| I was waiting for an Al concert to begin, seated in the auditorium (the one that looks a whole lot like Central's). I was just sitting there, watching the techies and roadies scurrying about. Well, the techs were in the process of building a box set for Al (basically a bunch of fake walls that look like a room-the typical stage setup) and the roadies were sweeping, polishing, and bringing in furniture. I turned to Ben, remarked on the fact that "Hey-we're techies, right? We should go help!" and leaped up onto the stage. (We saved our front row center seats with stuffed animals. Mine was a fluffy pink and white kitten-cat that smelled like scented gel pens.) Magically, the instant I hit the stage, I was suddenly in my set construction clothes (clothes that are more paint than cloth in some areas.) I started running around, hauling this and that, and painting, and generally being the useful little gofer that I am. Behind one of the flats (section of fake wall) I find my camera. "Hey, cool, now I can get some pictures!" It was still out of batteries from the time I took it to pep band, so I had to go buy some. As I left the stage, I heard the girls from the chorus of "Little Shop of Horrors" (our high school play) pick up the tune of "The Meek Shall Inherit". I headed out into the lobby, which had magically turned into a Rite Aid (a kind of "everything" store that is VERY blindingly white and neat, and empty). I strolled down the aisle into the battery section and picked up a package, and after I paid for them, I ripped it open and hauled out a battery. Well, the battery wasn't so much a battery as a tube of face cleanser that looked exactly like a battery (some clever promotional scheme, I think) and I had spent my last cash on it. I tried to return it-the clerk said "We don't accept returned opened hygiene products," which is understandable but incredibly frustrating. I then went back to the batteries, grabbed a pack, ripped it open, and strolled up to the clerk. (Incidentally, the clerk looked kind of like the third Megan in my drama class-the one we've nicknamed Baby Plant.) Using my talent of circular logic (much like the opening of HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy) I got the clerk to give me them free. "Neato!" I then rushed back to the auditorium, where the set was almost complete. Tom was sitting on the stage, and as I ran by him, he deftly tripped me so I ended up in his lap. He the held onto me and refused to let me get up as I was trying to get the batteries into my camera. (This was a playful scene-much like two little kids.) I eventually freed myself and dashed into the wing, readying my camera. As I stood behind one of the curtains, I heard some folks discussing a "lady friend of Al's" that wasn't his wife (and wasn't THAT kind of lady friend, either. G rated dream, folks.). I headed up to the guy's dressing room (to make sure it was clean) and started poking through stuff. For some reason, the Masquers had gotten permission to use the guy's dressing room as storage space, so there were all kinds of props there. I strolled over to the window and looked out-and there was Ruben, running all hunched over towards the door. There was no bus, no band, no Al. Just Ruben. I went down to let him in, and saw him heading across the stage towards the bathrooms (which are lethal-be warned) and saw someone warning him against them. He shrugged, and continued to walk. Well, Al STILL wasn't there, so I went into the lobby again to look for him. I walked through the Rite Aid part and ended up in a restaurant. The entrance to this place was so twisty and turny, and created so you had to go through it at such high speeds, that by the time you got out, you were so dizzy you couldn't hold your feet. I came out of this tunnel and smacked right into a waiter, who gave me a disapproving look and handed me a burger. I polished that off and went back to the auditorium. Al had FINALLY shown up by then, and was right in the middle of a brand new song. The "special effects" for this one involved Al spraying the audience with a firehose (more of a crossbreed between a garden hose and a fire hose, really.) and Al laughing hysterically. After he put down the hose, he asked for a volunteer. I was chosen (naturally) and as I walked up to him on stage-I woke up. Don't you just HATE cliffhangers? ;) My Take On It Next Dream |
| Yet Another Concert at Central 02/24/01 |