ATTIC MASKING

 

A MASKING EXPERIENCE STORY

 

 

By Rita Chante

 

 

 

Author’s Note: The magic of Halloween can often be more of a state of mind than just an annual one-night festival.  In the copyrighted short story, the Halloween/Dia de los Muertos mood is brought on by the loss of a significant ancestor in the life of the main character and weaves it ethereal and spiritual magic through this narrative.

 

 

Nicacio Alcazar had worked hard and consistently for most of his life.  He was proud of the fact that people called him a workaholic.  He was rarely sick and never used the vacation time allowed by his job.  Even though he was now over thirty and had established a career in industrial design and environmental protection, he had never married or thought about starting a family.  He lived a very Spartan life that was focused upon achievement at his work site. 

 

Nicacio’s only hobby was writing historical novels and screenplays taken from the settings and characters in his novels.  He wrote mostly for himself.  The accuracy of his plots and historical description were important to him.  Nicacio not only enjoyed doing the historical research; he also loved designing the plots as well as making the characters evolve and come together.  The bedroom closet in his apartment had several file boxes full of his original manuscripts, but he had never really published any of his novels or submitted any of his screenplays.

 

The only girl that he had ever gone out with Nicacio more than two or three times was Mona Kline.  He had met her while attending college.  She was checking books out of the library at the time, and he was the clerk serving her.  He only talked to her, because he originally mistook her for a girl with whom he had a really negative experience. 

 

Mona had grown up in Beverly Hills and gone to work for her dad's advertising firm right after graduation.  Mona was good at what she was doing and was now an executive vice-president in her father’s firm.  Yet, for all of her affluence, Mona seemed to really enjoy being around Nicacio and over their nine-year relationship, the couple had become kind of a fixture at her family’s gatherings.  The sex they had was satisfactory, but they had never moved the relationship to where either of them had suggested moving in together. 

 

Mona was aware of Nicacio’s closet full of original manuscripts and screenplays.  She had read several of each category and thought that Nicacio had an incredible talent for writing detailed and intense narratives.   However, she had not been able to get him to submit most of his work to publishers and the few works he did submit were considered to be “too ethnic” to be marketable.

 

Unlike Mona who had been born with the proverbial "golden spoon in her mouth" Nicacio had been born into a family that had followed the annual farm work migrant trail in California's great Central Valley.  Death had never masked itself from his family and his mother and three of his siblings had passed by the time Nicacio was nine years old.  His father never remarried or totally recovered from this loss.  There had been little time for formal schooling, but somehow his father would park him with one of his more stationery relatives so that Nicacio could go to school periodically.  On most occasions that relative was his Great Maiden Aunt, Velia Alcazar.

 

Velia Alcazar was the educated old maid of the family.  She had never been married and had no children of her own.  However, she treated Nicacio as if he was her very own child.  Nicacio had to be careful what desires he expressed around Velia, because if it was possible and she had the time, Velia would try to meet his every need.  Among many different careers including many bit parts as a Hollywood character actress, Velia made part of her living as a freelance reporter, photographer and writer for several of the local newspapers, magazines and radio stations.  When Nicacio’s father died two days before Nicacio’s sixteenth birthday, Velia Alcazar adopted her orphaned nephew. 

 

Being with Velia was always an educational experience in and of itself for Nicacio.  Velia was a natural teacher and fed Nicacio's young mind and imagination with the wonder of life.  Whenever she had an opportunity to take her nephew onto a movie set, she did.  Nicacio just ate up every educational opportunity presented to him by his maiden Great Aunt and wound-up as a scholarship student with a major in engineering at UCLA.  He just churned and boiled through all of his classes and graduated magna con laude.  Upon graduation he was snapped up by Intel and seemed to be on his way to being another chapter in the "Rags to Riches American Dream".

 

The "dream" continued along normally until Nicacio Alcazar inherited an old, run-down barrio house upon the death of Velia Alcazar.  The house had been in the family for one hundred and sixty years and was built when the area in which it was located was still Mexico. It was older by fifty years than most of the elderly, dilapidated and blighted neighborhood around it. 

 

Nicacio's long term fiancée, Mona Kline didn't think much of the place and told Nicacio that they should clear out all of the old dame's stuff and prepare the house for sale, if it didn't fall down first.  In truth, Mona didn't care much at all for "her Nicky's" barrio roots and felt that the sooner he could forget them, the sooner they could be happy and together in her family’s fast paced and modern world of glitz and glamour.

 

During the times that Nicacio had stayed with Velia in his formative years, Nicacio had learned that his Great Aunt was a bit of a pack rat and never through anything away.  Instead she would label it, categorize it and file it away as possible data or background for some future news story or magazine article.   Nicacio was sure that Velia had continued this process right up to her dying days.  If he knew his Great Aunt as he thought he did, the old house, with it's full basement and large attic was probably a treasure throve of his family's heritage, not to mention a living history of the community surrounding it. 

 

With this thought foremost in his mind, he went over to the house to take a look at his Great Aunt’s affects.  The house flooded his senses with memories of his childhood as he stepped from the hot, lifeless, sun-dried front porch into the cool, musty vestibule.  Except for the dust and cobwebs, everything was in exactly the same place it had been twenty years earlier.  The place was like a Halloween time warp; Nicacio Alcazar was ten years old again and arriving at his Great Aunts house in the post harvest days of October after a long, hard summer’s work in the California’s fertile fields.

 

Nicacio immediately went to his Great Aunt's bedroom closet to look for an old robe or coat to protect his clothes from the accumulation of undisturbed dust.  It put him in the mood of searching for a Halloween costume even though it was still several months prior to that festive time.  Velia had always made Halloween and the Dias de los Muertos fun times full of family memories and cultural reinforcement.  He found several garments that would fit his needs.  Velia had been a tall, amply endowed woman and almost any of her long calico dresses could do the job.

 

It felt good to put on the old frock.  He could smell the soft warm scent of his Great Aunt and feel her memory loving him.  As Nicacio parted the long dresses and coats in the closet to see what was located behind them he found several five-drawer, rose oak file cabinets that contained many of the family's documents as well as all of his old school projects and papers.  They were filed in chronological order and listed by subject matter.  These file cabinets also contained an index and history of all of the items in the house.  The bottom drawer of the cabinet in the corner of the closet contained all of the logs and diaries that his aunt continually and ritualistically wrote.

 

Because of his long and arduous work schedule, it took Nicacio two weeks to read through the diaries.  However, this first read just wetted his appetite to know more as well as spark the plots for several stories of his own.  Thus, Nicacio started carrying one or two of the diaries wherever he went.  He could not stop studying them.  They were an open door to a Halloween time warp that was as real to him as his conscious waking hours. 

 

He was especially curious how Velia had followed his life and filled in with her fantasies those parts that she didn't have knowledge of.  Nicacio often preferred his Aunt's version of his life to the one he had lived.  Her version made him realize that his relationship with Mona lacked the passion and romance that his Aunt had dreamed for him and that Holidays like Easter, Christmas and Halloween had become sterilized by Twenty-first Century Urban European Commercialism. 

 

Velia Alcazar’s writing and material was so rich that by the time he finished all of the materials in the box, Nicacio had listed twenty-two plots for possible screenplays/historical novels that could be developed from the characters and ideas in the logs and diaries.  In addition, the diaries and logs constantly referred to Velia’s file index for the artifact or document that supported a given entry or idea.  Thus, with the aid of his Great Aunt's index, Nicacio decided to do a thorough inventory of the old house before he agreed to his fiancee's wishes of tearing it down or gutting it for a short sale.

 

Nicacio found a role of butcher paper and some drafting tools.  Nicacio laid out and taped several large sheets of the butcher paper to the huge dining room table after he had cleared the dust off of it. He placed a one-inch square grid upon the paper with the intention of creating a plot plan of the house on a 1 to 12 scale.  He intended to create a key on this plan to record the location of his findings as if he was doing an archeological dig.  Nicacio created a grid for the basement, main floor and attic. 

 

Then he moved through the house like it was an archeological site and logged in each of the items at each level of the house.  As he did this, he dusted and cleaned each item and checked it against Velia's index.  In some cases he also had to log in the contents of an artifact.  This was especially true for the multiple chests of drawers and freestanding cabinets that Nicacio found in the basement and main floor hallways.  To his surprise, many of his findings were still in their original box, bag, or container.  His Great Aunt was a true collector.  The only problem was that her collections were spread randomly though out the house.

 

Nicacio started in the basement and worked his way up to the attic.  By the time he entered the attic the process had already consumed three months of afternoons, evenings and weekends.  He was beginning to feel like an archivist/curator in a small community museum.  Among other things, Nicacio had cleaned and restored an entire household of antique rose oak furniture, silver, china.  He also located and cleaned a variety of fixtures such as complete sets of leaded, crystal, and cut matching glass wear from shot glasses to goblets and brandy snifters; crystal and brass door knobs, small electrical appliances and hand tools. 

 

Velia Alcazar even had a huge collection of old telephones and traffic signal lights.  All of these items were in showroom fresh condition once he peeled the decades of dust off of them. Velia had enough historical photographs; camera equipment and household artifacts to start a museum as well as to completely furnish a large Victorian mansion.  Nicacio decided to rent a large, secured and fire proof storage facility to store and protect the best pieces and historical documents. 

 

Next, he contacted several antique dealers and got estimates on the value of the pieces he didn't care for.  Several of the dealers offered to set up a gallery auction of what was left in the basement and main floor of the house.  Nicacio decided that there was more money in selling off the items piece meal.  He had no idea that the “old trash”, as Mona had labeled it, in his Great Aunt’s house could have been so incredibly valuable.

 

Because of the collection’s size and number of artifacts, Nicacio decided to take a couple of weeks off from work to tackle the attic.  It took a month to get his work, or what he had come to regard as his “day job”, to the point where he could get away for that length of time.  The house project was definitely biting into his social life as well as his time with Mona Kline, but she didn't seem to mind when he informed her of the wealth he had found there.  He even showed Mona one of the checks that an antique dealer had given him for the telephones that he sold. 

