The star of the show did another amazing magic trick.
Charles watched captivated in the audience. He clapped loudly in conjunction with everyone else in the theater.
Milo the Magnificent had come into town and was performing his magic show for three nights that week.
Charles had purchased a ticket for the opening night and, now on Thursday night, he was a member of that sold out audience.
The young man went to the show alone, despite graduating from university and moving into the area a few years ago he still hadn't found a significant other yet.
Up on stage, Milo the Magnificent made a big show of throwing his cane and hat to a very busty redhead assistant and then approached the stage front.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen before we move onto our next segment I'll need some volunteers."
Lots of arms instantly shot to the sky whilst others like Charles, attempting to disappear, slumped in their seats to hide. Magic indeed.
He watched as Milo the Magnificent gazed around the various faces.
Milo stopped and raised his finger.
"You three!"
Three women stood from the second row and began their way to the aisle. Very clearly they were there together as they all looked with glee at each other.
Charles focused on the women edging past people in their seats.
All three were actually his next door neighbours.
Michelle, Alina and Rachel.
Charles lived in a small cul-de-sac in the suburbs. He liked it because it was quiet and should have been peaceful. He moved in two years ago and there were nine houses on the street. Each of the houses had two bedrooms, not the biggest houses by any account but just perfect for Charles.
It really should have been perfect for his needs but unfortunately he couldn't control who his neighbours were.
Directly next to him lived Rachel.
Similar in age but she was perhaps a year or two older. She was already living there when he moved in. Rachel was a teacher in the local school and was friendly enough, always saying hi.
Her bedroom and his bedroom faced each other, which wasn't an issue since they both mostly kept their curtains closed. However, every weekend she had a man friend around at her house.
He would hear them partying together in her back garden in the early hours.
She was a voluptuous lady and never had any problems attracting the opposite sex.
Every weekend she seemed to invite a different man and never the same from what Charles observed.
Charles didn't especially care but it annoyed him when it interrupted his downtime and his attempts at sleep late at night.
Michelle lived on the other side of Charles.
He and her had both started in the same work programme two years back and to their complete surprise ended up moving into houses right beside each other.
They were friendly at the start and often carpooled together. Charles was happy to have a friend at work and in the neighbourhood.
It did his street credit no harm at work that she was also a stunning blonde. Angelic face, toned body, long legs and the right amount of curves.
Given their growing friendship Charles had been working up the courage to ask her out on a date. Each week he swore that he'd do it but then chicken out, making excuses for himself.
He watched some of his colleagues try and each time a stab of jealousy hit him in the gut. Michelle always politely turned them down of course and would seek out the safety of Charles' presence soon after.
Rumours soon spread that they were secretly sleeping together. Some of the more juvenile coworkers often begged him for juicy details.
Having to deny the rumours hurt especially given how desperate he wished that they could be true.
In the meantime he was happy with her friendship.
That is until she got promoted.
The first from their work programme to step up the corporate ladder.
After that a distance grew between them.
Michelle started departing for and leaving work at different times and not telling Charles. Making lame excuses when he brought it up.
She soon reduced making any attempt at lunch with him or at other social impromptu gatherings, she preferring to now socialise with her new peers.
Eventually, she stopped all effort with him.
The cold shoulder disappointed Charles to no end.
Things got worse when Alina moved in a few doors down from him. A small petite woman who worked as a nurse.
She had moved into the neighbourhood only in the last year and had formed Michelle and Rachel into a tight trio.
Unfortunately for Charles, Alina had a sharp tongue and would let loose whenever she caught sight of him. Charles could never quite understand it.
Her remarks were always stupid and incredibly childish but still they hurt Charles.
Whilst he was popular growing up this was the first time he had been singled out and bullied. He didn't like seeing anyone else being picked on and would often step in when he saw it happening at school.
Now, he was on the receiving end.
First losing Michelle and now with Alina on his case his confidence took a knock and he had taken to staying inside of his house more and more.
Alina always called him Charlie for some reason.
He never quite understood it since he repeatedly corrected her with his proper name Charles but she persisted much to his annoyance.
Since moving into the area he'd made a few friends from work but no one from outside of that circle.
He'd often go for a drink after work with them and then simply go home. Michelle had joined them at the start but stopped with her promotion.
Over a normal weekend it would be rare now that he would meet anyone and very regularly not speak to anyone until work the next Monday.
Going to the show had been an attempt to break his isolation and get away from the trio. Yet here they were making their way to the stage, giggling amongst themselves.
Milo the Magnificent floated around the stage, turned to his selected volunteers and smiled.
"Now ladies, how would you like to be hypnotised?"
There was some shuffling of feet and some uncertain looks to one another.
Charles leaned forward with interest. He was unused to seeing his neighbours so uncomfortable.
Turning back to the audience Milo the Magnificent donned his top hat and spun his cane.
When had he gotten them back in his hands?
Did the big breasted redhead assistant not have them?
Wait! Where was the big breasted redhead assistant?
Damn he was good.
"As hypnotising is very complicated we're going to take our intermission now. When you come back I promise my volunteers here will be barking like a duck and quacking like a dog. Or is that the other way around?"
With a smile and a bow, the curtains slowly closed over to the chuckles and applause from the crowd.
Rachel, Michelle and Alina disappeared from view.
***
The audience laughed heartily.
Charles couldn't believe his eyes.
Michelle was on her hands and knees barking like a dog. She chased her tail for a while and then became very aggressive when Milo the Magnificent produced a tennis ball.
Alina was asking everyone who had farted. Every few seconds she would smell the air and the look of revolt formed on her face.
Rachel was running around with her arms raised. She made engine noises and she banked side to side.
Milo the Magnificent had done an amazing job.
