Conner's Performance

Chapter 7 - The Production

The drama room had started to fill with the actors, some were practicing lines or trying to improve on small things, the stage hands were trying to fine tune certain elements. There were a lot of people running back and forth from the drama room to the auditorium.

Conner sat with Brian listening to him talk about dog accessories, he was still wearing the Toto makeup from the previous performance to the student body. "So you see the Martingale collar is better for bigger dogs, it wouldn't even make sense for a small dog like Toto to have one." Brian explained to him.

"You should definitely tell Trish that, I'm sure she would want to hear all about it." Conner told him "I am an actor and I wear what I am told."

"Yeah I can see that." Brian teased Conner while patting his head, Conner just rolled his puppy dog eyes at him.

Jessica had walked up to them, she was already wearing her Dorothy dress. "Toto, it's almost time to get ready, we don't want to be late."

"Come on Brian, you can check out the rest of the outfit." Conner told him, the three of them headed to the stage. He led Brian up the stairs and grabbed the costume bag off the rack and motioned for Brian to join him in the dressing room. He handed Brian the bag while he started to take off his clothes, he had seen him change on a few occasions and he wasn't embarrassed about Brian seeing him. Brian pulled the costume out and inspected it, he ran his hand over the fake fur.

Conner now in just his briefs sat on his feet. "So you need to help pull it up to my knees and legs." He instructed.

Brian unzipped the outfit and pulled it up Conner's legs until it was at his feet. "There should be a pocket my feet go in, just help me get them in." Conner instructed. Brian grabbed his foot and guided it into the pocket, then the second, Conner giggled as he did it. Playfully Brian purposely tickled his feet a little causing waves of giggles from Conner.

"You're really ticklish!" Brian said with glee.

"Stop! This is serious." Conner laughed.

Brian stopped and helped Conner pull up the arms and zipped up the back. Conner adjusted and then moved to a walking position. "Thanks Brian, I think it's just the collar left."

Brian took the collar and put it over Conner's head, he pulled it so it was against his neck and then the two stepped out to allow the next person to use the room. Brian ran his hand down Conner's back. "It's such a nice outfit. You really do look like Toto." Brian praised him. "But something isn't right, wait here I want to grab something."

Conner moved to the side to not be in anyone's way and waited for his friend, he wasn't sure what he was doing, after a minute he came rushing back. He knelt down in front of him and pulled out a hair brush. "I borrowed this from the makeup area, the fur in this costume looks too messy, it should be brushed." Brian told him.

"If you think it will look better." Conner said, confused.

Brian spent a few minutes running the brush down his back, sides and legs. Then a few moments blending the hair from his neck to the costume. "I think that looks cleaner!" He smiled at Conner.

Billy had walked up to them watching this happen. "Well if it isn't the boy and his dog!" He teased them. "You just like to be a pampered puppy, don't you Toto?"

Conner just looked away from him embarrassed that he caught Brian doting over him. "It's not like that Billy, it's for the show." Conner said humbly.

Billy grinned at them. "I know you like it, I'm sure your friend here loves playing with his new puppy," Billy continued.

Brian stood up and looked at Billy "You are an ass, why don't you leave us alone." Brian demanded.

Billy's eyes narrowed at Brian. "What did you call me?" he questioned him.