 

Nicacio had offered the opportunity for Mona to work with him on the project.  He even suggested to her that she might find some things for the Halloween party she had said that she was going to have at her house.  Mona had decided that the theme for the Halloween party was going to be the “Golden Age of Hollywood” with everyone coming as his or her favorite classic movie star.  He offered some of the clothes that his Great Aunt had stored in the basement. 

 

All Mona had to do was come and get them, but she had told "her Nicky" that she was afraid to go into the barrio where the house was located.  He had replied that she was safe as long as she was with him, but she said that the sooner they left the barrio behind them, the better she would like it.  Of course, the project was having the exact opposite effect on Nicacio.  The more he was steeped in the physical heritage of his community, the more comfortable he felt being in it.

 

While the attic seemed to have the longest list of items in his Aunt's index, there did not appear to any more heavy furniture other than a a collection of large and sealed wooden boxes, a large cedar/hope chest and a huge black leather large steamer trunk with heavy brass fittings. Velia had told Nicacio that if he had been a girl, that she would have given him the big cedar chest to start a traditional "hope chest".   However, since he wasn't a girl and there wasn't a girl in the family deserving of the chest, Velia promised it to Nicacio's unborn daughter. 

 

To further motivate himself to work on the attic as well as finance the project, Nicacio sold several of the antique oak cabinets and chests of drawers from the basement collection.  Since Mona had passed on the contents, he donated many of these items to a local museum after he held back several of the oldest pieces and quality pieces with family significance.  Other items that he put in the storage locker were retained because they pleased his sense of history.  The satisfaction and money gained from both the donation and the sale, more than motivated him to continue with his project after a four-week hiatus.  However, in addition to getting ahead at his day job, he used the four weeks to start work on several of his stories instead of getting back on track with Mona Kline.

 

To get to the collection of sealed wooden boxes as well as the cedar/hope chest and steamer trunk, Nicacio had to clear a path and take file box load after file box load of old photos and documents out of the attic.  The photos in themselves were both a diary of Velia's life interests and a chronology of the Barrio's life styles and events.   Each picture had a story attached to it and the depth of Velia's probing analysis was extraordinary.  Some her picture files contained groups of related photos taken of the same person, site, or object over a period time.  In the truest sense they were photographic essays.  

 

With the right matting and presentation Nicacio figured that he could organize several shows for the historical galleries in UCLA’s libraries.  He imagined that several collectors and libraries would also be interested in buying the photos.  He would have to investigate making prints form the extensive number of negatives attached to each file.  The photographic essay of famous make-up artists and their creations really got Nicacio’s attention.  He could make a textbook on masking from the written materials and photographs in this file.

 

When he finally arrived at the hope chest and steamer trunk a week later, he found them both locked.  Nicacio remembered seeing large rings of keys in the bedroom night stand and went to get them.  When he returned to the attic with the keys, he spent about fifteen minutes finding the one that would open the large dusty old cedar chest.   He then repeated the process for the trunk, which he eventually unlocked.  

 

Nicacio opened the cedar chest first to see what kind of condition it was in.  He had not expected to find anything in it.  As he lifted the great cedar lid, he was greeted with the wonderful aromatic fragrance of the cedar resin.  At first glance the chest appeared to be stuffed to the top with down comforters and crotchet blankets as well as old fashion bedding.  The removal of these items revealed that the bottom half of the chest was filled with a complete wedding trousseau.  Even the high-top shoes were there.  This had to have been his Great Aunt's unrequited dream. 

 

The lace was handmade with an exquisite Quetzalcoalt pattern.  The bridal gown was designed in the Victorian high neck, long sleeve and fitted waist style.  The main fabric of the dress was a cream colored heavy satin interwoven with yards and yards of lace trim of the same color.  Nicacio thought how beautiful his Mona would look in the garments so carefully and lovingly laid into the bottom of the chest.  At this point in the process, Nicacio toyed with the idea of having Mona try on the whole outfit later that evening, but decided to wait until he could get the chest back to his own apartment.

 

Lifting the heavy wooden/leather lid on the trunk felt like he was opening a living history book.  Unfortunately, it also felt like the cover of the book was made of stone.  How had his Aunt managed to open and close this trunk?  Why was the lid so heavy?  After studying the problem for a few minutes, Nicacio realized that the trunk was one its side and that what he had thought was the lid was one of the sides. 

 

After righting the truck to its vertical position for opening Nicacio began the process of prying the sides apart.  Even if the trunk were empty, the air inside would be air that his ancestors had breathed.   The light in the attic revealed that the incredible weight of the side that he had assumed was the trunk’s lid could be attributed to the fact that it had a matching set of black leather suitcases strapped into it.  The cases were locked as well.  Since the key that opened the trunk didn't open either of the suitcases, Nicacio decided to set aside the cases for the moment and examine the other contents of the huge steamer trunk.

 

Like the rest of the house, the steamer trunk was organized into labeled compartments.  Inside the main body of the mysterious trunk was a whole wardrobe of antique female clothing in perfect condition.  There were layers of dresses, bustles and corsets.  Most of the items were brand new.  Many still had their labels and price tags attached.  Nicacio realized that most of the clothing should fit him and decided to try on and model some of the clothing even though most of it was meant to be worn by a female. 

 

However, before Nicacio could do this, he needed to air out the clothes and set up a couple of mirrors.  As he started to hang up the clothes so that he could see what all was in the large leather covered trunk, Nicacio found a smaller trunk at the bottom of the chest.  It was a miniature of the large outer trunk.   Fortunately the key that opened the steamer trunk also opened the small one.  The weight of this small trunk belied its size and it took no small modicum of effort to lift it out of the steamer trunk.

 

The drawer in the bottom of the small trunk was stuffed full of mint condition twenty-dollar gold pieces.  This accounted for much of the great weight of the small trunk.  Nicacio had no idea of the worth of the coins and decided to take a couple of the gold pieces for appraisal at a coin shop and re-locked the bottom drawer of the small trunk.  His friend John Wiener had an exclusive coin shop near his place of employment.  Remembering some of the advice that John had given him about coins and their worth, Nicacio wrapped each coin separately before putting them in his pocket.

 

The opening of the lid of the small trunk revealed what appeared to be a bust of a man and a woman.  From his study of his Great Aunt's photos, Nicacio recognized the woman's head to be a perfect replica of Velia as she looked in her early twenties.  The head of the man had to be that of Velia's heartthrob, Eric Carballo.  From the photos, he also appeared to be in his twenties.  From Velia's letters and diaries, Nicacio knew that Velia had dreamed that they would be married one day, but that he was also a photo journalist and that his assignments and hers often kept them apart for months and years at a time.  Eric had promised to marry Velia upon his return from Europe after the Second World War, but a Nazi sniper put an end to that dream.

 

While trying to get the bust of his Great Aunt Velia out of the trunk, Nicacio realized that it wasn't a bust at all, but a full head, latex mask and wig.  He sat the head and wig, as supported by the canvas wig stand upon his shoulder and looked into the mirror.  The reflection in the mirror was his face and that of what appeared to be his female twin.  He was the male version of his Great Aunt.  Was that why she always told him that he was her favorite? 

 

The flash of thought that passed through Nicacio's mind had him wonder if he could get Mona to wear Velia's mask and bridal gown while he was wearing Eric's mask with his tuxedo.  If he could, he would have them take pictures of his Aunt and her beloved to complete her empty wedding album.

 

Maybe it was the musty, ancient air of the attic, being surrounded for the past weeks by his Great Aunt Velia's personal possessions, the beginning of the Halloween season, or all of the above, but Nicacio once again got an overwhelming desire to become his Great Aunt Velia and the bride that she had wanted to be.   As he thought about how to lay out the garments for the transformation, he developed an elaborate scenario about planning a surprise for Mona wherein he seduced her with a Victorian style dinner.   The attic was the fitting environment for whatever else ensued. 

 

To have Mona try the garments on in his place or hers would be creating a fish out of water.  However, he also reasoned that be before he could lay out the garments, he should attempt doing the transformation himself.  His work as a design engineer had taught him that the only way to find all the glitches in a program was to run a “beta” unit in as many different types of environments as possible.  If he didn’t have all the details covered, there was no way he could ever get Mona to do it for him.   In addition, he had to wipe down all of the surfaces of the attic adjacent to his proposed project to protect the antique clothing from the fine and polluted urban soil that had filtered into the attic over the decades.

 

Nicacio rubbed the old hand hewn slats and beams until their natural patina shown brightly in the flood lamps he had hooked up.  This process revealed why the attic and the roof were in such good shape and the house was still standing when all of its contemporaries had turned to rot ages ago.  The external timbers of the house were California Redwood and Western Red Cedar. 

 

Both woods were almost impervious to the termites that frequented the desert heat of the city.  The timbers and planking also had the flexibility to with stand the numerous earthquakes that frequented the area.  The flooring and interior timbers were made of the same heavy rose oak planking that the house's furniture had been hewn from.  With a little elbow grease, the house could be restored to its former grandeur.  Nicacio began to consider the effort of moving the house to a better site in an upscale neighborhood or a lot in a historical zone. 

 

In the process of cleaning the beams Nicacio found the keys to one of the suitcases that had be strapped to the lid of the great steamer trunk.  His opening of the case revealed a folder containing family papers, documents, photographs and an envelope labeled "Instructions for Nicacio".  Underneath the folder with the family documents was a black silk bag loaded with stockings and every type of lingerie imaginable.  A strange little key that appeared to be without meaning in the context of the silk bag was tied to the sash that closed the bag.  He put the bag on the clean oak table and opened the envelope marked "Instructions for Nicacio".  They read as follows:

 

                Dear Nicacio,

               

              Unless you are dead or in some other way incapacitated, I am going to assume that you

              are the one reading these instructions.  To have gotten to them, I also assume that you

              have figured out how to open both the truck and the chest. You probably already know

              this, but you are in the trunk and chest that contains the remnant of my dreams for

              romance.  You are the most important part of what remains of my dreams.

 

              Knowing that you have a creative streak a mile wide, you can use the masks and clothing

              for cross-dressing.  I remember that you loved to play "dress-up" as a child.  If you are 

              no longer into that, maybe you and your bride to be could use these garments when you

              marry.  If that is not in the cards, past them on to a future generation of our family. I

              would hate to think that they wind up in a dump or on some museum mannequin. I should

              warn you that my spirit is invested in these things and that whatever you do with them, I

              will know.  I am sure however, that you will do the right thing.

