joining them in the afterlife unless they also suffer some fatal accident? Not to mention the probability of the formula being kept secret by tyrannical powers who would rule forever. The implications are mind boggling.”
“And you never had any accidents?”
“No, some people are just lucky and never even break a bone. Of course, once I realized that the elixir actually worked as designed, I tended to avoid activities that would put me in physical danger. I moved around a lot so no one would notice that I wasn"t getting visibly older. The thing I lacked was permanent companionship. I met a lot of people, some famous even today… the apostle Paul, as I mentioned, was an interesting chap. I particularly enjoyed knowing Shakespeare, too. You are the only person I ever gave a second thought to sharing my gift with though. In fact, you caused even third, fourth and fifth thoughts. It wasn"t long before I knew you were my perfect soul mate to spend the rest of the ages with.”
“Okay... I know you"re putting me on to make me feel better about the ribbing I"ve been getting.”
“Michelle… I assure you I am not. Would I make matters worse by adding jokes to your hurt feelings? Michelle, you are not aging, and you will never age.”
Michelle pulled away from Evan and stared right through him.
August, 1953
Eric left the Regal Repertory with a job in hand. His lack of a resume, despite countless backstage and on-stage theatrical jobs, landed him on the low rung of the company ladder. He had no doubt that his experience would soon, as it always had in the past, win him some better assignments. He made his way back to the apartment before the guests arrived.
“Hey, Bryan,” Eric said as he entered the apartment. “Eric!How did the job hunt go?”
“Nailed it at the Regal.”
“Impressive. Good for you.”
“It wasn"t exactly what I was looking for, but I guess I"m
pretty bad at keeping my res ume up to date.”
“Up to date? You were pitching hay in a barn for the last
few years. I think you would leave that off your resume. Wasn"t
your previous theatrical experience on your resume?”
“Yeah… well… I guess I tend to downplay my
experience.” I suppose telling the Regal management that I
performed Shakespeare while he was writing his plays would
really convince them, he thought.
“Listen, Eric. Do you want me to help you with that
resume? I"ve gotten pretty good at it, especially working in the
journalism industry, trying to convince editors that my experience
is relevant.”
“Nah, thanks but forget it. It"s nice to just be in the
background for awhile. Less pressure. When I"m ready for
something greater, I"ll let them see my talent. I"m better at
displaying it than flaunting it on paper. That"s fine with me.” “Suit yourself, but I"m available to help. After all, it"s to
my advantage if you make enough to pay your share of the rent.
Hey, do you mind answering the door while I get the refreshments
ready? The guests should be arriving soon.”
“Sure.” The word barely left Eric"s mouth when there was
a knock on the door. Eric opened it. Five sets of eyes fixated on
Eric… two men and three women. Eric smiled, knowing that they
must bewondering who he is. “Welcome. I"m Eric… Bryan"s
new roommate.”
Eric had plenty of experience at reading faces. Of the three
women, he fixated on the one whose eyes were the most gentle. It
wasn"t a conscious thing. It just became instinct. “Come in, come
in, get comfortable,” said Bryan as he walked out of the kitchen
with some snacks. “I see you met Eric. Have you introduced
yourselves?”
Rob spoke up. “So we don"t all shout at once, I"ll do the
honors. I"m Rob. This is Ann, Steve, Sharonand… hiding in the back somewhere is Jean.” Jean nodded while smiling shyly as all the others extended their hands to Eric. Eric shook their hands while maintaining a glance toward Jean. She was the one with the gentle eyes. There was something about shyness in a woman
“And you never had any accidents?”
“No, some people are just lucky and never even break a bone. Of course, once I realized that the elixir actually worked as designed, I tended to avoid activities that would put me in physical danger. I moved around a lot so no one would notice that I wasn"t getting visibly older. The thing I lacked was permanent companionship. I met a lot of people, some famous even today… the apostle Paul, as I mentioned, was an interesting chap. I particularly enjoyed knowing Shakespeare, too. You are the only person I ever gave a second thought to sharing my gift with though. In fact, you caused even third, fourth and fifth thoughts. It wasn"t long before I knew you were my perfect soul mate to spend the rest of the ages with.”
“Okay... I know you"re putting me on to make me feel better about the ribbing I"ve been getting.”
“Michelle… I assure you I am not. Would I make matters worse by adding jokes to your hurt feelings? Michelle, you are not aging, and you will never age.”
Michelle pulled away from Evan and stared right through him.
August, 1953
Eric left the Regal Repertory with a job in hand. His lack of a resume, despite countless backstage and on-stage theatrical jobs, landed him on the low rung of the company ladder. He had no doubt that his experience would soon, as it always had in the past, win him some better assignments. He made his way back to the apartment before the guests arrived.
“Hey, Bryan,” Eric said as he entered the apartment. “Eric!How did the job hunt go?”
“Nailed it at the Regal.”
“Impressive. Good for you.”
“It wasn"t exactly what I was looking for, but I guess I"m
pretty bad at keeping my res ume up to date.”
“Up to date? You were pitching hay in a barn for the last
few years. I think you would leave that off your resume. Wasn"t
your previous theatrical experience on your resume?”
“Yeah… well… I guess I tend to downplay my
experience.” I suppose telling the Regal management that I
performed Shakespeare while he was writing his plays would
really convince them, he thought.
“Listen, Eric. Do you want me to help you with that
resume? I"ve gotten pretty good at it, especially working in the
journalism industry, trying to convince editors that my experience
is relevant.”
“Nah, thanks but forget it. It"s nice to just be in the
background for awhile. Less pressure. When I"m ready for
something greater, I"ll let them see my talent. I"m better at
displaying it than flaunting it on paper. That"s fine with me.” “Suit yourself, but I"m available to help. After all, it"s to
my advantage if you make enough to pay your share of the rent.
Hey, do you mind answering the door while I get the refreshments
ready? The guests should be arriving soon.”
“Sure.” The word barely left Eric"s mouth when there was
a knock on the door. Eric opened it. Five sets of eyes fixated on
Eric… two men and three women. Eric smiled, knowing that they
must bewondering who he is. “Welcome. I"m Eric… Bryan"s
new roommate.”
Eric had plenty of experience at reading faces. Of the three
women, he fixated on the one whose eyes were the most gentle. It
wasn"t a conscious thing. It just became instinct. “Come in, come
in, get comfortable,” said Bryan as he walked out of the kitchen
with some snacks. “I see you met Eric. Have you introduced
yourselves?”
Rob spoke up. “So we don"t all shout at once, I"ll do the
honors. I"m Rob. This is Ann, Steve, Sharonand… hiding in the back somewhere is Jean.” Jean nodded while smiling shyly as all the others extended their hands to Eric. Eric shook their hands while maintaining a glance toward Jean. She was the one with the gentle eyes. There was something about shyness in a woman
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