It was 7:00 in the morning, and she was standing on a ledge, trying to keep her balance. It wasn't time just yet. "I'm getting too old for this." She said aloud. Below her, a sea of spectators were chanting, "JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!" Hell, they were practically making s'mores off of the burning building! "Insensitive shits." She said to herself. She could already feel the heat coming off of the building, and the smoke was beginning to burn her nostrils. One glance down, and she could see that it was time. She readied herself and jumped. No more than ten seconds later, she had landed on her back, bounced once, and righted herself. Perfect. The crowd were cheering, and the firemen were all patting her on the back.
Another perfect stunt, another $1.75. SaraQuinn grabbed a Dasani and a wet washcloth and headed toward her trailer. Inside the cool quiet of her trailer, was a wonderful spread of strawberry blintzes, fruit, and iced tea. SaraQuinn tossed herself into the closest chair and pulled the table close. She loaded up a plate and grabbed the script that was laying on the table next to her. "So, which stunt's next?" She mumbled, as she flipped through pages and popped watermelon in her mouth. "Ah, the underwater escape." She ought to get paid well for this one. She was going to be required to swim through an underground tunnel for seventy-five feet. She would pop up into the middle of an underground pond, which would be in an underground room, and where rocks would be falling all around her. "Piece of cake." She uttered and tossed the script aside.
*************
The next day, SaraQuinn got up early and made her way to the set. She was totally prepared for the stunt, but she couldn't help feeling a little anxious. That was the key. Keeping on your toes. That's what made a good stunt person and a good stunt. That's what kept the audience gasping for more and what kept her paychecks coming in. When SaraQuinn got to the set, she headed to the prep room. There she donned the protective vest that she would wear under the dress she was scheduled to wear. Why they always had the damsel in a dress, she could not fathom, but it wasn't her show, just her life. Her hair was already the same color and the same length, so that wouldn't be a problem. She did have to put on those unbelievably long nails. "Anything to make a stunt more difficult." she thought as they did her nails.
Before she knew it, she was standing at the edge of the pool. The director was yelling "Ready!?". The lights were right, the water was right, the cameras were right. "Let's get this in one, SQ!" He said to her. SaraQuinn nodded. The crew held their breaths. "Take one." The director said. SaraQuinn heard the almighty *clack*, and she dove. Her arms and feet propelled her down through the pool and into the tunnel. She pushed her way into the tunnel and swam like mad. When she saw the tiny light on the bottom wall of the tunnel, she felt for an overhead opening. She found it and took it. When she hit the surface of the water, she was prepared to have rocks falling all around her. She knew they would be strategically thrown so as not to hit her, but there was always the chance of a mistake. One good hit in the head, and she'd be hurt badly, or worse. SaraQuinn was prepared, but when she hit the surface and took her first gulp of breath, there were no rocks, no lights, no cameras.... nothing. It was a quiet cave, musty smelling and dark. She treaded water silently for a little while. "Well, crap." "How did this happen?" She said to herself. "HELLO!" she hollered, thinking maybe they were playing a trick on her. She treaded water some more.
Footsteps. She heard footsteps. The footsteps were running. SaraQuinn made her way to the edge of the water and began to climb out. As she pulled herself from the pond, she came face to face with a glorious man. He grabbed her hand and held out a towel for her. She looked into his eyes, recognizing him, but not daring to believe it.
"I had to come and tell you "Happy Birthday"." He said.
"Huh?"
"I couldn't miss your special day, SaraQuinn." He held her by the shoulders, looked deep into her eyes, and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Think of me." He whispered. "Now you have to go back. They're waiting for you."
He removed the towel, and turned SaraQuinn back toward the water.
Before she knew it, she was back in the water and looking for a small light on the bottom of the tunnel wall. She found it, and turned upward. When she hit the surface, rocks were falling all around her. She gasped for breath and looked stunned. The director yelled "CUT!", and SaraQuinn left the water. She looked around, but everything and everyone seemed terribly normal. "Great job, SQ. We'll go with that." The director was patting her on the back. SaraQuinn nodded and headed to her trailer.
By the time she reached her trailer, she had convinced herself that she had dreamed the entire thing. "I must've been lightheaded." "It must've been oxygen depravation." She had told herself. She entered her trailer, and sitting on the counter was a small birthday cake and a large covered parcel. SaraQuinn stuck her finger in the cake and into her mouth. "Mmmmm." Then she took the cover from the parcel. With a sharp inhalation, she realized that it hadn't been a dream. Somehow, the man of her dreams had been here! She sat down hard and reveled in the private realization of her special day. A day she would not soon forget.
The parcel held a bird, more specifically, a hawk, and on it's foot it had a tiny container. In the container was a note that said simply,
"I'm thinking of you. Love, Ardeth"
Happy Birthday, SaraQuinn! I'll be thinking of you this weekend!
Shhh,
Whisper
Ardeth Bay, the leader of the Mad-jai warriors