 

              Make sure that you read my diaries and logs in my bedroom closet.  If your imagination

              has gone dormant those items should re-ignite it.  I hope you are still writing.  Your stuff

              was always much better than mine. Use whatever you find to make your way in the

              world so that both of us may realize                my dreams for you.

 

                With deep abiding love,

 

                Velia Alcazar

 

In the bottom of the "instruction's envelope" were the keys that opened the other suitcase.  The contents of this case were as astonishing to Nicacio as all of the other items he had opened on his odyssey/quest.  Among the wigs and gloves in the case was a large, heavy and locked jewelry case.  He figured that the key on the sash of the silk bag had to be the one that opened the jewelry case.  The contents of the opened case revealed that his Great Aunt had somehow protected and saved, if not added to, the family's ancient and well-hidden wealth. 

 

This was not some case filled with antique costume jewelry.  The pieces were the real thing.  There were broaches, necklaces, earrings and bracelets done in platinum, silver and gold, set with diamonds, turquoise, rubies and emeralds.  The contents of the case must have been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Some of the drawers in the bottom of the case contained matching sets.

 

The first thing that crossed Nicacio’s mind was that he could not tell anyone, including Mona about the jewels.  There hadn't been any estate tax on the house that was transferred to him, because its only apparent value to the tax assessor was that of the land under it.  If anyone got wind of all the valuables in the house, it would be ransacked within hours.  He needed to get a safe deposit box large enough to store the jewel case.  He decided that he better do that before the banks closed and delay any further projects in the attic until the next opportunity came up. 

 

After making a list of the contents of the box, Nicacio placed the jewel case with its incredible contents in a nondescript file box, carried it out the front door, locked the house, and carried the box to his truck.  He felt the eyes of the barrio watch his every move for the first time since he had started the inventory.  They had probably been watching before, but he had not noticed them.  Is this why his Great Aunt had never displayed her wealth?

 

Nicacio made it to the branch where he did his banking just before it closed.  Normally they would have told him to return to make his deposit on the following day, but when Nicacio revealed the nature of his deposit, the teller in the safe deposit cage got permission to stay late and help him fill out the forms for a large safety deposit box.  He asked the teller to make him two copies of his complete inventory list.  She did so after he told her how important that they were. 

 

He entered the vault and placed the contents of the file box, jewel case and all, in the safety deposit box.  At

the last minute Nicacio impulsively removed a golden, ruby set necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings from their drawer in the bottom of the jewelry box.  Nicacio used the desk in the vault area to sign and date each page of the inventory lists so that they would all have the value of being original.  He also placed one of the copies of the inventory list along side of the jewelry case in the steel box and noted that he had removed the contents from the second to bottom drawer in the case.

 

The teller remarked upon the weight of the steel-gray box as she slid it into the slot in the wall and used his key and hers to lock the slot door closed.  Before he left the bank, Nicacio requested a big envelope and mailed it to his attorney with instructions that the envelope should only be opened upon his death.  The safety deposit teller informed him that with the exception of the janitors, they were the last to leave the bank and that she would appreciate it if he would walk her out to her car.  Since she had gone the extra mile for him, Nicacio felt that this was the least he could do for her. 

 

Thus, after placing the envelope in the bank's mail slot, Nicacio walked the teller out to her automobile.  In her nervousness, the teller kept up with a constant babble about this and that.  Nicacio was so wrapped up in his own discoveries, that he only heard her words as background noise until they came to a bright fluorescent lamp that lit the area near her car.  The image of the woman that passed under that lamp could have passed for the granddaughter of his Great Aunt Velia if she had one.  Nicacio stopped and stared at the teller.  He didn't even know her name.

 

"Is there something wrong, Mr. Alcazar?" asked the teller while bringing Nicacio back into real time.  "You look like you have just seen a ghost."

 

"I know this is going to sound like a line, Miss...." The teller reached for her nametag and flashed it in Nicacio's direction.  It said that her name was Vera Martinez.  "Thank you, Miss Martinez.  I guess I should have noticed your name before.  Anyway, as I was saying, I know that this is going to sound like a line, but you remind me of a relative that died recently.  She meant a lot to me and I guess you made me see her ghost."

 

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, Mr. Alcazar," said Vera Martinez as she fumbled in her purse for her car keys.

 

"It wasn't meant to be either, Miss Martinez.  You asked me an honest question and I tried to give you an honest answer," stated Nicacio.

 

"Then I will take it that way.  Well, we are at my car.  Could you wait until my engine starts?  It is a little skittish and sometimes needs a jump.  Do you have battery cables?" inquired Vera.

 

"What good self-respecting Chicano wouldn't have battery cables?  I think I was a teenager before I realized that not all cars had to be jump started," said Nicacio with a laugh.  "In fact, my truck has dual batteries so I can jump start myself when needed."

 

Vera responded with a sweet chuckle of her own and commented, "Sounds good to me."

 

"Look, do you believe in spontaneous connections?" asked Nicacio.

 

"Why do you asked that?" inquired Vera as she prepared to unlock her car.

 

"I just got this weird impulse.  I know that it is after five on a Saturday and that a beautiful, leather-clad woman like yourself probably is booked for the next three months of Saturdays if you don't already have a main squeeze in your life.  But, I just have to ask you if you want to join me on a quest for the evening."

 

"You are right, that came out pretty weird," said Vera as she quickly unlocked and opened her car door.  Then she hesitated before attempting to get into her automobile.  "What is this quest all about?"

 

"Stay here for a minute, please.  My vehicle is that truck two spaces over.  There is something in it that I want you to see.  Please trust me.  I know all this must sound really weird, but in this case a picture is worth thousands of words," nervously said Nicacio.  As Vera closed her car door, Nicacio went to the cab of his truck and pulled out one of his Aunt's diaries about her wartime romance along with a couple of studio portraits of his Great Aunt.  He returned to where Vera was standing and showed her the eight by ten glossy prints as well as a highlighted passage in the diary that read:

 

                When the spark of love knocks at your door, take it in before the wind of hesitation

               blows it to another.  These sparks are rare and some of us only see them once in our

               life.  If you ever read this, Nicacio, learn from this lesson that cost me so much.

 

With tears running down her cheek, Vera looked up at Nicacio.  "That is just beautiful and I look so much like the woman in these photographs.  Am I to take it that you think I am that spark for you?"

 

"I don't know, but I would hate to think that I missed it if you are.  I just have this feeling like I have known you forever and that what you are holding was meant to bring us together."

 

"I don't know what to say.  What did you have in mind?" inquired Vera.

 

"I would like to take you to the house that my Aunt left me.  There is so much more there that I can show you that will speed us along on this quest."

 

"I was expected somewhere else tonight, Mr. Alcazar," said Vera Martinez.

 

"I figured that.  To be honest, so was I.  It is Mona's thirtieth birthday and her family is having a big deal for her," declared Nicacio.

 

"Who is Mona?" questioned Vera.

 

"She has been the main squeeze in my life for the past eight or nine years.  Our families think we have one of the longest engagements on the planet, but I feel closer to you right now than I have ever felt with her," proclaimed Nicacio Alcazar.

 

"Pete and I have been dating for five years.  My family likes him well enough.  Recently he has felt the need to see other people.  I didn't mind, because I am sure that I wasn't meeting his needs.  I just never felt that committed to him, or anyone else for that matter.  Do you get the feeling that we are soul-mates that might pass each other like ships in the night if we don't take this chance?" asked Vera Martinez.

 

"That was well put, Miss Martinez.  I couldn't have said it better myself," stated Nicacio.

 

"And going to your Aunt's house is how we can test out this feeling?" probed Vera.

 

"Yes, I believe so," declared Nicacio.

 

"Do you think we should call our respective dates and tell them about this?" inquired Vera Martinez.

 

"Does that mean you are considering my proposition?" probed Nicacio.

 

"Of course, Mr. Alcazar, but don't you think that we should be calling each other by our first names?" asked Vera.

 

"My first name is Nicacio, Vera and I think we should just go to my Aunt's house in our respective cars.”

 

"Shouldn't I have the address in case we get separated?" asked Vera.

 

"It is located at 2531 Alcazar Street.  The name of the street isn't a coincidence or anything.  My family used to own most of the land around the house."

 

"Isn't Alcazar along the north side of the Notre Dame Cemetery?" inquired Vera Martinez.

 

"It sound's like you are familiar with the territory," acknowledged Nicacio.

 

"I should be, I only live about ten blocks north of Alcazar with my parents.  I grew up in that neighborhood as well."

 

"How old are you," asked Nicacio.

 

"I am twenty-six.  I just finished my BA in August at UCLA and I am training to be a bank manager for Pacific International Bank."

 

"Well, I am thirty-two and the age difference explains why our paths never crossed at school.  I graduated with my masters from UCLA as well."

 

"I suppose you went to Bret Harte Elementary, Frick Junior High and Central High as well?" questioned Vera Martinez.

 

"That is an affirmative, home girl," shouted Nicacio with a laugh of glee.

 

"Then let's head out to your Aunt's house while the night is young.  Should I pick up some groceries along the way?  I had a small lunch and I haven't had dinner yet," stated Vera Martinez.

 

"I think there is enough at the house to put something together, Vera," replied Nicacio.  He virtually ran to his truck.  He couldn't wait to get to his Great Aunt Velia's house and show Vera all that he had discovered.  He felt like he could trust this woman with his life.  He wanted to tell her things that he had never shared with anyone other than Velia. Once they arrived at the house, he shared the experiences of his youth with her and told her of the influence that Velia had upon his life. 

 

"So, knowing all of this, how would you like to do some masking with me?" asked Nicacio.

 

"Please don't take this in the wrong way, Nicacio.  I have really enjoyed all the things, personal histories and ideas that you have shared with me.  It is like someone has turned on some bright lights in a pitch dark tunnel, but I need to adjust my eyes to the light before I can go on any further," declared Vera Martinez.

 

"I am not sure what you mean.  Was that just one of the best rejections I have ever heard?" probed Nicacio Alcazar.

 

"Not at all, Nicacio.   I guess all I am saying is that I need some time to think about masking with you, with me in the role of your Great Aunt."

