As I walk in, an hour early, the stench of old wet plaster immediately offends my nostrils as I notice all the good seats are taken. I'm afraid that I am going to get stuck in the back where I can't see a thing and the stage and everything on it are going to be blurry. I notice the light hum generated by the audience and I'm already getting a headache. I sit down and slowly sink into the small seat provided by the school. Why isn't the money that my parents share every year to the school system through taxes and fund raisers put to good use to buy decent sized seats for normal people? And whoever thought of covering seats with grain bag material, anyway? It feels almost as good as a pair of favorite woolen underwear on a hot day, poking at my skin. What were they thinking? The annoying whisper of excitement and impatience is getting louder and my headache is gaining force.
As I try to soften myself from the offending chair, I notice the vacant seats are rapidly filling up and no one is sitting by me. I wouldn't mind if they sat next to me, for goodness sake. The overpowering aromas of the vile intruders are worse than the chair or the wet plaster, so I guess I would mind if they sat next to me after all. I welcome every gust of fresh air delivered by the swish of doors opened by the latest arrivals. People who bathe themselves in perfume are the second worst, as regards overpowering aromas, to people who don't bathe at all. I know that I'll miss that fresh air when the performance starts and come to think of it,