They were all on television: Allegra, Dwight, Henry Lewse, and Bette Midler. They were in a sitcom about a family of shadows left behind in a suburban house when the real family moved to Maine. A silly premise for a sitcom, but not surprising for the WB network.
Toby sat at home, watching the show with his parents. He was hurt that his friends were stars and he wasn’t. Then he remembered that he was supposed to be on the show tonight, a guest star.
“Good grief. I’m late.” And he ran out the door without explaining to Mom and Dad.
The show was filming in New York, of course, and his parents were in Milwaukee. But Milwaukee was now in New Jersey. If the bus came soon, he could get to the show in time.
The bus arrived, the door opened, Toby jumped on. “The WB and make it snappy,” he told the driver and flung himself into a seat.
“Toby?” It was Caleb, and he was sitting by the window. “What are you doing here? Where have you been? I miss you.”
Toby was overjoyed to see Caleb again but knew he shouldn’t show it. “I’ve been busy with my career. I’m going to be in a TV show.”
“That’s wonderful. I am so happy for you.”
“Are you? Really?”
Caleb was so pleased that he took Toby in his arms and kissed him, right there on the bus, a warm, deep kiss. The kiss was so strong that their clothes evaporated. The whole bus applauded the two nude bodies locked in tender embrace.
And Toby woke up. Alone in his dinky room in the apartment on West 104th Street. There was no bus, no Caleb, only his own dick sticking out of blue flannel pajama bottoms decorated with penguins.
It was sad to wake up alone after such a beautiful dream. Plus he needed to pee.
He tucked his rod back in and got out of bed, which was a baggy futon on the floor. He padded down the hall toward the toilet. They were doing the play here tomorrow, in this very space. He wondered if Henry would come; he wished it were Caleb. What a stupid, corny dream to dream the night before a show.
His erection had gone down enough for him to pee. He aimed at the side of the bowl so he wouldn’t wake anyone. He didn’t flush for the same reason, but he remembered to lower the seat for the girls.
Out in the hall he heard a hissing in Allegra and Boaz’s room. It sounded like Boaz was arguing. He heard Allegra sobbing.
He lightly knocked on the door. “Are you guys all right?” he whispered.
Silence followed.
Then Allegra said, “We’re fine, Toby. Go to bed. You didn’t hear anything. You’re just dreaming us. Good night.”
“Right,” he whispered. “Sorry. Good night. See you tomorrow.”