs lightly on the other end. "You wish."
"Hey it was worth a shot."
"So with everything getting rapidly booked up, tonight's really the last night we have to make plans for just the two of us on this your special day."
You toy with the phone cord. "You know, I always pictured you with the kind of girl that had a real special thing for Christmas or Valentine's day. How did you wind up with a Halloween chick like me?"
"Well...once I saw beneath your mask, I found myself haunted by your beauty. You could hardly disguise how spirited you were. My heart never stood a ghost of a chance..."
You groan loudly. "Okay, stop with the puns already. I get it."
"So, lady's choice. What are we doing tonight to mark the occasion?"
After a moment's consideration, you grin. "Horror-a-thon."
"That's all you want? We did that last year."
"Adam...look up the word "Tradition" for me."
"It's just that...we could do anything you want and all you want is to watch a bunch of movies you've seen so much you can recite them from memory."
"So sue me, I like it when you scream like a girl and hide your eyes against my shoulder."
"Very funny. That's really all you want? And I do not scream like a girl."
You giggle. "That's all I want. If it makes you feel better, we can start off with the new version of Exorcist at the theater and then come home for the rest."
"Yes well...I suppose that's a bit more like an actual date." You hear some noise in the background and then Adam comes back on the line. "Look Love, Jonathan's getting impatient to get on with the rehearsal so let me call around after a bit, get the tickets and everything squared away and I'll get back to you, all right?"
"Sure thing. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye now."
As you turn back to your keyboard, you realize that work always seems a little more dull after talking to Adam.
A message from Adam on your voice mail let you know that he'd secured tickets for an 8pm showing of Exorcist. "The first showing available after dark. Just the way I knew you'd want it." You smile as you brush your hair in the mirror. He said he'd be sending his driver for his Little Gothic Princess. Yes you're a grown up now, but for event horror you pull out burgundy lipstick, black nail polish, a black satin choker and a black velvet dress that looks like it was designed more for a renaissance fair than watching a movie. After all, in this particular realm, you're no mere theatergoer, you're a connoisseur.
From the car, you notice that almost all the theaters in town are just packed tonight. You seem to be heading for the farthest side of the city. When the car comes to a stop, it is in front of an older theater that doesn't look exactly open. "Excuse me," you say to the driver, "are you sure this is the place?"
"It's the address I was given ma'am."
"Okay." Tentatively, you step out of the car and approach the doors. As your hand reaches out, the door swings slowly open. Before you stands a man dressed as Riff-Raff from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"Do come in Miss. The Master is expecting you. You see, tonight is one of his affairs."
A smile creeps slowly across your face. "Thanks." You step past him into a fabulously decorated lobby. Coffins and tableaus line the room. It does your little Halloween heart good.
"Riff-Raff" locks the door behind you. "Follow me please." He walks you to the end of the lobby and gestures for you to go ahead to the theater at the end of the hallway.
As you near it, you see Adam there. He wears a blood-red velvet coat with tails, black pants and boots and a high-collared white ruffle-front peasant shirt. His hair is spiked with gel. He bows elegantly and extends his arm to you.
You take his hand and let him embrace you as you lean up to kiss him. "Boy you just can't do anything simply can you?"
"Nope," he says as he wraps your arm around his own. He leads you through the doors and up the stairs toward the balcony.
"So you rented out the theater?"
"For the whole night."
"Exorcist won't take that long...unless they added a lot more than I was led to believe."
"We're doing the whole Horror-a-thon here."
You stop him at the top step. "Well wait a second. I thought we'd hit the video store on the way home, what did y..."
"Madame will be starting her ghoulish celebration with the new version of The Exorcist as requested. Followed by Halloween."
You smile. "Well, that one's a gimme."
"Then Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street, Re-Animator...and if we're not asleep by then, Army of Darkness."
"All unrated versions?"
"But of course." He produces a black rose from behind his back and hands it to you. You take it, smiling and trying not to tear up. "Are you happy?"
"Oh are you kidding me? This is better than diamonds." A thought occurs to you and you frown slightly.
"What's wrong Love?"
"Well, everything's perfect and I know this was supposed to be an evening for just you and me...but part of the fun of horror in a theater is watching it in a big audience."
He smiles slyly. "So you've said many times before." He opens the door to the balcony. "If you would come this way Mistress."
You walk through into a balcony box and move over to the edge. You look down and see a large group of people in the seats below you, all in costumes. "Surprise!" they yell in unison.
You turn to Adam who is smiling. "Thought the crew might enjoy a little break as well." You look back down into the crowd and notice Jonathan dressed in a Winnie the Pooh costume and waving a paw your way.
Once again facing Klaus the Magnificent, you launch yourself into his arms and energetically affix your mouth to his. When you break the kiss, you are grinning. "Perfect now Love?" he asks.
You nod enthusiastically. "I love you."
"But of course." He smiles. He claps his hands loudly in the air and the lights dim. You take your seats as the first movie begins to roll.
You lean over and whisper into his ear. "Tomorrow night. The party. You pick out anything you want me to wear and I'll wear it." He arches an eyebrow at you and you mouth at him "Anything" followed by a suggestive wink.
He gulps audibly and puts his arm around your shoulders as you settle back to enjoy your Halloween gift.
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| The character of Adam Klaus and the show Jonathan Creek were created by David Renwick and are © the BBC. No infringement is intended and no profits are being made. |