Embedded Files
Weeks went by and Leroy had got a job stage managing in a theatre. It kept him in the arts and paid his bills. The feelings of being lost lessoned a little only but Leroy had felt unfulfilled and depressed.
“Another curve. Another choice to make.
Which one's the answer? Which one should I take?
Sometimes I wonder if it's always been this way.
And I've got the feeling up and down is here to stay.
Come what may, I'll be waiting for it.
I know the wind that brought it didn't mean me any harm.
Come what may, it won't really matter.
If it's got to be that way, it's okay.
Come what may.
One ways all right
The other's not all wrong
It always seems that way
The right one headed coin
I got to find the answer
And I don't know what to say
But it don't really matter
I'll take it day by day
Come what may, I'll be waiting for it.
I know the wind that brought it...it didn't mean me any harm.
Come what may, it won't really matter.
If it's got to be that way, it's okay.
Come what may."
One day while watching the dance auditions at the theatre Leroy realised that working behind the scenes wasn't what he wanted to do. He grabbed the number from the next guy waiting to an audition and started to dance.
For the first time in a long time he had felt good, he had felt alive and he knew he couldn't hide in the wings any longer. He didn't get the part but knew he wanted to return to dancing, return to teaching and return to the school.
Thankfully Lydia was more than happy for him to return and had smoothed things over with Dyrenforth. After his return, months passed by before anything strange happened and Leroy began to believe that maybe he’d imagined the events. He had started to think that maybe when he felt down or scared, it was the catalyst for something strange to happen.
This theory proved to be wrong because when he next saw the woman he wasn’t feeling down at all, in fact he had been very happy. Lydia had given him the chance to choreograph the new show the school had been producing. He’d assisted his mentor many times but that was the first time he’d choreographed a whole show on his own. Dusty Tyler and Jesse Velasquez had been chosen to be the leads but Dusty had been having a few problems and there had been talk of replacing her. Mr Shorofsky had realised that the problem was Dusty’s crush on Jesse. Leroy had agreed to talk to Dusty and during a break in rehearsals found his opportunity.
Dusty had been coming out of the make-up room when Leroy saw her.
Leroy: “Dusty I’ve been looking for you.”
Dusty: “Mr Johnson, you’re not going to kick me out of the play are you?”
Leroy led Dusty over to stairwell which led up to the stage.
Leroy: “No, I’m not going to kick you out of the show, but I do want to talk to you about your performance.”
At that moment Jesse had passed by climbing the stairs on to the stage of the auditorium. He had smiled at them as he passed by. Dusty had smiled back and looked embarrassed.
Leroy had shaken his head: "Dusty if you want to be with Jesse that much, then you need to talk to him and get this out of your system."
Dusty sighed: "But Mr Johnson, I told him how I feel before and he made it clear he wasn't interested."
Leroy: "Things are different now Dusty, what with Nicole gone. I think before he was still holding out, hoping that maybe they'd get back together but now he knows that isn't going to happen. Besides why not ask him out just as friends and see where it leads?"
A huge smile had crossed Dusty's face and her eyes hat lit up. At that moment the Doris woman had come out of the make-up room calling:
Doris Woman: "Jesse! Wait, I need to talk to you!"
Jesse was out of sight but Leroy and Dusty stared back at her.
Dusty: "Miss? Are you okay?"
The woman had given a weak smile and rushed past them.
Doris Woman: "I'm fine Dusty thank you. There's just something I've got to do"
Leroy had watched with a puzzled look on his face. He was intrigued that Dusty had interacted with the woman.
Leroy: “Dusty? Do you know that woman?”
Dusty was surprised by the question: "Yes of course I do she's a substitute teacher."
Leroy: "What's her name?"
Dusty: "It's Miss....erm..."
Dusty had stopped and thought for a moment.
Dusty: "I'm not sure but I've been in class with her! She was a substitute teacher covering Mr Shorofsky’s class. I’ve seen her lots of times."
Leroy had looked even more puzzled as he watched the woman disappear on to the stage.
Dusty: “Mr Johnson are you okay?”
Leroy: “Yes... I’m fine. Excuse me.”
Leroy had headed up the stairs to the stage but the woman was gone. He had worried how he’d react if he ever saw the woman again but felt relieved that the experience hadn’t triggered the feelings of depression again. He felt comforted that this Doris woman wasn’t just a figure of his imagination. However he also felt the anger growing inside him that she kept appearing but would never say anything to him to help him understand what was going on.
It wasn't long before the woman appeared again. Leroy had entered the dance room with Lydia, Danny Reggie and a group of dancers, to find Dusty sat on the floor sobbing.