 

"Do you want to go out tomorrow?" asked Nicacio.

 

"Let's not rush into this.  Can I read a couple of the diaries so I can get more into the mood that is so very much a part of you?"

 

"Promise to guard them with your life.  My entire career as an author maybe wrapped up in those diaries and logs," declared Nicacio.

 

"That's a promise, Nicacio.  Can I have a week to read them?  That will give you some more time to fix up the house," suggested Vera.  "I can even copy them tomorrow at the bank and return the originals to you at the bank on the following day."

 

"That has the ring of an excellent plan to me, Vera."

 

After Vera had left his Great Aunt's house, Nicacio returned to the mysterious attic with its historical and somewhat magical contents in order to continue his quest and inventory.  Since the mask he had discovered earlier that day made him Velia's twin, he just had to see if he could bring her total image back to life even if it meant becoming Velia temporarily.  Because he pulled on Velia's mask and wig before he putting on any other part of Velia's wedding trousseau, it never even occurred to Nicacio that he was cross-dressing or doing something that others would see as very strange. 

 

Somehow, the simple act of wearing Velia’s youthful mask turned off any possible concern that he might have in regards to what he was doing.  When he stripped all of his clothes off and stood before the mirrors with his body and Velia's head mounted upon it, instead of wondering why he felt this need, he just gave into the desire to do it.  Any worries about gender bending gave way to the shear tactile joy of having the incredibly feminine items touch and transform his masculine frame.  However, he did acknowledge to himself that he doing a lot more than putting on a high class Halloween costume.

 

Nicacio luxuriated in the sensation of drawing the white silk stocking up his legs.  The smooth firm fit gave him goose bumps all over and excited the now massive organ between his legs.  Nicacio had been touching and removing stockings and negligee from woman's bodies for years.  In some ways, this undressing ritual was almost more fun than the sex that came after the foreplay.  Yet, the touch of those garments and the treasures they restrained and contained never fired his emotions like the rippling rustle of the lingerie that the mask of Velia was making Nicacio put onto his body.  Instead of wondering at these realities, he reveled in them.

 

Another thing that told Nicacio that something special was happening was that he didn't even have to think in what order to put on anything or what he had to go through to put on a garment.  For example, after he put on the stockings and attached them to the garters on the bottom of the corset, he could not wait to get the thigh high lace up boots onto his silk clad legs.  And then there was the corset itself.  Corsets fascinate most men, but every few have any idea how to lace one up, let alone lace themselves into one. 

 

The knowledge on how to do this came from some magic place behind Velia's gorgeous mask.  It was as if he had been doing this for years.  Nothing seemed foreign.  Even most women would find putting on a bridal gown and all of its accessories an unusual experience, but that didn't happen for Nicacio.  Everything seemed as normal as putting on a jogging suit in preparation for his daily exercises.  Had Velia stood where he was and gone through the ritual that he was now completing?  If she had, how many times did she prepare for a wedding that was never to be?

 

The wearing of the heavy gold, ruby loaded choker with its matching bracelet and earrings seemed to bring the cream satin dress with its matching veil and gloves to life.  They completely changed the mood of the dress from one of forlorn hope to one of radiant anticipation.  There was a wistful magic to the iridescence of the rubies.  Their brilliant red glow in the floodlights of the attic made the dress become a cotillion ball gown for a princess that was about to go out to meet prince charming. 

 

All of Nicacio’s senses told him that he was no longer in the attic.  Velia's ghost had returned to walk and dress among her most valued possessions and dreams.  The entire effect was absolutely stunning.  By comparing the outfit he had on with studio portrait photos that Velia had taken of many brides to be, Nicacio was sure that he had the complete multiple layered costume on exactly in the manner that Velia had designed it.

 

As the bride to be, Nicacio went to the attic cabinet where Velia had stored all of her studio type camera equipment.  She had a variety of backdrop screens in different colors as well as screens depicting pastures and mountains.   The backdrop that Nicacio decided to put up first created an altar of a church.  He placed mirrors on both sides and directly behind the camera so that he could see at all times what picture the camera was taking.  He added reflectors and umbrellas to get the lighting in the mood for a bridal shot.

 

Doing all of this reminded Nicacio of countless hours of photographic sessions that his Aunt had done to create beautiful bridal shots out of ordinary looking, bronze skinned, and barrio brides.  She never seemed to tire of taking pictures of brides.  Velia had always stated that a woman should a least look like a gorgeous queen on the day of her marriage.  He set the camera on an automatic focus, thirty-second clock and shot three rolls of Velia's masked bride.  

 

Then Nicacio changed the backdrop to a pastoral scene with a church in the distant background and shot two more rolls of film.  However, when Nicacio went to remove the mask he found that he couldn't get it off while he was in the attic.  He wondered if Mona and/or Vera would be affected in the same way.  He sincerely hoped that eventually he could get one of them to participate in a Victorian fantasy dinner and be Velia for him during an evening of masked magic and discovery.

 

Nicacio lost all track of time.  He had no idea how long the set-up, cross-dressing, and photo shoots had taken.  He had even forgotten to eat.  At the end of the second shoot, he turned off all of the lights and fell asleep in the attic while still fully dressed and masked.  For the rest of the night he dreamt of his Great Aunt's fantasy wedding. 

 

Nicacio would have called into work "sick" the following day, but fortunately, it was Sunday.  He was still masked as his Aunt and had changed into one of her housecoats.   He spent all day and the next evening in his aunt’s photo lab developing and enlarging the five rolls of film.  He couldn't believe the depth of realism and the quality of each of the shots when the images began to emerge on the photographic paper.  The black and white portrait roll at the altar had all the subtle nuances that Velia would have desired in this type of shot.  The light created deep contrasts and points of warm glow.  The four rolls of color shots were vibrant, yet not over powering.

 

If Nicacio wanted to change careers he definitely had a fall back position as a photographer.  It was odd that he never had considered this before.  His Great Aunt had certainly trained him well in both the technique and art of photography.   According to her he had the inner eye that could draw out what the picture had to say.  She had called it, "the art with the frozen eye".   "Mijo," she would say, "The camera will freeze what you see and only the eyes of the beholder will make that frozen image come back to life.  The more interesting the image, the more life it will have."

 

Nicacio particularly enjoyed the pastoral portraits he had created.   They were interesting, pleasing to the eye and full of energy.  The image of "Velia" was fluid and beautiful.   It was like Velia was running for pure joy after her wedding from the church in the scene.   He developed a poster size shot of "Velia" for the large gold etched frame that she had hung over the living room fireplace mantle.  The current picture of a Venetian still life paled in beauty to "Velia's" new portrait.  Once mounted, the image of Velia lit up the old musty room.  At last her light shown in the place it was created for.

 

 It wasn't until the growth of his beard started to itch that he remembered that his face was still masked as "Velia".  Except for the itch he felt so comfortable as "Velia" that Nicacio could have stayed that way all day if he didn't have other parts of his life that needed attention.  With some reluctance, he left the attic so that he could carefully remove Velia's detailed latex image from his head.  He would have to take some more time to study the log labeled "The Masks".

 

He had read enough to know that somewhere in the yet unexplored attic was a small chest with the castings to make duplicates of the masks if he so desired.  He wondered if the duplicates would have some of the same magical qualities of the one he had on when it was worn in the attic.  Once he had removed the mask, he also realized that he was very hungry.  He cleaned himself up, changed into his own clothes, and ate a snack to hold him until he returned to his apartment.   Then he had locked up the old house with all of its hidden treasures, got into his truck and drove to his apartment in the wee hours of the morning.

 

When Nicacio arrived back at what almost seemed to be his former residence, his phone answering machine showed that he had about twenty messages blinking away in the machine's memory.  Several were from Mona inquiring when he planned to make his entrance at her birthday party.  Then came the messages inquiring if he planned to show up at all.  These were followed by messages of disappointment due to his absence.  The last in this series mentioned that all was not a loss because Brian had arrived and he was a more than adequate substitute for Nicacio.

 

"Who is this Brian, anyway?" mumbled Nicacio to the unthinking answering machine.  Normally this kind of question would have plagued him with worry until Mona answered it to his satisfaction.  That was no the longer the case, however.  To his surprise Nicacio didn't care what Mona was doing with Brian or anyone else for the matter.  Thus, after he listened to his messages, Nicacio went to bed without eating and dreamed beautiful dreams about masking and cross-dressing as "Velia".

 

He spent Sunday working on several of his stories.  Having the words and ideas set down in a computer file was very comforting to him.  At times it almost felt like his Great Aunt Velia was using his fingers to do the typing.  Visions of “Velia” mixed with those of Vera kept tracking across his mind.  Nicacio went into work by six A.M. the following morning.  It felt good to be back in the harness of his everyday world even though his thoughts were still on the events in the attic of Velia's house.  Between tasks, he caught a bit of breakfast in the company snack bar.  The masked dreams of the two previous sleep cycles had totally invigorated him and he felt free and creative.  The work on his desk just melted away and by ten o'clock, he was current with all of his assignments.

 

"Mr. Alcazar," said the soft and smooth voice of his clerical assistant, Monica Espinosa.

 

"What do you need, Monica?"

 

"I know how you don't like to be interrupted when you are on a roll, but there is a Miss Mona Kline on line one.  I think she is calling about planning for some big Halloween bash.  Should I put her through?"

 

"That would be just fine, Monica.  I need to talk to her anyway and after I am done talking with Mona I want you to gather the staff into the big conference room on the tenth floor for a strategy planning session," announced Nicacio.

 

"Is anything wrong, Sir?"

 

"No, Monica.  Things haven't felt this good in a long time."

 

“Does this have anything to do with the big Halloween bash that Miss Kline wants to talk to you about?” inquired Monica Espinosa.

 

“Not in the least, Monica,” replied Nicacio

 

“I would be willing to volunteer helping with that Halloween Party, Sir,” offered Monica.

 

“I will remember that, Miss Espinosa, but right now I need you to do what I am paying you for,” snapped Nicacio.

 

"I'll put Miss Kline right through, Sir," stated Monica while thinking that Miss Mona Kline and the Halloween Bash might be responsible for the positive change in her boss's behavior.  He had been in such a gloomy, somber mood since his Great Aunt had passed away.  "If the conference room on the tenth floor isn't available, is there any other room you want us all to meet in, Mr. Alcazar?"

