The Play

Aaron and Mei Ling entered their theater box to find another couple there, who looked around as they entered.

"Cousin Mei? Mr. Zakhrov?" exclaimed the man in surprise, while the woman smiled and waved.

Recognition flashed in Aaron's eyes. "Ms. Kate? Father Abel? You look very different without your cassock," he responded.

Father Abel chuckled, he was dressed in an expensive-looking sharp black suit, with a black cleric shirt and a small golden Society of Jesus pendant pinned to his suit lapel being the only indications of his profession as a priest. He stood up to shake hands with Aaron.

"I see you've met my cousin. And I believe you already know my college classmate Kate Summers," he said as Kate smiled warmly at him.

"It's good to see you again young master Aaron" she said as she shook his hand.

"Likewise Ms. Kate." he said.

"So, what brings you here Mei?" asked Father Abel as Aaron and Mei Ling took their seats.

"Young master Aaron was kind enough to ask me to be his escort for the evening," said Mei Ling.

"It's my 13th birthday. Father took me to Mr. Thompson's shop to get me fitted for a suit before coming here," explained Aaron.

Father Abel raised his eyebrows. "I see! Happy birthday, Aaron," he said.

"Thank you, Father Abel," replied Aaron.

Just as the curtain was about to rise, the door to the box opened, and Ivan entered with a sulking Annette on his arm.

The curtain rose and the play began. It was a symphonic power metal adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera with a Norwegian symphonic power metal band collaborating with a Broadway orchestra and theater group.

Aaron watched the play with rapt attention, the symphonic power metal music and the deep, gravelly voice of the actor playing the Phantom resonating deep within him. He now knew what kind of image and voice he wanted to project.

During the intermission, Kate and Mei Ling quickly took charge of Annette, hauling her reluctant, partially shaved form off to the ladies' room.

Aaron, sensing that Father Abel wanted to speak to Ivan privately, excused himself as well, exiting the box to buy a soda.

As soon as they were alone, Father Abel turned to speak with Ivan.

"You and Aaron seem to be getting along quite well. I heard you even let him drive?" he asked Ivan.

"Well, I'm doing what I think I can to help him socialize," said Ivan cautiously.

"It appears to have some positive effects. Aaron seems to be opening up and has gained more confidence in his interactions with women," observed Father Abel. "However, I feel it is coming at a cost to Annette. You are pushing her well past her comfort zone," he cautioned.

Ivan nodded. "I know Father, but she is a little too rigid with Aaron. She has started to view his preferences and choices as odd, and potentially problematic. While I find them unusual myself, it does seem to work for him," sighed Ivan.

"I would also venture that Annette holds different views from Kate and Mei Ling. She believes that they are a bad influence on Aaron," said Father Abel.

"That's complete nonsense! Mei Ling is a beautiful and intelligent woman and so is Kate! I'm sure your cousin and your friend from college would never be a bad influence!" said Ivan.

"You and I know that Ivan, but Annette feels that they are encouraging Aaron to adopt a more dominant persona around women and that is not something she wants Aaron to cultivate," said Father Abel seriously.

"So you're saying she feels Kate and Mei Ling's encouraging Aaron to be more assertive is harmful," sighed Ivan.

Father Abel shook his head. "I'm afraid it is more complicated than that.

Before you arrived, both Mei Ling and Kate attempted to tease him and get him to choose which of them he found more attractive, his ability to control his adolescent impulses was almost inhuman.

When he reached the limit of his patience, he stood up and commanded them to stop, and they meekly obeyed.

His command seemed to have a profound effect on at least Kate. I couldn't ask Mei's thoughts," he said worriedly.

Ivan scowled at Father Abel. "What are you trying to tell me? That Aaron is not attracted to women but just wants to control them?" he demanded.

Father Abel sighed. "Aaron is definitely attracted to both of them. However, he refused to get caught up in their teasing game.

In moderation, this can be a good thing, but it can be dangerous and harmful to both Aaron and whoever he is with if it goes too far," he explained, as Aaron returned to the box with a tray of sodas.

Annette, Kate and Mei Ling returned just before the warning bell that signaled the end of the intermission rang. Annette's bare arms were now hairless, and she looked much more presentable in her dress and pantyhose.

Ivan observed Kate, Mei Ling and Aaron as the play resumed.

Kate and Mei Ling tried to engage Aaron in conversation, but he firmly commanded them to keep quiet and enjoy the play.

Despite his firm and somewhat authoritative response to them, they seemed happy to hang on his arms and rest their heads on his shoulders.

He smiled at the warm affection Aaron was receiving from them and refocused on the excellent performance of the play.

Glad that Aaron was enjoying the pure and powerful fusion of sounds brought about by mixing powerful electric guitars with classic organ and orchestral accompaniments.

Annette shot Kate and Mei Ling a venomous glare.

Her bare arms still tingled from the hair removal cream that Mei Ling had used on her, and her legs felt stifled in the sheer black pantyhose that Kate had forced on them.

The way that they clung to Aaron, hanging on his arms like trophies, made him look even more villainous.

With a huff, she waited with folded arms for the ordeal that Ivan called a play to end.

Mei Ling shot Annette a look of pure disdain.

The choices Ivan had made: Shimmering black cocktail dress, sheer black pantyhose and strappy flat sandals, and even coordinated lingerie, fit her perfectly.

And would have made her look stunning, if she had not been so intent on being difficult.

In this day and age, men like Ivan were an increasingly dying breed. Something Annette seemed oblivious to.

With an internal sigh at Annette's behavior, Mei Ling refocused on the play.

The symphonic power metal adaptation of Phantom of the Opera was a masterpiece of sound and fury, and she was glad to be able to enjoy it with Aaron and Kate.