Lydia was concerned: “Dusty, Honey? What’s the matter? Have you fallen and hurt yourself?”
Dusty sobbed: “No, I’m okay?”
Lydia: “Honey if you’re okay why are you crying?”
Dusty blew her nose into a tissue: “It’s Jesse!”
Lydia was concerned: “Has something happened to Jesse?”
Dusty had looked up at the faces of everyone looking at her then had an angry outburst:
“He’s okay, he’s more than okay. He’s the one going around hurting people that’s all!”
Lydia bent down next to Dusty: “Okay, calm down and tell me clearly what you are talking about!”
Dusty had taken a deep breath: “Jesse’s cheating on me. I saw him Miss Grant, I saw him.”
Lydia: “Are you sure? You know our minds can sometimes play tricks on us...”
Dusty angrily interrupted: “I saw HIM! It wasn’t just anybody either. Jesse is having an affair with a teacher!”
Everyone had been shocked, Danny and Leroy exchanged puzzled glances and murmurs spread throughout the crowd of onlookers.
Lydia: “Dusty that is a very serious accusation, are you sure about this?”
Dusty: “Yes Miss Grant, I’m sure I saw them making out in the make-up room. It’s disgusting! How could Jesse do that to me?”
Dusty began to cry again and Lydia puts her arm around her to try and comfort the distressed teenager.
Lydia: “Reggie, why don’t you go down the hall and bring Mr Dyrenforth here. I think he needs to handle this.”
Reggie had rushed out of the room leaving everyone watching Lydia comfort Dusty.
It wasn't long before Dyrenforth arrived. He asked Dusty to tell him what had happened. Dusty repeated her story.
Dyrenforth: “Miss Tyler, are you sure you saw Mr Velasquez kissing a teacher?”
Dusty: “Yes Mr Dyrenforth, I swear it’s true.”
Dyrenforth: “Which teacher? What’s their name?”
Dusty hesitated: “Well, I'm not really sure of her name. She was one of the substitutes covering Mr Shorofsky’s class. I've seen her at the School a number of times but I don’t know what she’s called.”
Dyrenforth and Lydia had exchanged sceptical glances.
Dusty: “It’s true Mr Dyrenforth, why don’t you believe me?”
Dyrenforth sighed: “Well Miss Tyler, it’s very difficult to believe you when there is no actual suspect. Has anyone else seen this substitute teacher?”
Everyone shook their head “No!”
Dusty had then looked at Leroy: “Mr Johnson you saw her the other week when we were backstage in the auditorium talking about Jesse. Do you remember?”
All eyes had turned to Leroy leaving him he feeling very uncomfortable. Although he’d been convinced that he wasn't actually losing his mind and what he had seen was real he wasn't sure he wanted to declare that in front of everyone.
Leroy: “Erm, well, yeah, I saw someone but...”
Much to Leroy’s relief Dusty had excitedly interrupted him: “Miss Grant, Mr Dyrenforth there she is.. and she’s with Jesse. I told you.”
Everyone had turned and looked towards the door to which Dusty was pointing. Through the glass Jesse and the Doris woman could be seen walking arm in arm up the corridor. The group of people quickly made their way out into the corridor.
Dyrenforth had yelled: “Mr Velasquez what on earth are you doing?”
Jesse seemed shocked: “What do you mean, what am I doing?”
Dyrenforth: “Did you or did you not kiss this woman?”
Jesse had looked at the Doris woman and then at the faces of the group of people surrounding him.
Jesse hesitated: “Well...yes I guess technically I did.”
The group gasped in surprise and Leroy saw the Doris woman looking directly at him, almost like she was pleading for his help. Leroy wasn't sure exactly what he could do to help and wasn't sure he wanted to even if he could. This woman had haunted him for years with no explanation and didn't have the right to ask him for any help.
Jesse continued: “But it wasn't her I was kissing, it was Nicole!”
The chattering from the surprised group of people got louder.
Lydia: “Jesse child, what are you talking about?”
Dyrenforth interrupted before Jesse could answer: “I think it is this woman that should be doing the explaining.”
All eyes had turned to look at the Doris woman and a smile had crossed Leroy’s face. He was pleased that finally someone was going to get some answers from her.
Dyrenforth continued: “I think you’d better come to my office. Miss Grant, Mr Velasquez you two come too.”
As all four headed off down the corridor towards the principal’s office Danny turned to Leroy.
Danny: “What the heck was that all about?”
Leroy had watched the group go: “How should I know?”
Leroy hadn't wanted to discuss the situation, even with one of his closest friends.
Afterwards Leroy had asked Lydia what had happened in the office and she had told him the woman just disappeared. Leroy was angry and frustrated that again the woman had gone with no explanation or punishment for what she had done.
