«No problemo.» Jeff laughed. «Let’s go.»
* * * * *
He repeated the phrase all the way to the campus. Not worried about the play, Jeff was only concerned if Vera would be there.
«What if something changed and she could not come?» he thought. «Okay, at least I’ll have some fun.»
* * * * *
In the changing room, the student gave Jeff the one-size-fits-all costume, and the police officer started pulling it on straight over his clothes. While he was donning his armor, some other students led David VanStein into the room.
Tired after the Halloween walk, David had forgotten to put on his costume at home, but the students would not allow him to enter the party wearing casual clothes.
«No-no-no!» objected a female student in the costume of a sea cadet. «You have to change.»
«Yes! Yes! Yes!» the others supported her.
«Marina, please.» The professor smiled seeing Jeff in the room. They nodded to each other and said, «Hi!»
«I know a great costume.» Marina grabbed some clothes and held them out to David. He could do nothing but put them on.
Here were wide Turkish trousers, a redingote and musketeers hat. David tied around his waist a scarf belt fitted with a fake saber. Everybody gasped, as he looked exactly like a pirate captain.
«Are you happy now?» David asked with sarcasm.
«Yes, I am,» Marina murmured inaudibly. She recalled the many books she had read as a teenager. In these stories, females often changed into male costumes to be with their beloved men. Now she did the same, and Marina chuckled to herself seeing her plan work.
Busy with his outfit, Jeff did not notice when everybody left. His colleague’s son helped him with the helmet, then went away also, and only the director of the play was left.
The show had begun.
Hiding behind the curtains, Jeff watched for a while, then grew bored. He peeked through the opening between the panels looking for Vera. He saw her sitting in the fifth row at the edge, and, smiling, he kept his eyes on only her.
«Go, go.» The whisper of the director took Jeff by surprise, and almost running he went to the stage, barely remembering his words.
«Your Majesty!» he pronounced solemnly, as he slowed, walking now toward the twin thrones. «Be ready for anything!»
The helmet severely limited his view, and when he stumbled over something, Jeff did not realize what had happened. He fell, but being a well-trained professional, he skillfully rolled and sprang up at once. The policeman did it automatically, as if avoiding a bullet, but it seemed so showy and spectacular that when he got to his feet he heard a delighted «Wow!» run through the hall.