Red Top Hat

She dated a man named Jack and was lost when he left her. The world didn’t look the same or feel the same anymore.

Although Sally, had gone through break ups this wasn’t like the rest of them. Sometimes she would feel stuck in the past or the present or in time.

She swore time stopped and streets moved like rearranged themselves out of nowhere. And the light posts were a different color while being in new locations.

Then one day she saw a man run into an elevator who was dressed like Jack. She ran after him and the door closed.

“Oh, boy.” Said the man with the red top hat. Sally looked at him with waiting eyes. “Oh, geeze, did Jake break up with you?”

“You mean Jack?”

“Yeah, yeah, that dude. He dumped you?”

“Yes.”

“I am sorry and I can’t help you. I know everything seems strange but like that’s just what happens.”

“Life seems to be physically rearranging itself.”

“Well that happens.” The man said and shrugged his shoulders and pursed his lips.

“Happens? Like streets change out of no where?”

He moves his head around and says “with Jake. Yeah.”

“Jack?”

“Yes, yes Jack. I really hate the guy. He makes my life harder. See he dated you but he wasn’t supposed to do that. Because well you're not on the preapproved list. He kind of likes to find whoever he finds and then stuff happens.”

“How do we stop stuff from happening?”

“I don’t know per say. I am just the messenger. I suspect finding Jake or Jack would be helpful.”

He pushes the b button on the elevator and gets off.

Sally pushes 5 and finds herself not at work but on date with Jack.

“Hey I really love your blues.”

She smiles. And reaches for his bicep. “I really love your arms.”

Jack leans over to kiss her. It’s the first time and it’s heavenly and hot.

Sally didn’t know he would disappear ten dates later.

But he did.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath and the elevator dings.

When she opens her eyes, there is Jack.

“Hmmm I am impressed. You found me. No one has done that before. Sorry I left your place a mess. I had to leave before I got found out.”

She wonders what he’s mean when he said found out but doesn’t ask him.

“Can you fix my world? It seems to be changing but not like worlds normally change.”

“Oh, sorry love. I don’t think I broke this one this time. Only the person who did it can fix it.”

“Who broke it?”

He looked deeply into Sally eyes. Snapped his fingers.

And she woke up.

In the middle of the stage, the audience is memorized. She has cooked a full course meal while hypnotized.

Sally looks shocked it isn’t just that she doesn’t recall doing the activity. It’s being there and on stage and with what looks to be Jack.

It’s not quite him. And nothing really looks all that familiar to her. She is looking lost and confused.

Then she wakes up and pours a cup of coffee. She looks at the flyer for the magic show. And there is a red top hat with matching suit. Come see Jake live at 8pm.

She laughs realizing the image stuck out. He doesn’t look anything like Jack besides the height. Maybe it’s time to meet someone new and have him alter her perceptions of reality in a fun way. Or maybe he is the one who broke things. At this point she doesn’t know what happened and it no longer matters.