Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC

“It’s too bad Daddy has to go back to Jersey with Grandma tomorrow. He’ll miss my solo debut,” I said as I stood on the stage of The Supper Club. My audience on Monday morning was Elena, the stage manager, and a couple of the porters. We were going through a dress rehearsal of the act Elena and I had scripted over the weekend. Somehow, Elena had procured a magician’s tuxedo outfit for me. You know, top hat, bow-tie, white starched collar, long coat with tails, panties, sheer stockings, and high heels. I demurred on the wand.

“He’d be too stressed watching you, Lindsey. It’s best that he just concerns himself with recovering. Now, let’s go through your grand finale again. You’re getting very good at this. Of course, you’ve had a great teacher,” Elena said proudly.

Gathering myself, I took a deep breath and began the coda of my act.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for me to bid you good night. I hope that you’ve been pleasantly entertained by my humble demonstration of magical skills. As a reward for your patience and hopeful appreciation, let me take you on a trip. No, we’re not going to consume psychedelics. You can do that on your own time—”

Elena laughed and broke my rhythm. “Elena, please!”

“It’s a funny line. And I wrote it. Jeremy always says I don’t have a sense of humor—”

“Elena!”

“Continue, dear.”

“…uh…you can do that on your own time.” I waited to see if Elena giggled. This time she kept quiet. “I will ask our stage manager to lower the lights in the room to a bare minimum. Thank you. In addition, everyone, please close your eyes and listen very carefully to my voice. Clear your mind of all extraneous thoughts. Concentrate on my voice.”

I paused dramatically as I envisioned the Supper Club audience sitting in silent darkness, waiting for the experience they were about to witness.

“Open your eyes. You are flying above the clouds. Yes, flying. Not in an airplane. You have the power of flight. You’re soaring above the deep blue ocean. The feeling of utter freedom fills your body and mind. Look over there, to your right. A land mass. It is an island. You can see it is comprised of concentric circles, filled with gleaming buildings of all sizes and shapes.

As you slowly descend from the sky, you see the inhabitants of this island, riding in vehicles levitated above the ground, ambling across lush parks scattered about the landscape, figures moving about in high-rise buildings that reflect the mid-day sun. You hear the sounds of laughter and idle conversation.

A family – a mother, father, and two children – approach as you ogle at the magnificent sights around you. They are smiling, dressed in colorful clothes made out of something that resembles spandex. You immediately observe they are all physically fit, paragons of health. The father extends a hand in greeting and speaks in a melodic language you do not understand. What you do understand is that you are welcome to their city. A name out of myth and lore stands out in his friendly speech. It is the name Atlantis. Slowly, you realize that you are in the fabled city of Atlantis. You have traveled back in time to a mythic paradise. The height of human achievement. A place of peace and harmony.

In the blink of an eye, you are seated at the dinner table of their home. The mother and father have poured a sparkling wine-like drink into the iridescent goblet in your hand. After a friendly toast, you take a sip of the liquid and savor its otherworldly taste, redolent of fruits and berries which defy naming. But, it is time to leave after the sumptuous meal. Again, you find yourself above the clouds, flying homeward.

Close your eyes. Stage manager, please turn the lights back up. Everyone, open your eyes! You’re back at The Lodge. I hope you enjoyed your trip back in time to the legendary city of Atlantis. You’ve been a wonderful audience. Good night!”

As I bowed to the imaginary audience, the sound of applause came from the back of the room. It was Aaron and Amanda, apparently just returned from Las Vegas.

“Brava! Brava! How did you do that?,” Aaron asked.

“Trade secret,” I replied.

“You seem very giddy, Aaron. Did you have a good time in Las Vegas while we all wondered how long The Lodge would stay open?,” Elena asked with a hint of disdain.

“My luck finally turned.” He put his arm around Amanda’s shoulders. “This lovely lady brought me good fortune—”

“And the $10,000 I gave you from cashing out my savings bonds,” Amanda interjected.

“Yes, that too, my dear. Jack Nicklaus finished out of the Top 10 in The PGA on Sunday, resulting in a payout of a cool million, minus fees and withholding. What this means is I’ve won enough to pay back Big Sal. The Lodge stays under Felder ownership!”

