"Hey, Rick!" The Magician called out as I dashed in the back from the bathroom, just as the lights went up. "Just because you're a major donor doesn't mean you get to be late! Hurry up and sit down- you're blocking people's view!"<br />Hitomi waved to me from center stage, and I realized everyone in the theater had turned to stare.<br />My wife, Jesse, had the wherewithal to look embarrassed for me as I ducked in front of Tom and his girlfriend to get to my front row seat.<br />"Sorry-" I muttered to her.<br />"Shhh, just leave it be," she smiled, and squeezed my knee.<br /><br />"Well, now that everyone's finally here," the Magician continued, "Let's start again. A big hand, ladies and gentlemen, for Hitomi Ito, who was chosen by popular vote to perform the first illusion to be presented in this new theater!"<br /><br />-----<br />Thought I may as well post a teaser for the new series. Couldn't resist the obvious pun in the title, either... <img src="https://e.deviantart.net/emoticons/w/winkrazz.gif" width="15" height="15" alt=";P" data-embed-type="emoticon" data-embed-id="454" title="Wink/Razz"/> Don't worry, as implied from the story, you'll get a front row view for the action; I also used the teaser as an opportunity to show off the whole of the set.