For Lilian and the Indigos - Above Top Secret

Chapter 10
We stepped out the J.D. near the theatre, first me and then Lee. There was a line,
thankfully short, for tickets, and we moved to the end. Others gathered behind us as we
moved forward. When we got to the window, we punched in a request for four tickets – I
had assured Flo that I would get tickets for her and Dee (SoundMan Sam was not
interested in plays, but Dee, still looking for her bliss, was a willing audience member for
the play). The machine produced the tickets and Lee tucked them in his pocket.
The theatres had tried allowing tickets to be ordered online, but a number of seats went
empty as people changed their plans, so rather than have empty seats, they chose to have
the tickets disbursed outside, thereby ensuring that those who really wanted to see the
plays would have seats – at least until they “sold out.” The tickets, of course, had no
payment involved, but the seats were limited and so tickets were necessary.
All of Pierce’s plays surrounded the scenes one could find in the scarcity of our past. His
sets were comprised entirely of Old Things, lent by people who received credit for the
items they brought to the stage. This play, called Quasimodo’s Plight, dealt with the
struggles of one person, born defective and ugly, in a society that spurned such people.
In the scarcity and hidden tech, such people had no hope of having a physical vehicle of
beauty. Now, of course, many ways had been developed to give us all the body we
preferred. But back then, one was stuck with what one was born to.
Lee and I waited at the theatre entrance, and a short while later, I saw Flo, dressed in an
exquisite velvet of darkest red, with pearls sewn in intricate swirls and sprays across the
front and around the hem. With her was a young girl, in a taffeta dress of pale lavender,
with a striking teal Witness necklace. Flo smiled brightly, and the young girl grinned.
“Izzy!” Flo exclaimed and hugged me.
“Flo!” I returned, as I hugged her back. “This is Lee,” I said, “Lee, this is Flo, the artist
that made the new fountain at home.”
Lee hugged Flo warmly. “Glad to meet you,” he offered. “The fountain is the most aweinspiring
piece I have seen. I love the way you play with the water.”
Flo smiled coyly in thanks and turned to indicate the young one beside her. “My
daughter, Dee.”
“Hi,” said Dee, “Nice to meet you.” Dee smiled as Lee and I shook her hand.
“Lovely colors, Dee,” I offered, gesturing at the pretty sight she created.
Dee grinned widely and said simply, “Thanks!”