“Et tu Brute?” I said, my voice quivering.
The first knife took me by surprise, making me catch my breath. The second blow burned like a hot poker in my ribs. The rest came flying out of the dark, striking me over my back and chest. The pain was searing. I looked out to the audience, trying to scream for help, but nothing came out. I felt myself lose consciousness as everything became black. I fell in a heap to the floor like a rag doll.
Julia left work early because she was going to see Julius Caesar at the Virtual Reality Theatre. She was excited because her new iPhone CCC had upgraded her to Sensory Technology 5. She was going to use it at the show.
ST5 was an advance in cellular service. The technology allowed the user to experience the virtual world in 3D as well as rich sound, feel, smell, even taste.
“Close office,” Julia commanded. Her beautifully decorated office became a stark white room with a plain metal desk, chair and no window overlooking the park. She neatened the stack of papers then put them away in the top drawer and signaled her assistant that she was leaving for the rest of the day. Another command, “car,” started her car and brought it around to the front door.
The dashboard lit up, signaled that Maria was calling. “Hey girl,” Julia started.
“You out of work?”
“On my way home now.”
“I’ll be at your place around seven,” Maria added,“I'll drive, okay?”
“Perfect... End call.” The dashboard dimmed down to a light green glow.
Julia stepped into her small one bedroom apartment. Opening the door, the lights came on automatically. She flipped off her heels and rubbed her feet on the thick carpet. A large black cat sauntered into the room.
“Hey Brutus, my big baby. How was your day?” “Meow,” the cat answered.
“Yeah? Mine too.”
Julia picked up the enormous cat, with a grunt, and carried him into the kitchen.
“Turn on TV,” she commanded. “Channel seven.” From the kitchen, Julia could hear the voice of the news commentator. It was like fingernails on a chalkboard to her.
“Good afternoon, my name is Margaret Sanchez and this is the five o’clock news.”
“Oh, no. Change voice. Something soothing.”
The anchorwoman’s voice became buttery soft. “And here are the headlines.”
“Much better,” Julia approved as she fed the cat on the countertop then walked into the living room to watch the news.
“Pretty,” Julia remarked. “What is she wearing?” The image on the television changed.
The anchor kept reporting the news but Julia could see her from head to toe, including her blue dress and shoes. She could smell the woman’s strong perfume. Julia wrinkled up her nose and shook her head.
“I don’t like her cologne.” The aroma vanished. “I like her dress. How would it look on me?”
The image of the newscaster was replaced with Julia wearing the same exact dress.
“Cute,” she said as she looked at herself on the TV. She moved from side to side seeing how the dress flowed. “Feels nice. What other color does it come in? The dress changed to red. “No.” Green. “No.” Pink. “Say, that’s nice. Darker pink?” The dress changed to a darker shade. “I like that. Buy. And shoes to match.”
When Julia was out of the shower the dress and shoes had been delivered to her front door.
“Nice dress. Is it new?” Maria asked.
“This ol’ thing?” Julia laughed. “Yes. It was droned right before you got here.”
“I have something new too,” Maria confessed. She lifted up her hand to show a shiny gold bracelet. “What do you think?”
“The iPhone CCC! Have you tried it yet?”
“Not yet. I will, at the theater tonight.”
“Just wait till you experience all the shit this phone can do!” Julia shook her bracelet for emphasis. “Let’s take your car.”
The Theater was a brick building in the middle of a block of large warehouses. Maria’s car parked itself in the five-story lot and turned its lights off. Maria felt a light tingle on her wrist, signaling her that the car was locked. Maria looked at her bracelet and smiled.
“Cool, huh?” Julia affirmed. Both women laughed. The interior of the theater was blank until they walked in. As soon as they entered, it changed. Julia’s vision was of Radio City Music Hall. The walls were covered in red velvet wallpaper with gold stripes. The carpeting; white stars on a field of navy blue. Giant gilt chandeliers hung from the ceiling brightly blazing with hundreds of crystals. Maria’s was that of the Colony Theatre on South Beach, an art deco extravaganza complete with black, white and silver. A uniformed doorman opened the foyer door for them.
“Welcome ladies, have a wonderful eve (hic) eve (hic) evening.”
“Is he okay?” Maria asked.
“It’ll work itself out. Just takes a while for you to get used to the phone.”
The women began smelling the fires burning of old Rome as soon as they entered the auditorium. The smell of cooking meat was overpowering.
“Cut back on smell,” Julia commanded. The odor died down.
“Thanks,” Maria whispered.
“Ms. August?” A uniformed man asked Julia.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“We are ready for you backstage.”
“Julia, you didn’t tell me you were going to perform tonight.” Maria declared.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. I paid top dollar and waited ages to be Caesar. I’ll see you after the show.” Julia was ushered to the dressing room where she changed into her costume and make up.
“Do you have the three C with you?” Todd, the stage manager asked.
“Yes.“
“Good. It will do all the work for you. Just go out there and have fun. Break a leg.”
Julia walked out on to the stage and the curtain parted. She opened her mouth and the words came easily.
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” The applause was deafening. Julia's mind was racing she couldn’t believe this was finally happening. Ever since she was a little girl when she saw an entirely female version of Julius Caesar, she knew she had to play Julius Caesar. she was so excited that she had no time to be nervous. Everything was going great! The phone did it all! It told her where to go, where to stand, where to look. It was such a high that she did not believe it when Julia turned around and there was Maria, in the costume of Brutus, the knife in her hand.
“Et tu Brute?”
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