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 ~: FICTION / DRAMA :~  Party Trick by Trost Party Trick The sounds of the fellow party-goers emanated from within the house, a jovial combination of laughter, chatting, and glasses clinking. Jennifer raised her hand to knock on the door when she noticed that it was already ajar. She hesitated before pushing it open. Making an entrance was always a slightly tense occasion for her, because for a few uncomfortable seconds she would be the centre of everyone's attention. No sooner had she stepped inside than her best-friend and the evening's hostess, Sharon Martin, welcomed her loudly. 'Jenny!' All eyes turned to the new-comer. 'Jenny’s here everyone!' She felt like blushing. It was too much attention for such a timid girl. I think everyone knows I’m here now... thanks a lot, Sharon. She smiled at everyone as she pushed the door back so that it was almost closed, and was happy to find that, within a few seconds, the other guests had returned to their conversations. She was no longer the focus of their attention. Thank goodness for that! The Martins' home was certainly de bon goût. Sharon's husband, Duncan, considered himself to be a wine connaisseur and had delighted himself in adorning his home with various objects related to wine and the art of oenology. Jenny had always questioned people's right to consider themselves wine experts, after all everyone has his own tastes. Who is to say that one person's choice is superior to that of another? She had to admit though that Duncan always had an exceptionally good drop to share around so everyone in his circle of friends accepted the honour he had bestowed upon himself. Sharon wrapped her arms around Jennifer, embracing her the way that only the very closest of friends do. Theirs was an old friendship indeed, dating from the pre-school sand-pit. Duncan finished pouring a glass of rosé for one of his guests before making his way over to greet Jennifer. 'Can I have a hug too?' 'I guess so, if that's okay with your wife,' she teased him. Duncan gave her a quick squeeze. 'Can I get you a drink?' he asked. 'Yes, please. I'll let you make the selection, Dunks.' He frowned, he didn't like being called Dunks, so everyone taunted him with the nick-name just to make him annoyed. 'Careful, Sweetie! Any more of that Dunks business and you'll be drinking a glass of water,' he warned her jokingly. 'Okay, sorry.' Nevertheless, he hurried off to fetch her a nice chardonnay. Minutes later Elaine arrived with her new boyfriend. Elaine was also a childhood friend of both girls and, therefore, was entitled to a big hug. The three of them held each other tightly while Elaine's new boyfriend waited patiently. After a moment Elaine broke free of the group hug. 'So,' she began, signalling the tall, oddly handsome man beside her. 'This is Daniel.' 'Pleased to meet you,' Sharon held out her hand to shake his but he gently raised it to his mouth and imitated an old fashioned kiss. He then turned to Jennifer expecting her to offer her hand for a similar greeting of honour. After an instant she reluctantly raised her delicate white hand. 'This is Sharon, and Jennifer.' 'Nice to meet you both.' Daniel seemed to be an intriguing man, it occurred to Jennifer that he had the look of someone who possesses some kind of profound knowledge. There was an aspect to his eyes and mouth that gave her this impression and, although he was not especially attractive according to traditional measures of handsomeness, there was definitely an odd charm to him. Jennifer found herself thinking of the Mona Lisa and realised that what many critics said of the mysterious painting also applied to this man before her. Daniel tilted his head to one side and made a slight pout, the way people sometimes do when considering posing a delicate question, but he said nothing, just looked from Sharon to Jennifer thoughtfully. 'Well,' Sharon decided to break the silence that was quickly becoming uncomfortable. 'Tell us about how you two met.' Of course, the girls had already heard all about it from Elaine but it seemed like a good ice-breaker and, besides, perhaps Daniel had a different take on their first encounter. Duncan continued serving drinks and played the ideal host by mingling equally with each group of guests. The dinner table had already been set and he would soon invite everyone to take a seat at their allocated places. Elaine and Daniel had been the last of the night's guests to arrive. 'What's on the menu tonight, Dunco?' Although being called Dunks was a major dislike of his, he didn't at all mind being called Dunco. His friends found this preference rather bizarre. The question had come from Geoff, a short, stocky bloke who had the well-earned reputation of being the party clown. He was the one who always got drunk first, managed to say at least one thing that got him into considerable trouble with somebody and, although he was just about the last person to leave, spent the last hour or so of the evening slumped motionless on the couch half-asleep until he was offered or forced to accept a lift home. Duncan found him funny and enjoyed his slapstick entertainment and crazy escapades. Just to prove that first appearances are often deceptive, many people were surprised to hear, usually from Duncan, that Geoff was actually a very intelligent individual, it was simply a matter of speaking to him when he was in the mood to be serious, in other words, not at parties. Duncan responded to Geoff's question with enthusiasm, beginning with the words 'I'm glad you asked me that...'. Geoff should have known better than to get the amateur chef started. The host spent several minutes precisely explaining the evening's plates and even added an explanation on the recipes and methods of preparation. Meanwhile, Elaine and Daniel were explaining how they had met each other while Jennifer and Sharon nodded along, pretending that they didn't already know. Daniel was the son of one of her father's colleagues and they had met by chance one day when her father hosted a barbecue at the family home. The two got talking and quickly discovered their shared passion, Elaine as a Psychology Masters student and Daniel already practising as a therapist. 