They had stumbled into a community theater. Besh and Sam discovered the wardrobe while Raul and Beasley raided the concession. Sam pulled clothing from the racks. Besh rummaged drawers and cabinets.

“Hello,” said Besh.

“What is it?” asked the Captain.

“A secret stash,” replied Besh. “We now have bus fare.”

“Great,” said Sam, lugging over an armload of clothing. “There are enough new clothes for all of us to change.” He dropped the clothing and held up a long blue dress, adding, “And, I have the perfect disguise for Beasley.”

Beasley unwrapped a candy bar and took a tentative nibble. “They’re good,” he told Raul. “Try one.”

They sat on a darkened stage with a bag of candy and a battery-powered lamp between them. They dangled their legs off the edge and kicked their feet idly. Raul opened a candy bar and tossed the wrapper aside. He took a bite and smiled.

“I didn’t know I was this hungry,” he said.

“Me too,” Beasley replied. “We better save some for the Captain.”

“So how far to the university from here?” Raul asked.

“Ten blocks? I don’t know. I remember it’s by a park, and there’s a recreational boating place nearby.”

“I’m really tired of walking,” said Raul around another bite.

“We’ll call for an air skid,” suggested Beasley.

“Yeah,” said Raul. “We got the royal seal, huh?”

“That might give us away,” said Besh walking down the center aisle.

Raul looked up with a startled smile. He exclaimed, “Dude! Check you out.”

Besh approached in new clothing. He wore a fedora and a light-colored Crombie coat with dress slacks and black derby shoes. He carried a brown briefcase and wore rimmed glasses. Sam followed, dressed in casual slacks, a dark pea coat, black boots, and a blue newsboy hat. He held additional clothing in his arms and hands.

Besh continued, “We’ll take a bus instead.”

Sam laid the clothing over seatbacks and dropped shoes. He said, “We brought clothes for you two. We’ve decided to enter the college as parents with their children.”

Raul jumped from the stage with a broad smile. “Adelante, Captain hombre. I have candy.”

Beasley asked, “Do I get a cool hat?”

With a side glance to Sam, Besh cleared his throat and answered, “For you, we have a wig.”

Raul took clothing from Sam and began to change. Beasley slipped from the stage with wide fearful eyes. He moved hesitantly forward, looking between the Captain and Besh.

“A wig?” he asked. “Why do I have to wear a wig?”

Besh answered, “Raul will go as the Captain’s son, and you’ll go as my daughter.”

“No,” said Beasley. “I’m very uncomfortable with this idea. Wouldn’t a cap and dark glasses be better?”

“This is all we could find,” answered the Captain. “Get dressed. We don’t have all day.”

Beasley moaned, “No, please.” He looked to Besh and pleaded, “Sir. Please don’t make me do this.” He turned to the Captain. “Why do I have to be the girl? Make Raul the girl.”

Raul answered, “I got a mustache, man.”

Beasley turned to Raul in distress and countered, “So? My aunt has a mustache.”

Raul laughed, “Mine, too.”

Beasley turned again to Besh, tears brimming in his eyes. He clasped his hands together and begged, “Please, sir.”

The Captain said, “Beasley. If I have to dress you, I swear I’ll put your panties on backward.”

Beasley sank to his knees and moaned pitifully. Besh bent over and spoke softly. “Beasley. Don’t cry. There are no panties. I promise. There’s no dress either, just some slacks and a wig. Come on.”

Sam, Raul, and Besh sat on the stage, eating candy bars and waiting for Beasley to emerge from the shadows.

The Captain swallowed and said decisively, “Daylight’s burning.”

Beasley called from the dark, “Promise not to laugh.”

Sam jumped from the stage and called, “Get your scrawny butt out here.”

Beasley stepped from the dark, head bowed in shame. He wore tight jeans, paisley sneakers, a beige linen jacket, and a black top filled out with a padded bra. The brunette wig of medium length closely matched his own hair color.

Raul stepped up to him wearing jeans, a printed T, denim jacket, and light blue ball cap. He said with a smile, “Señorita, eres muy bonita. ¿Me concedes éste baile?”

They stood on the busy street, bright sunshine warming the afternoon chill. Beasley looked down as pedestrians walked past. The transit placard mapped a route that ended at the university. Raul nudged Beasley.

“Try to look normal,” he said.

Beasley hissed, “This is anything but normal!”

“Hush,” said the Captain. “Here comes the bus.”

Besh turned with instructions. “Just try to blend. Listen to your music. Something juvenile.”

Raul answered, “That was cold.”

The bus came to a stop, hovering near the curb. Dust and brown leaves skittered away as the door opened and steps extended. Sam entered, followed by Beasley, Raul, and Besh. Credits were dropped in the meter as the steps retracted. The door closed and Besh seated himself beside Sam. The automatic bus moved down the street. Turning in his seat, Raul counted three patrons in the rear of the bus.

They sat quietly during the ride. An older woman boarded smiling at Besh as she passed. After an unremarkable trip, they exited the bus and watched it move away. The campus was in sight. The plaza before it was active. Students ran past, oblivious to their presence. Benches were filled with youths absorbed in conversation while, in the broad central tarmac, a crowd gathered around a stage. Workers busied themselves with tests of the sound equipment.

“Come on,” said Sam. “Stay close.”

As they moved into the crowded tarmac, Besh quietly pointed out the many striped masks hanging from back pockets. Sam nodded. They worked the crowd, pressing toward the campus buildings. Breaking free on the other side, they hurried for the doors. They relaxed a bit inside, as Beasley led them toward admissions.

“I am Mr. Wadsworth,” said Besh to an older gray-haired woman with tired eyes. “This is Mr. Toomey, his son, Rory, and my daughter, Beverly. Professor Irving invited us for a personal tour.” 

The old woman responded in a slightly nasal tone, “The Professor is scheduled to speak at the rally.”

Sam spoke. “We were assured our donations would be well-placed.”

The woman’s face brightened. Her eyes seemed to focus, and a smile tugged at her lips. “I can take you to his classroom. Mind you, he is pressed for time.”

Besh smiled and bowed politely. “You are too kind,” he said.

She led them down the hall at a brisk pace. It was an obvious task for her thick legs. Winded, she stopped short near an open door. An elderly man could be seen within. She knocked and stepped inside. The professor, busy with sheets of paper, glanced up dismissively.

“Yes, Thelma,” was his cursory response. “What is it?”

“A Mr. Wadsworth and Toomey to see you.” She leaned in and added, “Donors, sir.”