The Russians are Coming!, 14 Months in the Life of the Town - стр. 15
Passing a few aisles, they walked in parallel until they found one without people, and entered, meeting in the middle. They laughed, enjoying mutual understanding.
«Gosh!» Jeff giggled. «I feel like I’m meeting with a Russian spy.»
Smiling, Vera wanted to reply, but her face clouded again, for another man came into the aisle. He soon left, but Jeff sighed as his playful mood faded. He noticed Vera glancing at her watch, and asked her, «Are you late for something?»
«Almost.» Vera looked at him with an apologetic smile. «Tonight there is a Halloween party on campus – a short play, dancing after, snacks, et cetera. I’m curious to see it.»
«Can I go too?» Jeff asked unexpectedly, even to himself. Vera looked at him with compassion.
«Sorry,» she murmured. «It’s for students only. Bye.»
«I understand,» he sighed watching her go.
* * * * *
In the police station, Jeff sat at his desk and browsed through his papers. His shift was already over, but he just did not want to go yet to his empty home.
Then he overheard a colleague talking with his student son.
«Dad, you promised,» the student whined. «The whole party depends on you. Don’t wreck our Halloween.»
«The students’ party?» Jeff got interested. «What happened?»
«I foolishly promised my boy to take part in the play,» explained Jeff’s colleague. «But the chief gave me a lot of paperwork for tonight. I can’t, I really can’t.»
«Is it a difficult part?» asked Jeff, and they stared at him. «I mean, can I replace your father?»
«Great!» exclaimed the student. «All you need to do is just go on and say one phrase: „Your Majesty! Be ready for anything!“, then stand behind the royal throne. That’s all. It’s almost the last scene of the play. Just a few minutes. But the costume… it’s a knight’s costume, the whole-body armor. Not real, of course. It’s fabric. The helmet is aluminum. Is it okay with you?»
«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.