 

"The conference room is available, Monica.  I have already checked with Gus.  Let's make this a drop everything priority.  I'll be there within fifteen minutes.  No one except for Jan and Gus will be admitted after I start the meeting.  Is that clear, Miss Espinosa?"

 

"Yes, Mr. Alcazar.  I will start the phone tree immediately and make sure that the importance of this event is directly communicated to the staff.  Most of us have been here with you on one of these sprints before, so I expect a one-hundred percent response."

 

“You might also tell the staff that I will be taking roll and taping the session," said Nicacio with a satiric laugh in his voice.

 

"I will tell them sir, but could we have at least twenty minutes to assemble everyone in case of an elevator jam or bathroom emergency?"

 

"Good idea, Miss Espinosa.  I will see you at the meeting as well.  Get some floaters to cover the offices."

 

Monica got the staff round up started immediately.  The person that Mr. Alcazar flippantly called Gus was the CEO of the firm.  Since it sounded like Nicacio had already cleared some of the agenda items with Gus Cherbourg, Monica alerted the staff to the reality that this meeting would contain some red-hot lava bombs that would make any volcanic eruption proud.  Mr. Alcazar didn't call many meetings, but if you had to miss one when he was on a roll, it generally meant that you were rolling to some other type of employment outside of the company. 

 

The taping meant that he would study the session and ask for explicit logs of each agenda item to follow up with smaller "team meetings".    Monica sensed that there definitely was a burr under the boss's saddle and great things happened when he was in one of these moods as long as you were prepared to take the wild ride with him.  Since the firm's CEO was aware of this meeting, he and the Executive VP, Jan Vickers would probably drop by and might even participate.  Gus Cherbourg and Jan Vickers appreciated Nicacio's creative streaks and had used many of them to jockey the firm into a position of strength during the recent "Dot Comm." slump.

 

"Is this the lost and missing, Nicacio Alcazar?" asked Mona as Nicacio held the receiver up to his ear.  "Are you going to tell me what is going on, or am I just supposed to forgive and forget?"

 

"Let's meet for lunch, Mona.  I have some things I want to show you," stated Nicacio with enthusiastic excitement in his voice.

 

"No, did you have a nice birthday, Mona?   Or, I am so very sorry to have missed your birthday, Mona.  Or who is Bryan, Mona?  Or am I still in your life, Mona?  Why am I not hearing things like that instead of I have something to show you Mona?"

 

"Meet me for lunch and I will be able to clear up everything, Mona.  Right now I am preparing for a big meeting and I have to go."

 

"You are acting very cavalier, Nicky.  I am feeling very unappreciated, especially since I am working so hard to create that Halloween bash for you," announced Mona.

 

"I haven't got the time to go over that with you, just now, Mona.  I had an epiphany over the past week," declared Nicacio.

 

"I don't like the sound of that, Nicky," said Mona as her voice moved to its domination mode.  “You were supposed to help me create this Halloween thing.  Daddy has made the entire estate available for the event.  Isn’t that wonderful?”

 

“I don’t remember committing to helping you set-up a Halloween party, Mona.”

 

“You are pretty low on all kinds of commitment, Mr. Alcazar,” snapped Mona.

 

"Just trust me for the moment and believe that what you have become to me is truly appreciated," declared Nicacio.  "I will pick you up at your office by 12:30."

 

"I will be waiting, Nicacio.  I detect a strange new tone in your voice, Nicacio and I don't like it," proclaimed Mona.

 

"I don't know what you are talking about, Mona," said Nicacio innocently.

 

"This is going to be one act of yours that I don't want to miss.  If it isn't good, it maybe your last act in our nine year run," threatened Mona.

 

Nicacio ignored Mona's threat and just confirmed that he would pick her up at the appointed time.  Again, he was amazed that he just didn't feel the need to respond to her threat.  She often played this card to pull him back into her way of doing things.  Normally, a threat like this from Mona would put Nicacio into an emotional tailspin and a total sense of insecurity.  Maybe Mona had played the card just one too many times. 

 

On the other hand, his quest in Velia’s attic had created new visions and maybe Mona was no longer a part of that vision.  He felt somehow masked and protected from Mona and her ambitions for him.  All of these notions would shake out during lunch.  If they didn't Nicacio would work at creating an incident that would precipitate a crisis on his own turf and by his rules.  If Mona didn't want to play, that would pretty much set the tone and the direction for terminating the humdrum rut that they were in.  As his Great Aunt Velia always said, "Que sera, sera", what will be will be.  On the other hand, Mona was used to making the "will be", "her be".  Lunch was shaping up as interesting as the meeting for his staff.

 

For the moment, Nicacio's priority was to set the tone for his staff through the winter season.  He quickly created an agenda that contained his innovative suggestions.  If properly implemented, the "hangers-on" would be "dropped-off" and the cream of the cream would be left to set the pace for the rest of the division.  His plan was to walk into the meeting as the last arrival.  He would give a short welcome and individually hand out each agenda while also making direct eye contact with one of his Great Aunt's "I own you looks".  Then with neither fussing nor mussing, Nicacio would scorch his way from the top to the bottom of the agenda and see how things shook out.  If things were moving his way, the energy level in the room should start with a nervous restlessness by item number two and should begin to peak by item five.  Creative explosions and excitement should happen during items six and seven.

 

Not only did the meeting go as planned, the energy Nicacio exuded seemed to ignite and motivate his staff to emulate their boss.  Gus and Jan dropped into the mix about halfway between items six and seven.  Gus wished he had five more supervisors like Nicacio.  If he had, he could corner their part of the industry.  "Take the next couple of days off, Nicacio," ordered Gus.  "Every time you get a little rest and relaxation, you light up like a fireball.  I'll schedule you a series of this type of meeting with an opportunity to trouble shoot problems in the other divisions of the corporation."

 

"But I don't know those segments of the corporation like I do my own, Gus.  I may not able to do there what I can here," declared Nicacio.

 

"Just the threat that you maybe able to do it is all I need to get a candle lit under some of your peers," stated Gus with a laugh that had real administrative authority in it.

 

Nicacio informed Monica of Gus's plans and wrapped up things in his office for the next few days.  Monica could always get a hold of him via email if that became necessary.  To make sure that he wasn’t too early in picking up Mona, Nicacio stopped at an exclusive coin dealer to get the twenty-dollar gold pieces appraised.

 

“Where did you get these?” asked the coin dealer as he studied the two coins that Nicacio had brought in for appraisal.

 

“They were left to me by my Great Aunt,” announced Nicacio.

 

“She must have thought a lot of you,” said the dealer while getting a large magnifying glass and bright light to examine the coin in further detail.

 

“Why do you say that?” inquired Nicacio.

 

“Because if these coins are what I think they appear to be, each of them are worth thousands of dollars.  Their condition and quality of minting is nothing short of spectacular.  “I will give you five thousand each, right here on the spot, no questions asked, Mr. Alcazar.”

 

“Let me think on that, John,” said Nicacio with a new level of respect for the contents of the small trunk in his Aunt’s attic.  Nicacio re-wrapped the two coins and put them back in his pocket as John salivated over eventually getting his hands on the coins while not knowing the extent of Nicacio’s treasure.

 

=========================

 

"I have a surprise for you, Mona," said Nicacio when he arrived at her firm.  "To heighten the mood, however, I want you to wear these blacked out glasses when we leave your building."

 

"Whatever for?" questioned Mona in her “I am always in control voice”.

 

"To heighten the level of the surprise, Mona."

 

"What surprise, Nicky.  You know I hate surprises,” stated Mona Kline.

 

"Well get used to them, babe.  I have crossed a threshold in my life that has put the spontaneity factor back into play for us," proclaimed Nicacio.

 

"What spontaneity factor, Nicky?  What are you talking about? What has gotten into you?  Does this have something to do with my Halloween Party?” questioned Mona.   “I don't think I have ever heard you talk this way before."

 

"This has nothing to do with your Halloween Party, Mona.  Just put these glasses on," asserted Nicacio.

 

“What's in the duffel bag that you have slung over your shoulder, Nicky?" asked Mona.

 

"It is part of the surprise, Mona.   I think you are right about the change in my style, although I'm not sure quite what that means yet," stated Nicacio.  "However, nothing will start to happen until you put these special glass on."

 

"All right, Nicky, I'll put the glasses on for you, but you better not do anything weird.  My Daddy wouldn't like that," declared Mona as she took the blacked out glasses from Nicacio’s hand and put them securely on her face.

 

"Your Daddy is not here, Mona," countered Nicacio. 

 

“I hope you are happy now, Nicacio.”

 

“You are finally off to a good start, Mona.”

 

“What do you mean finally, Nicky?” asked Mona.

 

“Just that we are on our way to a new adventure,” answered Nicacio.

 

"I don't like being blind like this, Nicacio," complained Mona.

 

"You aren't blind, Mona.  You just don't know how to really look for something meaningful," retorted Nicacio.  "I had to spend a lot of time with my Aunt's things to come to the realization that most of us walk through life with our eyes wide open while being totally blind to the reality of joyous living."

 

"Maybe you have been spending too much time with your Aunt's affects, Nicky.  I wasn't aware that they were having such an effect on you."

 

"I wasn't either until the past few days.  Maybe it is the accumulative reality of inventorying all of her historical artifacts and photos coupled with my immersion in her logs and diaries that is liberating my world," suggested Nicacio as he helped Mona into her car.  "I need your keys, Mona."

 

"Why is that, Nicky?"

 

"I came in a cab.  I thought we could go in your car in case you didn't like my plan and wanted to make a quick and strategic exit," stated Nicacio.

 

"How considerate of you, Nicky.  My keys are in the left side pocket of my black leather coat."

 

"I got them, Mona.  I love you in this coat, Mona.  Do you wear it all of the time, now?"

 

"I didn't like that coat when you first purchased it for me, Nicky.  It made feel like one of those Barrio tramps, but when Daddy told me how good I looked in it and so many others complimented me as well, I decided to give the coat a trial run.  I guess you could say that I have grown into that coat the way I have grown to value the freedom you have given me in our relationship.  I feel almost comfortable in it,” declared Mona Kline.  “My girl friends think that you are just wonderful in the way that you always go along with my whims and adventures.”

