Seeing Past Midnight

M argaret had been working with this new company for about a year and she loved it. They interviewed me and offered 30,000 a year. If I had been awake I would have accepted right away, but I was dreaming and so I asked questions about how long the company had been going and if they had ever laid off any workers. The company ran like a giant consignment shop of sorts. Employees created art of any kind and sold it. All the sale money went to the company and employees all got monthly checks. Margaret had some very beautiful paintings she was selling. An older man I'd met there liked to collect old bottles he'd found and decorate them with paint and/or glued on jewelry. They regularly went out as groups to find items to make into art. And at least once a week they would sit in this one big room with large tables and adding machines, and they would tally up how much they'd made versus how much they cost the company. There had to be a profit at the end of the year or you would no

M y betrothed was a prince, but I was a poor peasant girl, and so he left me to find his princess. One day while I was working I saw his carriage approaching and by his side was a beautiful princess with long flowing red hair. The Prince: I had to see you to tell you, after all, you are my best friend; I have found my princess - a treasure more valuable than all the gold in the world. He looks at her lovingly and she smiles back. Me: I'm very happy for you. The Prince: You don't look very happy. Me: ****Singing**** I'm so very happy that you've finally found your treasure. (I gesture to the Princess) But if I were you, I'd want to keep it safe. My advice to you, free of charge, it's my pleasure Is to keep her hidden for her own sake. (singing gets faster) I'd put her in a chest, lock her up, throw away the key! Sail my best ship far and east, throw her out to sea! The princess looks alarmed. Some guards appear out of nowhere and carry me away.