Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

8

Two days later, Gabriel was waiting outside the theatre for his 'date'.

The day was chilly, and he shivered. He had arrived early, not wanting to keep the widow he was meeting waiting.

As the time approached for the curtain to go up, more and more taxis pulled up outside the theatre; Gabe had thought the show would be almost empty, as the play was scheduled to start at half-past one. He had assumed most people would be at work, and most of the audience would be retirees wanting to leave the house for a while, but a large number of those entering the theatre were young people in their twenties or thirties.

Finally, he saw an elderly woman getting out of a taxi, and went across to her.

"Mrs Bateman?" He asked tentatively.

She turned from paying the taxi driver, and smiled at him.

"Gabriel?"

He nodded.

"Please, call me Dinah."

They entered the theatre, and he waited to one side whilst she collected their tickets from the pre-ordered ticket booth.

"So, do you know this play?" Mrs Bateman asked after they were shown to their seats. She had bought tickets in one of the booths in the dress circle. They were to the left of the stage, looking down on the majority of the audience.

"I read the play when I was still in school," Gabe said. "But when we were given the chance to come to the theatre to watch it, my mother couldn't afford the cost of the ticket."

"It's my favourite Shakespeare play," Mrs Bateman said. "Although, I do like Othello, as well."

Gabriel found their conversation flowed easily while they waited for the curtain to go up.

Once the play began, he found himself much more engrossed in the acting that he would have thought; he had entirely expected to be bored during the performance.

When the play ended, and they had left the theatre, Mrs Bateman turned to him with a smile.

"I hope you enjoyed the performance?"

"I did, yes. I was surprised how much of the story I remembered, as well. It's been several years since I read it."

She smiled.

"I understand from Angela that this was your... trial date. That you're not yet working for her company?"

"That's right..." Gabriel hesitated. "I have to see if working for her will work for me, financially. I have a family to support, so-"

"You have children?"

"No," Gabriel said quickly. "They're my brothers and sisters. My mother died a few years ago, and I've been taking care of them."

"So, what work do you do at the moment?" Mrs Bateman asked.

Gabriel flushed, and scuffed his foot against the pavement.

"I'm... I work as..."

"You needn't tell me, if it makes you uncomfortable," she said kindly, seeing his discomfort.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

"Well, I'll ask Angela to notify me if you join the company. I'm sure I'll be asking for you again."

"Really?"

She smiled.

"Yes, really. I had a nice time, Gabriel. You're very easy to talk to."

He felt himself blush, and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well, I should be going now," Mrs Bateman said. "It was very nice meeting you, Gabriel. I hope to see you again soon."