 

"Maybe I could get you to value some other things that I like as well, Mona," said Nicacio while wondering what Mona meant by freedom in their relationship.  Is this what Brian was all about?  Was he one of her whims and/or adventures?

 

"We will see about that, Nicky.  What's that rustling sound I hear, " asked Mona.

 

"I am starting to prepare your surprise, Mona."  In fact the sound that she heard was Nicacio putting the full head mask of Eric Mundero over his own head.  The disguise was perfect and no one would know that Nicacio and Mona left the building in her car together.

 

"Are you going to tell me where you are taking me for lunch?" asked Mona.

 

"What, and spoil the surprise?  Not on your life, Mona," said “Eric's image” as Nicacio started Mona's car and pulled out of the garage in the direction of his Great Aunt's house.  "I want to share the heritage I have discovered by going through my Aunt's things."

 

"The past is the past, Nicky.  Why complicate the present by dragging up some old irrelevant memories?" asked Mona.

 

"They are neither old nor irrelevant, Mona.  They are the foundation of the present.  If you would just let me share this reality with you, I could open up whole new vistas of amazing viewpoints by which to make your life decisions.  Maybe I can show you the difference between a Halloween party and the Dias de los Muertos."

 

"I don’t want to know the difference.  It probably isn’t that important anyway.  I like my life just the way it is, Nicky.  The way you are fits so well into my simple, orderly existence.  Everything is in its place and nothing can hurt me," stated Mona.

 

"Do you realize we have been with each other in that place of unimportant existence for the better part of nine years?" asked “Eric's image” as Nicacio navigated the city's traffic in Mona's car.

 

"It's probably closer to ten years, Nicky, but who is counting.  To be quite honest, I like things just the way they are.  Everything is so reliable and stable.  We have a working relationship built upon the rock of the known, not the blowing sand of some controversial fantasy or whim."

 

"But don't you ever yearn to follow a controversial fantasy?  Wouldn't you just like to go to the airport and take a trip to some place without even packing and see how things go when you get there?" asked Nicacio through the image of “Eric Mundero”.

 

"Are we headed for the airport?" asked Mona Kline.

 

"What if we were and the lunch was in Pago-Pago or Anchorage Alaska?" asked “Eric’s” masked image.

 

"We had better not be heading to the airport and some exotic location.  I didn't sign up for that!" shouted Mona as she went take her blindfold glasses off.

 

“Eric” took his right hand off the steering wheel and reached over and stopped Mona from removing the blacked out glasses.  “Don’t do that Mona. Or all bets are off.”

 

“Well, I don’t want to fly anywhere for lunch,” said Mona while putting her hands back down at her sides.

 

"Don't worry, Mona.  While it seems like a perfectly great idea to me, I didn't have enough time to set-up something like that."

 

"I am glad to hear that, because all that wild hair up your ass stuff sounds like the plot for some Sandra Bullock romantic comedy.  It is not Halloween yet.  That is not how I want to live my life, Nicacio.  How much longer am I going to have to wear these awful ugly glasses?  They are very heavy and irritating!" exclaimed Mona Kline.

 

"Just relax and go with the flow for once in your life, Mona," said “Eric's” image.  "It may be a while before we get to our destination, because the traffic is heavier than I thought it would be."

 

"Then just wake me when we arrive.  I don't like this conversation or your new attitude.  I'll take a nap and remember how you used to be and maybe you will have come to your senses by the time I awake," declared Mona Kline.  That is perfect thought Nicacio behind “Eric's” visage.

 

When he arrived at the house he pulled straight into the attached carriage house and locked the doors behind them before helping the groggy Mona out of her car.  "Where are we, Nicky?"

 

"We are in a very exclusive place, Mona.  Keep the glasses on for just a little while longer and all will be revealed to you.  I promise."

 

"Everything seems so cool and quiet," commented Mona as they entered the house.

 

"That's a good start, Mona.  Let all your other senses come on line and portray new realities for you."

 

"I keep telling you that I like things just the way they are, Nicky," proclaimed Mona.

 

"I may not be able to go back to that Mona.  This maybe our only opportunity to see if there is any chance of you moving just a tad into my world.”

 

"I never liked that world of the barrio and poverty that you came from Nicky.  I always loved the way you were able to pull yourself out of that," said Mona.

 

"If I was able to do that, Mona, did you ever consider the cost of an act like that?"

 

"What cost?  Just do this lunch thing so we can get back to normal," commanded Mona as the image of “Eric” guided her up the stars to the magical attic.

 

"Keep your I eyes closed when we take off the glasses, Mona.  I want everything to be perfect when you open them."

 

"You are stretching my tolerance of your weird attitude to the very edge, Nicacio," proclaimed Mona. 

 

"We are almost there, Honey.  Just a minute or two more," declared Nicacio from behind “Eric's” mask.

 

"You haven't even asked me who Brian is?  Aren't you the least bit curious?" asked the feminine figure that was entering the attic with him.

 

"Not really, Mona.  I figured that you would tell me when you got around to it."

 

"Well, for your information, Daddy likes Brian a lot.  People at my Birthday Bash didn't even ask for you and told me that Brian looked better on my arm than you did."

 

Without responding to Mona's comment Nicacio, in “Eric's” mask guided Mona to the place where he had Velia's mask laid on a table.  The table was set for lunch and the food was all prepared in the ice chest.   He took the blacked out glasses off of Mona's face and just as quickly pulled Velia's full head mask over Mona's head.

 

"What the hell do you think you are doing and who the hell are you?" screamed Mona as she peered through the eyes of Velia's mask at the image of  “Eric”.  "Oh my God, this must be the famous attic.  I told Nicacio that I didn't want to come here."

 

"Give it a chance, Mona.  Go with the flow.  There are some fabulous experiences that we can have together in this place if you just give it a chance."  Before him stood “Velia's” youthful image in Mona's long black leather coat.  Nicacio almost came in his pants from the reality of the living, vibrant, although unhappy image.  As much as it had turned him on by being “Velia”, seeing “Velia's” image moving independently of his own will power was even better.

 

"I can't seem to get this mask off of my head, whoever you are.  What have you done with Nicacio and what have you done to me?"

 

"I will take your mask off after we have had lunch, Mona.  I am taking this chance for both you and Nicacio," said Nicacio from behind the image of  “Eric's” masculine face.  It had suddenly dawn on Nicacio that because of the blacked out glasses, Mona didn't know of his transformation into “Eric”.  "If you know what is good for you and if you ever want to see Nicacio again you will do everything I say."

 

"Do whatever you want with Nicacio. He is probably paying you to torture me like this.  He has gone all native on me since his Great Aunt died," yelled Mona at the top of her voice through “Velia’s” face.

 

"I assure you that is not the case, Mona.  He just wanted you to have another point of view."

 

"I can get all the different points of view I need from Brian and my Daddy.  You can tell Nicacio to go fuck himself for all I care."

 

In their nine plus years of dating, this was a side of Mona that Nicacio hadn't seen before.  Maybe it had been there through out their entire relationship and he had missed it some how.  "I am sure that you will see differently if you just calm down and have this special lunch that I have prepared for you."

 

"I don't want your stinking lunch.  I don't even want this stinking coat on me any longer either. I don’t even care if my daddy likes it on me.  Just get this mask off of me and show me where you have parked my car.  I want out of here, now!" exclaimed Mona from behind “Velia's” sweet face as she struggled to get her leather coat off and throw it at the image of Eric/Nicacio.

 

"I can't do that, Mona.  We have to stay here until we get acquainted.  Since you don't like this coat anymore, maybe you should take off all of your clothes and put on this maid's frock."

 

"I will do no such thing!” exclaimed Mona Kline.

 

“Then I guess I will have to inject you with some chemicals that will help you do as I ask.  Of course I will also have to call your Daddy and tell him that his daughter is a speed freak and send you back to him loaded as the living proof of that reality.  So how are we going to do this?  Are we doing it the easy way or the hard way?  Remember know one knows where you are or whom you are with."

 

“Velia's” masked head started to take Mona's clothes off of her body.   Too bad she wasn't doing this voluntarily, for Mona had one fabulous body in an angular sort of fashion.  "Leave you stockings and heels on, Mona."

 

"What is your name?" asked “Velia's” image.

 

"It is Eric, Mona.  Now put this on and have lunch with me.  Everything we need in is the ice chest."  Mona put on the squimpy maid's frock and served “Eric” and her own masked image the lunch the Nicacio had prepared.  She was actually amazed by the reality of the mask she was wearing.  It was totally real and life like.  It even moved to reflect most of her facial movements and expressions.   As she studied her reflection in the attic mirrors she almost wished that Nicacio or Brian could see her doing this bit.  They probably didn't think she could pull this off.  Maybe she could do something like this for Halloween.  She was sure that Brian would be wowed by it.  On the other hand, she was no longer sure of where her comfortable relationship with Nicacio had drifted.

 

"I just want you to know that I think what we are doing here is the product of a very sick mind.  I would dismiss it out of hand if I knew how to get this damn mask off.  I don't care what else you threaten, this is a far as I am going," said Mona.

 

"Shut your ugly little mouth, Mona.  You are not in control here.  I am and you will do what I say for as long as I see fit.  In fact, the harder you resist, the more you will have to do to get out of here.  After lunch I have a barrio recreation project that you will help me complete."  The comments about Brian and the mop that she had made of Nicacio for the past ten years caused anger to swell up inside Nicacio.  “Eric” was going to help him take Mona down a peg or three.

 

"What are you planning now?" asked Mona as she tried to eat her salad.

 

"I was going to make you my bride, but now you are only fit to be my slut."

 

"You can take my body, but you will never have me," proclaimed Mona from behind “Velia's” face.

 

"And how is that different from the way you have treated Nicacio all these years?” probed “Eric Mundero”.  “He never really had your body or mind.  All he got were tiny placation tablets that you doled out from time to time.”

 

"That is none of your business, Eric.  Besides Nicacio likes me just as I was."

 

"That is no longer true and you know it, Mona."  Nicacio had kept the loaded hypodermic in the bottom of the ice chest for the return trip to her office from the "luncheon date" but decided that he was going to use it now.  He took it out of the chest while covering with his body so Mona couldn't see what he was doing.  "Put those blacked out glasses back on, Mona."

