Erik and Christine, The Married Life
Chapter 1
Erik plopped down on the couch after a grueling day of sending notes to André and Firmin and composing a new opera for them to perform. He turned on the TV and started to channel surf.
Christine shuffled in wearing a blue robe and pink fuzzy slippers, her hair up in curlers. "Erik, honey, we need to talk."
Erik kept flipping channels, "Hm?"
"I think we should go on a family vacation, get of the Opera House for a while. I was thinking Disneyland," she said, smiling hopefully.
Erik grimaced, "Do you know what kind of sick ideas those fairy tales put into kids' heads?"
"Well, how about Hawaii?"
"Costs too much."
"Well, I'm sure André and Firmin pay you enough."
"I like it here. And I hate the sun. You know how sensitive my skin is."
"Perhaps if you wore sunscreen?"
"No Christine."
"Yes dear...What about Aspen?"
"I don't know how to ski."
"You could take lessons with Jean-Luc. That way he wouldn't feel so awkward."
"I'd feel awkward."
"It might be easier if you didn't wear your mask. You would be able to see better, for instance"
Erik looked at her and raised his eyebrow, "I will not, under any circumstances, remove my mask"
Christine giggled, "Not any circumstances?"
Erik caught the hint, "Well, under that circumstance. But no others."
A little boy of five walked in and tugged on Christine's robe, "Mommy, isn't it time to go to bed?"
"Oh, yes Jean-Luc. Let's go, I'll tuck you in."
"Can't I say goodnight to Daddy?"
"Well of course you can say goodnight to Daddy."
Jean-Luc toddled over to Erik, who patted the child's head awkwardly. "Er, goodnight son," Erik said and motioned for Christine to take over.
Christine took the boy's hand and led him to his bedroom.
Jean-Luc yawned, "Mommy, how come Daddy's face is all white and shiney like that?"
"Um..." Christine paused, searching for an answer. She decided the truth would be best, "Well sweetie, that's daddy's mask."
"Oh..." The boy seemed to ponder this for a moment.
Christine turned to leave.
"Mommy?"
She sighed, "Yes, darling angel?"
"What's a mask?"
"I'll tell you when you're older, dear."
Christine shuffled back to the living room, this time to find Erik reading the newspaper, "Erik, don't you think it's time we told our son about your... face?"
"He doesn't need to know."
"Well, he is our son. Think for a moment, Erik. What if he should one day accidentally see you without your mask on?"
"I will take good care in seeing that it doesn't happen," Erik turned the page, "He's not seeing my face," he scanned it for good articles, "And that's final!" He shook out his paper, as if to make his point perfectly clear.
"I hear their doing wonderful things with plastic surgery these days..." Christine offered quietly.
Erik looked up from his paper, "I said no."
"Yes dear."