The next time he saw the woman was a few months later at the alumni reunion celebrations. Leroy had finally decided to leave the school and pursue his career full time. Lots of friends had returned for the celebrations and a huge crowd was in the cafeteria singing the song “Fame” together. Leroy had spotted the Doris woman in the crowd but all too quickly she was gone. Afterwards Leroy was taking a last look at the auditorium the when woman had suddenly appeared in front of him.
Leroy snapped angrily at her: “Can’t you just leave me alone? I'm sick and tired of this. If you think you’re driving me crazy then you’ve failed.”
The woman had looked at him seemingly shocked: “I.. I don’t know what you mean. I'm not doing anything to you!”
Leroy: “Then why have you been haunting me all these years? What is it you want?”
The woman shook her head then everything went black. Leroy remembered waking up hours later and discovered he’d been knocked unconscious.
To Leroy’s relief, for years after he’d left the school he saw nothing more of the mysterious woman. It was like the school was the missing link that joined them together. Although Leroy had visited the school many times after he’d left he still didn’t see the woman again. So much time passed by that Leroy had virtually forgotten all about this woman and the strange events that happened whenever she was around.
Then one fateful night some 25 years after he’d left the school Leroy was performing in a show supporting some of the young students he’d been mentoring at the school. At first everything went incredibly well. The lights dimmed and music blasted out throughout the auditorium. Dressed in black hooded robes Leroy and the students gave an exceptional performance. For a dancer in his late 40’s Leroy had been in perfect shape and health.
"This is the end
You made your choice
And now my chance is over
I thought I was in
You put me down
And say I'm goin' nowhere
Save me darlin'
I am down
But I am far from over
Give me somethin'
I need it all
'Cause I am runnin' over
Back in the race
I'm movin' in
'Cause I am getting closer
I'm diggin' in
I want it more
Than anything I've wanted
Save me darlin'
I am down
But I am far from over
Give me somethin'
I need it all
'Cause I am runnin' over
Save me darlin'
I am down
But I am far from over
Give me somethin'
I need it all
'Cause I am runnin' over
Save me darlin'
I am down
But I am far from over
Give me somethin'
I need it all
'Cause I am runnin' over
I'm runnin' over
I'm runnin' over"
As the music had come to an end the dancers had joined hands and took their bows. The audience gave a standing ovation. Leroy had been in the centre of the group and smiled happily at the audience. He was proud that he still had what it took to be a professional entertainer and proud that his students had done so well.
Suddenly his smile started to fade and a cold chill spread down his spine. He looks out in the crowd and saw two Doris’. One of which he realises is the mysterious woman who haunted him all those years ago. He was shocked to see her again after all this time and confused as to why there were two of them. Suddenly He felts a strange sensation in his head. He closed his eyes and rubbed his head. He started to feel dizzy and losing his balance he suddenly fell to the floor and everything faded to black.
The next thing Leroy remembered were strange lights all around him. Eventually on the other side of the lights he could see the make-up room at the school of the arts. Leroy tried to step forward into the room but was stopped by a mirror. He also saw Doris standing in front of him and started to panic.
Leroy: “Doris? What's happening? Where am I? I don’t understand. I’m trapped... I’m trapped in the mirror!”
Doris stood motionless just staring into the mirror. Angrily Leroy banged his fists against the glass hoping to break his way out.
Leroy cried out: “Help me Doris! I don’t understand.. How did I get here? What happened? Did you do this to me?”
Doris had been taken aback by the question: “Why would you think I’d have anything to do with this?”
Leroy had calmed down a little and stopped banging against the glass. He fixed Doris with a hard stare.
Leroy: “Well for years now you've been haunting me. Whenever something weird or strange happened, I’d always see you lurking around. I didn't realise who you were at first as when it started I was a teenager and you always looked older but eventually I worked it out and I’ve been seeing you ever since. Now the weirdest thing of all has happened and I’m stuck in a mirror somehow and who should I see staring back at me? Of course it’s you!”
Doris took a deep breath: “ I'm sorry Leroy but I have no idea what’s happened to you. I’m amazed by some of the things that have happened too.”
Leroy slowly looked her up and down and raised his eyebrow: “It’s a little hard to believe you.”
Doris sighed: “I swear I'm telling you the truth. I wouldn't lie to you.”
Again Leroy had raised his eyebrow: “Then why are you here?”
Doris shook her head: “I wish I knew. All I'm trying to do is get home.”
Leroy laughed and replied sarcastically: “Maybe you should click your heals together 3 times!”
Doris had glared at him: “Well I'm glad you’re finding this funny. You are the one stuck in the mirror. The only people I’ve seen in the mirror before are Lisa and Nicole and they were....”