 

"Why, are we leaving?" question Mona/Velia.

 

"Just do what I tell you," commanded “Eric”.

 

"Okay, Eric.  Just don't get your panties in a bunch," said Mona/Velia as she placed the blacked out glasses over Velia's mask.  Nicacio walked over to Mona and injected the drugs into her left arm as she let out a squeal of pain that subsided almost instantly.  Within minutes she wasn't feeling any pain.  "Eric" took her out of the attic and down to the make-up studio.  He took “Velia’s” mask off of Mona’s Head.  Then he dressed her and made her up into the neighborhood harlot and put her in her car.  As "Eric", Nicacio drove the car out to the corner and introduced “Mona the slut” to the guys who hung out there on a twenty-four-seven basis.

 

"Just keep her high and she will do whatever you want, boys."  Mona was going to have a busy afternoon and evening.  “The car is yours as well.  In a little while the car will be hot, so be careful how you use it.  Have a real party on me."

 

"What do we have to do por jou, Dude?" asked the mouth piece for the guys on the corner."

 

"I'll think of something.  But for now just consider this a gift from a caring patron."

 

"We don't got no patron, ese."

 

"You do if you want some of this," said the disguised Nicacio as he pointed to both Mona and the car.

 

"Okay, dude.  Por now we got us a patron.  Dun’t worry about de caro.  We will have it chopped into pieces real soon, ese."

 

With Mona otherwise occupied, "Eric" returned to the attic and Nicacio continued on his personal quest. His creative release from ten years of psychological and developmental bondage continued on its upward swell.  It was definitely a relief to have Mona out of his life for good.  This was definite and absolute.  Goodbye, good luck and good riddance were the order of the day.   She was no longer his bride to be or the possible mother of his children.  Perish that thought.  She was not going to try on his Aunt's dresses or  mask in his Great Aunt's barrio house.  Nicacio’s dreams of fantasies in the attic and the possibility of a grand Victorian styled dinner didn't even come up for discussion in his mind.  All he knew at this point in time was that there would be no future Halloween fantasies with Mona Kline in any format.

 

In spite of the run in with Mona and the wonderful time he had with Vera, after taking a few days off from work to promote the writing of his stories, Nicacio moved his thoughts from his "female entanglements". He returned to his regular routine of working at his "day job" and following his personal quest in the Attic at night.  In between these two polar activities, he continued his story and play writing. 

 

With his continuing swell of his creative energy and the growing force of productivity that it was building in his staff, Nicacio became so involved in his routine that he completely forgot to call Vera at the bank.  A couple of days after Nicacio returned to work the police came around with a missing person's investigation regarding Mona Kline.  They asked him if he had any knowledge of someone called Eric.  Nicacio said that he had never met an Eric and that Mona Kline had broken up with him on her birthday and that she was now going around with someone called Brian.  Other than that he felt that he had no information that could help the investigation. 

 

The police said that they had already checked out Brian’s possible involvement with Mona's temporary alleged abduction and that his staff as well as the guys on the corner near Velia’s house backed up both Nicacio’s and Brian’s stories.  Nicacio often wondered how Mona had endured or was enduring her adventure as the drugged neighborhood slut, but the police never contacted him again regarding this matter and the guys on the corner never volunteered any information.   Five more days passed before Vera got his Aunt’s phone number from the bank files and called Nicacio.

 

"Mr. Alcazar?" questioned Monica's voice over the intercom. 

 

"Yes, Monica.  What is it?" inquired Nicacio.

 

"I know that you asked not to be disturbed, but there is a call from a Vera Martinez on the phone.  She says that she is your personal banker.  Should I put her through?"

 

"Vera Martinez?" asked Nicacio as he came up from one of his deep creative fogs.  "Banker?  Oh yes, Monica.  I remember now.  Please put her through.”

 

"Very good, Sir," replied Monica.

 

"Nicacio Alcazar, here.  I've been very busy and I apologize for not calling, Miss Martinez.  What can I do for you?"

 

"That is all right, Mr. Alcazar.  I have finished copying those logs and diaries you loaned to me.  I have spent several long nights studying them.  They are an incredible body of work.  I can see why you treasure them so."

 

"I am glad that my Great Aunt’s diaries have sparked an interest in you, Vera," said Nicacio as the professional edge came out of his voice.

 

"To be honest, the most intriguing log was on the topic of masking and its references to other entries on the subject scattered through out her collective works," declared Vera.

 

"That volume fascinated me as well, Vera."

 

"Have you found the chest she refers to that contains castings of many of the old movie stars?" probed Vera Martinez’s telephone voice.

 

"I located one of those chests last night.  I can't wait to make some pours just to see how they come out," replied Nicacio Alcazar.

 

"Would you like some help doing that?  I am free this evening and I could return the originals and copies of the diaries and logs that I have in my possession," offered Vera Martinez.

 

"Tonight?  That doesn't give me much time to prepare," said Nicacio while trying to conceal the surprise and excitement brought on by Vera’s suggestions.

 

"What is there to prepare?" asked Vera.

 

"I have to pick up the latex and paints as well as prepare a work area in the attic," declared Nicacio as his imagination of making masks with Vera flooded and flashed scenarios before his mind’s eye.

 

"One of the logs mentioned something about a workshop in the back of the basement," offered Vera.

 

"I must have missed that.  Well, I guess that is something that we could explore together," suggested Nicacio Alcazar.

 

"I will look forward to that.  Don't worry about the latex and paints.  I will pick some up on my way to your Aunt's house along with some Mexican take-out," offered Vera Martinez.  "You do like Mexican food, don't you?"

 

"It is my favorite, Vera."

 

"It is mine too.  Is six-thirty too early?"

 

"Six-thirty at my Aunt's house sounds just fine," responded Nicacio.

 

True to her word, at 6:30 sharp, Vera arrived at Nicacio's Great Aunts house with the promised mask making materials, the original and duplicated journals/diaries as well as a wonderful, fresh and hot take out Mexican dinner with chile verde, frijoles, tortillas and the whole enchilada.  She seemed truly glad to see Nicacio and participate in his Aunt's masking fantasies.  They ate a leisurely meal and then set out in search of the basement workroom where they could try their hand at mask making.  The workroom turned out to be what Nicacio had thought was a storage area for Velia’s Hollywood figure collection.  To start out, they used a couple of castings of lesser-known silent film starlets to make their first masks.  The minutes melted away into hours as they worked on their latex creations and swapped illuminating stories about their personal histories.  About eleven thirty, Vera asked if they could go up to the attic to look at the wedding trousseau that Nicacio had told her about.

 

"Have you ever masked and tried on the bridal outfit yourself, Nicacio?" inquired Vera like she was asking Nicacio for directions to the nearest bus stop.

 

"Yes I have, to be quite honest.  In fact, the picture you admired over the mantle during dinner is really of me, masked and crossed dressed as Velia," declared Nicacio with some pride.

 

"Get out of here.  I don't believe it!" exclaimed Vera.

 

"If you helped me make the transformation to prove it, would you believe it then?" asked Nicacio as they climbed the stairs into the attic.

 

"Sure, but what's the catch?" asked Vera.

 

"How about you masking for me and I will dress as her intended, Eric, and I will be able to complete her yet unfinished bridal album."

 

"Now this is all hinged upon you proving to me that the picture over the mantle is really you in Velia’s mask?" probed Vera.

 

"That's right," responded Nicacio.

 

 "Okay, Nicacio, you are on, but if this turns out to be a fraud, I will figure out a way to pay you back," declared Vera with a nervous laugh.

 

"You make that pay back thing sound so exciting that I almost wish that it was a fraud, but I assure you that it isn't, Vera."

 

"We will see about that.  Let's play masking games in this magic attic of yours," said Vera with excitement in her voice.

 

The experience of having Vera transform him into "Velia the Bride" was even better for Nicacio than transforming himself into "Velia" or forcing Mona to mask as "Velia".  Vera's help made the corsets tighter on Nicacio and she also worked on feminizing his look.  She had a real feminine eye that could make small but beautifying modifications to "Velia's" overall all image.  In addition, Vera provided the joy of sharing and conversing that is often denied to most maskers and cross-dressers in the privacy of their hidden closets. 

 

With Vera, Nicacio was "out" in the attic, which allowed him to really enjoy the incredible magic of the place.  She not only let Nicacio live as “Velia's” fantasy, but Vera also enthusiastically facilitated the process.  Nicacio was finally experiencing the incredible joy and time of creative bliss that had been the original intention of his Great Aunt's design. 

 

Vera became more and more involved with the transformation process as the project of creating “Velia's” image on Nicacio progressed.  In a moment of spontaneous fervor, Vera offered to become “Eric” so that both members of their couple could be cross-dressed.  Vera needed to be about ten inches taller and fifty pounds heavier to completely fill out “Eric's” costume.  The "image of Velia" suggested that for now, they would have "Eric" pad-out, via the use of a fluffy down jacket and stand on a box for the appropriate height in the up coming "bride and groom" photos.   Nicacio as "Velia" also suggested that if they were ever to mask in public in a double cross-dressed manner, they would have to devise some kind of stilt like appliance or special high-rise boots that would make Vera the appropriate height.

 

“The idea of a pair of high-rise boot sounds like an excellent idea, Velia, but if I were to wear them for a Halloween date I would need them soon so that I could practice navigating in them,” suggested Vera’s “Eric image”.

 

"That all makes sense to me, Eric, but are you making a date with me for Halloween?" asked Nicacio from behind “Velia's” mask.  Nicacio wanted to make sure that was what he heard, since he couldn’t believe that Vera was anticipating his desire.

 

"Only if you want to, Nicacio.  I'm sorry if I was too forward and offended you.  I just was so into what we were doing that it seemed a natural extension of what is currently happening with us in the attic.  There is an Artist's and Model's ball at Universal Studios on Halloween and I thought we could have a great time there."

 

"I am not offended in the least.  It is just that I couldn't have come up with a better idea, Vera.  You can consider your proposal a date.  But, instead of going as ‘Velia the Bride’ and ‘Eric the Groom’, why don't we go as masked characters out of an old Universal Studio's classic horror movie?  If it is all the same to you, I would prefer to keep the magic of ‘Eric’ and ‘Velia’ here in my Great Aunt’s house."