“And I’m booked for the rest of the summer?”

“Of course! You’re my biggest attraction. I kind of liked your other outfit better though—”

Amanda elbowed Aaron in his side. Aaron winced.

Daddy looked up from his wheelchair as we rode the elevator down to the lobby of the hospital on Tuesday morning. He had a wry smile on his face but kept quiet as he looked at me and Grandma. The three other people on the elevator faced the doors, oblivious to us.

“I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch like this, Lindsey. But your grandmother tells me she’s seen your new solo act and she tells me you’re better than dear old dad.” He laughed. “I wish I could be there tonight for your debut—”

“You need your rest, Jack,” Grandma insisted. “Lindsey will do just fine.”

“Who would have thought Aaron’s luck would change? Maybe Amanda really is his lucky charm,” Daddy mused.

“Amanda’s father won’t be too happy when he finds out his own daughter ruined his master plan to convert the Catskills into the world’s biggest shopping mall. He might even disown her.”

“I don’t have David Kellerman’s money but I’ve got the best daughter in the world,” Daddy beamed. He grabbed my hand and squeezed. I returned his smile and fought back tears. He called me ‘daughter.’ I couldn’t have imagined this moment just a few weeks ago when I was just a scruffy-looking teenage boy with a bad case of gender confusion.

I kissed both of them goodbye as we helped Daddy out of his wheelchair and into the luxury sedan Aaron had ordered to take Grandma and Daddy back home to Northern New Jersey. I waved to them as the car left the hospital driveway. Within seconds, Jeremy drove up to the curb to take me back to The Lodge.

That evening, my opening night went off like a dream. The applause was deafening. I took several bows before leaving the stage. I walked into the dressing room to an ebullient greeting from Elena and Jeremy, who crushed me between them in a loving embrace. Aaron rushed forward to hug me but Amanda grabbed his arm from behind.

“That’s enough, Aaron. Don’t harass the employees,” Amanda scolded.

Aaron shook my hand vigorously instead.

“You’re a hit! Lindsey, you’re going to increase business at The Lodge by leaps and bounds when the reviews circulate. We might even get someone from The Times this week. Amanda’s working on it. Aren’t you, babe?”

“My friend Suzy works on the Entertainment section of the paper. She’d get points for tipping them off on Lindsey’s act.”

“I told you, you could do it, Lindsey,” Elena burbled as she kissed my cheek. I proffered my cheek to Jeremy, who took my cue and planted one on my cheek as well.

“Well, well, I didn’t expect to witness an amazing showbiz debut when I arrived today. I enjoyed your amazing act, young lady.”

Sal Maranzano stood in the doorway, flanked by two beefy men in matching blue suits.

“Sal! You should have called to tell me you were dropping by. I’ve got great news!”

“What might that be?”

“You know the money I owe you?”

“Of course. Why else would I be spending my time here at this two-bit resort hotel in the middle of nowhere? There are lots of more exciting places to be, even on a Tuesday night.”

“I’ve got it! All of it.” Aaron reached into his suit pocket and took out an envelope straining to contain its contents. “Here’s every cent I owe you, Sal. Now we’re square and you can go back to whatever dark corners of society you usually inhabit.”

“Dark corners? I’m an upstanding member of society. A financier of sorts. Put that away, Felder. I don’t want it.”

“What? I’m paying you what I owe. You can’t not accept it. It’s $900,000. To the penny.”

“You forget, Felder. There’s interest on that. Overdue interest. I’d give you a break on it. Maybe only 33%?”

“That’s not the deal we had, Sal.”

“It’s the deal I made. I might have forgotten to inform you about the overdue interest. But, then again, you could’ve been on time in the first place. Tough luck, Aaron. Hand over the keys to The Lodge.”

“You can’t do this, Sal,” cried Amanda.

“Sweetie, your Dad wants a word or two with you. He’s a bit…how do I put it? Pissed.”

Sal turned to me with a broad smile on his face.

“Turn that frown upside down, honey. You’re gonna be my star attraction in Vegas when I clear up some minor problems with my casino. You’re going places and I’m going to take you there.”

I started to bawl as Elena tried to comfort me by stroking my arm and whispering consoling words in my ear.