Doris’ voice had trailed off leaving Leroy waiting expectantly but she didn't say any more.
Leroy had frustratedly asked: “Well? They were what?”
Doris had looked at him: “Oh Leroy, I'm so sorry..”
Leroy had been confused: “Sorry? Sorry about what? I thought you said you hadn't done anything to cause this? What’s going on?”
Doris lowered her voice: “I don’t think I did cause this but there’s something I have to tell you.”
Leroy snapped: “Well! What is it?”
Doris had opened and closed her mouth a couple of times but no words came out.
Leroy had felt annoyed: “Come on tell me because this is starting to get very annoying!”
Doris took another deep breath: “Well, the only other people I've seen in the mirror have been dead.”
Leroy had snapped back: “So you’re telling me I'm dead and you can see dead people?”
Doris had nodded slowly: “Yes.”
Leroy had become very angry: “That’s just crazy! You’re talking crazy! I think you need some help. Now stop playing around and get me out of here before I....”
Leroy had stopped not exactly sure what threat he could actually make.
Doris: “ I'm sorry! I wish I did know how to help you but there’s nothing I can do. You obviously have some unfinished business which is why you haven’t passed over to the other side.”
Leroy angrily interrupted: “Stop talking like that! I ain't dead, which is why I haven’t passed over to anywhere. This is obviously some kind of sick joke. Now get me out of here!”
Leroy had started banging on the glass again as Doris helplessly watched. After a moment the lights had started to change and two other figures started to appear, each took one of Leroy’s arms.
One of them was Nicole who tried to calm him down.
Nicole: “It’s okay Leroy we’ll help you. It can take some getting used to but we’re here for you.”
Leroy had been stunned and confused to see Nicole.
Leroy: “Nicole, how can this be, you died in a car accident years ago. What are you doing here?”
Nicole had smiled at him: “I haven’t passed over yet either. There’s something that I still need to be done.” She turned and looked directly at Doris who nodded her head slowly.”
Leroy had shook his head: “I don’t know what sick joke you people are playing but I'm not dead! Do you hear me? I'm not dead I tell you!”
Both Nicole and the other woman holding Leroy’s arm tried to calm him down as they started to lead Leroy away.
Nicole: “Come with us. We’ll explain everything.”
Leroy had struggled: “Nooooo! Leave me alone. Doris this is your fault.....”
Leroy walks almost gliding down the hospital corridor passing a group of his old friends, which included a teenage version of himself. His presence creates a wind as he passes by but no one seems to notice him instead they are all looking accusingly at the Doris woman. As he passes by he noticed that she seemed to sense his presence. Leroy enters hospital room 421.
Inside the room he can see another Doris lying on the hospital bed with her daughter sat next to her, holding her hand. Leroy moves closer to the bed and sees Mr Crandall, Mr Shorofsky and Mrs Berg all stood in the room.
Leroy looks at the Doris lying unconscious on the bed. Slowly he picks up a pillow and places it over her face. As he starts to smother her, Doris starts to struggle for air, as does the other Doris standing in the hospital corridor.
Suddenly Crandall moves towards the door and slams it shut.
Mrs Berg whispers: “You certainly took your time getting here; we've been waiting for you!”
Leroy looks up at the old woman: “Well I'm here now and I will sort this mess out”
Suddenly there is a frightened gasp from near the closed door, where another Doris has been stood watching herself being suffocated by a hooded stranger. However as he speaks her whole body goes cold as she realises its Leroy.
Hearing her gasp Leroy looks directly at her with a smile on his face. Doris is rooted to the spot with fear and confusion and she calls out to Leroy.
Doris: “What are you doing? STOP! You’re killing me!”
Suddenly the Doris on the bed stops struggling against the pillow as her body becomes been deprived of oxygen. The machine next to the bed starts to beep loudly showing a flat line moving across the monitor.
Doris looks at her own lifeless body lying on the bed and then at the smiling Leroy standing over her. A tear slowly rolls down Doris’ face. Suddenly she feels weak and light headed. Her vision starts to blur and the last thing she sees is Leroy’s smiling face.
Mrs Berg takes a deep breath and turns to Mr Shorofsky: “Oh My... I didn't think ... I didn't he would kill her. I mean how can she now make her choice and put everything right if she's dead.”
Mr Shorfosky shakes his head: "It looks like her choice has been made for her. Everything will returned to normal because she's no longer here. Won't it!"
Mrs Berg shrugs "Beats me. Even I don;t have a clue what's going to happen!"
They both turn and look at the body lying motionless on the bed and Mrs Berg wipes a tear from her eye.
To be continued.....
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