 

"That seems appropriate, Nicacio, but if we do that I would like to go as an established Hollywood couple. How about going as Bogart and Bacall or Tracy and Hepburn?" asked Vera.

 

"Did any of the diaries and logs say that Velia had casting of those stars?" probed Nicacio from behind his mask of  “Velia”.  "I don't think they did any classic horror films.

 

"I don't know if they made any horror films, but they made suspenseful ones and the logs and diaries list castings for them.  If we start making them tomorrow night, we should have our outfits and masks ready by Halloween," declared Vera.

 

“How about we both cross-dress and you go as Clifton Web and I go as Gene Tierney in the roles they created for the film called, Laura.”

 

“That was a classic thriller and who done it, Nicacio.  It is one of my favorite black and white classic movies from the 1940’s.  I would love to be the tall, slender and effeminate Clifton Web.  He made such a sophisticated and evil Waldo Lydecker.”

 

“You sound like a classic movie buff, Vera.”

 

“More than you will ever know.  I especially like those dark murder mysteries with haunting musical themes.  The David Raskin score is incredible.  It was typical of an Otto Preminger movie.  The women wore those high thick heel shoes and huge shoulder pads.  I think that the ‘Laura Hunt’ role was one of Tierney’s best roles when she wasn’t playing the evil bitch bit that she did so well.  You will make a great, big shouldered Gene Tierney.”  

 

"To be honest, Vera, this Halloween idea of yours is a fantasy that I would have never planned," admitted Nicacio through his image of "Velia the Bride".  It wasn’t like the phony fancy dress masquerade ball that Mona had been proposing.  At the Universal party, the participants tried to stay in the masked character of their star’s role. They acted out lines and attitude of their role.  It was important that all the other participants saw you as an impersonation of your declared role.  That was as much a part of the contest as the accuracy of the disguise.  "If this works out and we win one of the prizes, maybe we could also take one of those Guys are Dolls cruises on one of those large, bay cruising, Hornblower yachts."

 

"I think I would prefer to do that out of San Francisco instead of Los Angeles," responded Vera through her "Eric" mask.  "They can really get into that frame of mind in San Francisco without all the tinsel town feel that comes along with such activities in Los Angeles."

 

"Would you like to look into a package for doing that during the Halloween season or should I do that?" inquired the image of "Velia" in her bridal gown.

 

"I will do that very thing for us, Velia," said “Eric's” image.  “If you want I could make it into a weddingless, cross-dressing honeymoon package.”

 

"The idea of a honeymoon without a wedding is novel enough.  I say go for it," responded “Velia the bride”.

 

"I will check that option out first thing Monday," said “Eric's” image.

 

"When did you develop your interest in masking and cross-dressing, Vera?" asked Nicacio from behind his "Velia" disguise.

 

"Why do you ask, Nicacio?" responded Vera as she admired her “Eric Rondero” disguise in one of the attic’s large mirrors.

 

"You seem to be so comfortable with the whole process.  All that I have read on masking says that most women are put off by it," stated Nicacio.

 

"That is really interesting, Nicacio, but I guess I should start by saying that I am not most other women.  Second, I never had a thought one way or another about masking until you brought it up the other night.  Third, what really raised my curiosity about masking was reading your Great Aunt Velia's diaries and logs.  Fourth, I think you are an interesting guy and I want to do the things that turn you on so I can get to know you better," declared Vera in a manner that she thought her male image would display.

 

"That is quite a list.  I think I like the way you think, Eric," said Nicacio/Velia.

 

"You know you like the way I think, Velia.  You have always liked me when I think this way,” said Vera while staying in her characterization of “Eric”.  “I am sure that what I am doing is turning you on like nothing has ever turned you on before."

 

"That's absolutely true, but how did you know that, Eric?" probed Nicacio’s beautiful impersonation of his Great Aunt Velia.

 

"Because I can't believe how much doing this is turning me on?  I think that is why we are here together experiencing the masking magic of this incredible attic.”

 

“I hear that, Eric.” 

 

There is no way that I would have ever guessed that there could be a place like this in this house when looking at it from the street,” said Vera’s male image.

 

"I love the way you can voice my thought on this topic, Eric.  You are one in a million!" proclaimed “Velia” as “she” reached and hugged “her” groom.

 

"So are you, Velia.  May I ask how you got started with masking and cross-dressing?  Was it with your Aunt?" asked Vera through her “Eric” disguise while returning “his” bride’s hug.

 

"I told you that she was a great influence on me.  She taught me the love for words and knowledge.  She used her gift for photography to open creative vistas for me.  However, she never really shared her masking interests with me.”

 

“How could you have missed them?   They are all over the house.”

 

“They are now, but all of her files had been confined to the full basement when I was a kid.  I guess she expanded them into the rest of the house when I went off to college.  I never knew of her mask-casting hobby.   Many of her collections were just dusty trinkets that had been given to her by her clients for all I knew.  The attic was always padlocked and off limits when I was a kid.  I have to admit that it was the exploration of this house and its attic that opened her world of masking and cross-dressing to me.  Maybe it was latent in me before and I didn't realize it, but consciously, I guess you could say that other than Halloween and Dia de los Muertos festivities, this is all relatively new to me as well.  I need to add here that my Great Aunt had always seen to it that those events were special times for me."

 

"You mean that you never masked with anyone else before?"

 

"Except for those juvenile Halloween and Dia de los Muertos happenings, I really never had the time.  As an adult I dabbled in it with Mona a bit, but she didn't care for it at all," stated Nicacio/Velia in truthful candor. “I learned from that experience that the desire to mask must come from within or it becomes a form of undesired bondage for the unwilling participant."  Being masked with Vera makes it so easy to talk and share, thought Nicacio behind the mask of his Great Aunt.

 

"I read that for some maskers, the bondage part is what they are looking for," said Vera.

 

"I guess that is true for many maskers Vera, but then the key phrase in that sentence is that they are looking for that," suggested Nicacio/Velia as “she” recalled how Mona’s bondage had brought out the dark side of masking.  "I never asked her, but I don't think Mona was into that aspect of masking either."

 

"Are you into the bondage part of a masking fantasy?" probed Vera.

 

"I don't know.  Why?" inquired Nicacio.

 

"I might like to try it out if you are game.  I trust you for some reason and I think that bondage is something you do with some one you trust."

 

"Okay, maybe that can be one of the adventures we try in the attic," declared Nicacio.

 

“I would like to act out some as part of our ‘Laura’ bit on Halloween.”

 

“That sound’s wild, Eric.”

 

"Is this Mona still in your life, Velia?" probed Vera like a woman who is testing the waters to see what the future might hold.

 

"There may be a few unfinished details with her, but nothing that you have to worry about, Eric," said Nicacio through his “Velia” mask as they moved to the stairway that lead to Velia’s photo studio.  Once there, Nicacio took them through the same process of picture taking that he had done for himself as Velia. 

 

"This is such a great house, Velia," commented the cross-dressed and masked Vera.  "It is so full of history.  The walls just exude culture.  You can feel the sense of culture and the past in the air."

 

"You don't know how good it is to hear you say that, Eric," declared the crossed-dressed and masked Nicacio.

 

"With some work, the grounds around it could be restored," continued the masked Vera.  “They would be a great place to have a Dia de los Muertos celebration.  We could set up community and family altars in the yards as well.”

 

"Are you saying that you would like to take this house and it's contents on as a historical project?" asked Nicacio.

 

"Aren't you the one that says there is a gold mine in those diaries and logs?" countered Vera.

 

"Sure, but I haven't given up my day job."

 

"Why would we have to do that, Velia?  Eric would enjoy doing this over a long period of time to make sure that it was done right.  Besides the income from our day jobs might come in handy when we go to finance parts of this project."

 

"Are you saying that you want to invest fiscally and well as manually in this effort?" asked Nicacio/Velia.

 

"I can't think of anything better that I could do with my meager earnings.  If I moved in here I could contribute my rent as well.  I am not looking for a place to stay; it would just be more convenient.  I would feel like I was coming home and contributing something back to my community.”

 

"I guess that is a possibility, but that sounds like a long term commitment to me, Eric," observed Nicacio's masked image of “Velia” while wondering at what level fantasy and reality might start to collide.

 

"Wasn't that the fantasy that Velia had for this place?" asked Vera's masked image of “Eric” while hoping that fantasy and reality would start to collide.

 

"An effort like that might lead to some complicated entanglements, Eric," said Nicacio in his masked and corseted image of his great Aunt on the wedding day that had never happened.  In the wellspring of his heart Nicacio began to feel that his Aunt was once again moving in his life and that the masked Vera was a willing accomplice.

 

"If your Aunt was this cautious, I know why we are having to complete her fantasy, Nicacio," said Vera as she broke out of her characterization for the moment.  "What is wrong with complicated entanglements as you call them?" probed the masked and cross-dressed Vera.

 

Nicacio knew that the conversion of just a few of the hundreds of twenty-dollar gold pieces would be all that it would take to get the museum project off of the ground.  Vera's rent money wasn't necessary, but it probably wouldn't be prudent to tell Vera that right now.  Having Vera live in his Aunt's house would bring it back to life.  That meant that he would have to move a few more things to the secured storage shed and place all of the gold pieces in the safe deposit box.  

 

Maybe he should save his rent money and move in here as well.  Vera was certainly opening some vistas that Nicacio hadn't explored before.  If things were meant to be, as they seemed to be going, the real magic in the attic would begin to answer all their questions with quiet assurance.  "I think your plan has real merit, Eric," said Nicacio as he stayed with the characterization of his Great Aunt Velia on her wedding day.  “Maybe we could inaugurate this project on Halloween.  The end of the month is always a good time to move one’s domiciles anyway.

 

"I was hoping that you would see it that way," said Vera in her mask and costume of  “Eric the Groom”.  "If nothing else, I know you will able to find a great story in this."

 

"I am sure, that together, we will be able to find out a lot more than that," responded Nicacio from behind his mask.  “I can’t wait until we start making our Halloween costumes from the things in the house.”  Nicacio was positive that fact and fantasy were about to collide head-on in the Halloween like atmosphere of his Great Aunt’s masked attic.