A Night at the TheatreGoing to the Patterson Playhouse had been a family tradition for as long as Honeymoon could remember. Longer, actually. There is a picture in a family scrapbook of her mother holding her out front, the marquee overhead announcing Vitamin Flintheart as the star of “Love Rides the Rails.” She was too young to recall the particulars of the play, but being held by her loving mother, that she remembers vividly. What a year it had been. Looking at her hand holding the comb, it was hard to believe she had zapped Bribery into submission during the siege at Ace Tower. Onee-San had taught her well. Hearing gunfire intensifying, drawing near, had terrified her, even as she struggled to keep her composure. Mysta was courageous and powerful, yet not bullet proof. Any of the shots she heard could have been aimed at Onee-San. Could have found their mark. It wasn’t until Tracy and Sam appeared, decked out in Kevlar vests, that she regained her optimism.When Pop-Pop took her to Mysta she could tell she was hurting. Her eyes were wet with tears, something she had seen only once before. She had gone to Mysta with her worries after the two small bumps on her head had appeared. Onee-San comforted her. Whether coincidentally, or in accordance to Lunarian physiology, their telepathic connection asserted itself just as her horns were progressing beyond any reasonable attempts to delay their inevitable discovery. Mysta held her, eased her fears, and assured her that everything would be fine.Unlike the rumpus at the mall, Pop-Pop had managed to keep her presence at Ace Tower hush-hush. Only a portion of the SWAT team had seen her and they didn’t tell stories to the press. Going back to school was accompanied by some trepidation. She was different. This was noticed, not always with approval. Footage of events at the mall, captured by shoppers on their phones, could still be found on the “Weirdness of the City” website. Yet, her schoolmates had their own issues. Comments on her horns faded fairly quickly as school routines took hold.Often she would visit Mysta after school. Their telepathic communications were growing more nuanced. She didn’t need to text her to make plans. Onee-San would have enjoyed a night at the theatre, but Honeymoon didn’t want to put Dad on the spot. Mysta was changing, too. She was more Lunarian, more like her mother, with every passing phase of the moon. Honeymoon had returned home one day to find her father standing in the doorway of her room, gazing at the portrait of Mysta. They hugged. Words weren’t needed.Now, Dad straightened his tie, reminding her to take a hat, just in case her antennae flared during the play. He eschewed combing his unruly mop, looking spiffy in his tux. Opening night at the Patterson Playhouse would be a treat. With the festive holiday season underway, it was easy to forget Bribery’s powerful ring and his promise to abduct Mysta. Honeymoon wondered what adventures lay ahead. Were Bribery to make good on his threat she and her Onee-San would be ready.
A Night at the TheatreGoing to the Patterson Playhouse had been a family tradition for as long as Honeymoon could remember. Longer, actually. There is a picture in a family scrapbook of her mother holding her out front, the marquee overhead announcing Vitamin Flintheart as the star of “Love Rides the Rails.” She was too young to recall the particulars of the play, but being held by her loving mother, that she remembers vividly. What a year it had been. Looking at her hand holding the comb, it was hard to believe she had zapped Bribery into submission during the siege at Ace Tower. Onee-San had taught her well. Hearing gunfire intensifying, drawing near, had terrified her, even as she struggled to keep her composure. Mysta was courageous and powerful, yet not bullet proof. Any of the shots she heard could have been aimed at Onee-San. Could have found their mark. It wasn’t until Tracy and Sam appeared, decked out in Kevlar vests, that she regained her optimism.When Pop-Pop took her to Mysta she could tell she was hurting. Her eyes were wet with tears, something she had seen only once before. She had gone to Mysta with her worries after the two small bumps on her head had appeared. Onee-San comforted her. Whether coincidentally, or in accordance to Lunarian physiology, their telepathic connection asserted itself just as her horns were progressing beyond any reasonable attempts to delay their inevitable discovery. Mysta held her, eased her fears, and assured her that everything would be fine.Unlike the rumpus at the mall, Pop-Pop had managed to keep her presence at Ace Tower hush-hush. Only a portion of the SWAT team had seen her and they didn’t tell stories to the press. Going back to school was accompanied by some trepidation. She was different. This was noticed, not always with approval. Footage of events at the mall, captured by shoppers on their phones, could still be found on the “Weirdness of the City” website. Yet, her schoolmates had their own issues. Comments on her horns faded fairly quickly as school routines took hold.Often she would visit Mysta after school. Their telepathic communications were growing more nuanced. She didn’t need to text her to make plans. Onee-San would have enjoyed a night at the theatre, but Honeymoon didn’t want to put Dad on the spot. Mysta was changing, too. She was more Lunarian, more like her mother, with every passing phase of the moon. Honeymoon had returned home one day to find her father standing in the doorway of her room, gazing at the portrait of Mysta. They hugged. Words weren’t needed.Now, Dad straightened his tie, reminding her to take a hat, just in case her antennae flared during the play. He eschewed combing his unruly mop, looking spiffy in his tux. Opening night at the Patterson Playhouse would be a treat. With the festive holiday season underway, it was easy to forget Bribery’s powerful ring and his promise to abduct Mysta. Honeymoon wondered what adventures lay ahead. Were Bribery to make good on his threat she and her Onee-San would be ready.