5

Sitting in the balcony of a plush theater, Graham read a copy of Playbill while waiting for the play to begin. He remembered as a child, coming to the theater district of New York City and being freaked out by a satirical Playbill poster on a wall. It was a satire on Playboy or Playgirl and it showed a naked man with a deranged, enthusiastic smile on his face, but the photo had been doctored so that his behind was substituted for his naked front. Graham turned the page and was surprised to find a laundry list of adjectives and ideas rather than the typical contents of Playbill. It seemed to be a series of unedited notes, maybe by a playwright or some other creator involved in the productions.

"There must be action," the notes began. "Someone hurtles a spear. Where are we going to get an iron spear? It will be okay."

Graham heard rumbling footsteps on the stairs leading to the balcony.

"Hey Graham! Come on!" It was Jackie and Merry.

"We've been waiting for you all morning, Graham," Merry said.

Graham scowled. To come right out and say that he didn't want to go grab lunch because he was more interested in reading Playbill, would have been too mundane.

"Okay," Graham said. "Yellow rice, here we come."