'I'm particularly interested in hypnosis,' he added, his lips curling into a smile as he awaited their reactions. Jennifer frowned, she thought hypnosis was a fallacy. Unfortunately for her, Daniel noticed her expression and turned quickly towards her, his eyes drilling like those of a hungry owl. 'I take it you don't believe in hypnosis, Jennifer?' She turned from his gaze, embarrassed, and looked to Elaine, hoping she would say something to end the awkwardness of his loaded question. But it was Duncan who spoke next. 'Everyone, take a seat. Dinner will be served shortly!' Apparently, Geoff had got the host thinking about his delicious four-course meal and eager to have everybody seated and enjoying it without any further delay. 'Perhaps I can give you a demonstration later,' Daniel offered, looking at, or rather through, Jennifer. She nodded silently, and then Sharon suggested that they all seat themselves at the table before Duncan started physically forcing them to do so. After a fine dinner that was thoroughly enjoyed by all Duncan presented his guests with a cheese platter and filled their glasses, once again, with a fine red. It was at this time that the subject of hypnosis resurfaced. Elaine and Daniel had been talking to some of the other guests about matters of psycho-therapy. 'You can really hypnotize peo-hup-ple?' Geoff, the clown, asked. He was trying to sound serious despite the fact that his excessive wine consumption was causing him to hiccup every few seconds. 'Yes, it is an important part of therapy,' Daniel added matter-of-factly, surveying the table to see if everybody was paying attention. His confirmation provoked murmurs from all present. The other diners shot him looks of incredulity and even contempt. 'Sounds like a neat party-trick,' Geoff remarked. Although his comment was met with several laughs, Daniel regarded him with a look of haughty impatience. 'Hypnotism is, despite the common misconception, anything but a party-trick.' Duncan had finished refilling the glasses and took his place at the table. 'So you won't show us your abilities tonight?' he asked, a little disappointed. Such a show would only help make his dinner-party even more unforgettable than it was already proving to be. 'Hypnotism requires a quiet ambiance and concentration on the part of the subject... or rather, the patient receiving the treatment.' All were silent, if at first they had thought this was simply a joke, they were now realising that this man was very serious indeed. He would perform hypnosis there and then if they were willing to co-operate and follow his directives. The table was encircled by nodding heads and curious faces. They had calmed themselves instantly, like school-children promised to leave class early if they behaved themselves for a while. Daniel watched them, each face around him, a look that could only be described as mischievous glinting in his eyes. 'This is what needs to be done,' he went on to explain the circumstances required in order to perform the hypnotism. Candles were lit and placed on the table while Sharon cleared the living room. The music was stopped and the electric lights were switched off. A circle of softly illuminated, curious faces surrounded the candle-lit table. Their heads cast shadows which blackened the walls of the dining-room so that its length and width could no longer be fathomed. They could have been seated at a dining-table in the middle of the Simpson Desert on an overcast night for all they knew. It was like being in another time and place. 'Who will be our volunteer tonight?' The hypnotist asked quietly. Around the table one face looked to another, back and forth. Some of the faces looked worried, others enthusiastic. Jennifer was looking straight down, at her delicate white fingers that sat glowing before her. She was hoping that she wouldn’t be noticed, but somebody did notice her. Daniel's smile twisted as his hawkish gaze fell upon her, nestled timidly between Elaine and Sharon. 'Jennifer,' he whispered, but to her it was as though he had shouted out into the uncomfortable silence. Why me? She wanted to say no. 'Come one, Jenny. It'll be a laugh,' they urged her, most of them happy that somebody else had been singled out. Everyone was staring at her, she wanted it to stop, she hated people looking at her, being the centre of attention made her feel naked and exposed. 'Thanks Daniel, but no thanks,' she replied again. He stared at her, into her, no longer smiling. 'But I insist!' His words were hissed. Elaine looked at him sharply, surprised at the tone in his voice. He smiled again, squeezing Elaine's hand under the table, they wanted a show, it's just part of that show, Sweetie. 'Now, let's move to the living room and help Jennifer to make herself feel relaxed on the couch,' he took the candles from the table and everyone followed the hypnotist's lead. The couch was dragged to the centre of the room, the candles placed on the coffee table and everybody instructed to remain on the far side of the coffee table in such a way as to minimize the impact of their presence. The room fell into silence. From her reclined position Jennifer could see Daniel, seated on a stool beside her, his face mostly hidden in darkness, his left hand holding a plain silver pendant illuminated by the candles. The pendant began swinging, seemingly by itself, but of course it was the hypnotist's wrist, moving ever so subtly, that controlled the object of everyone's attention. Daniel knew that, strictly speaking, this form of hypnotism, despite its widespread familiarity, was not the most commonly used method in contemporary therapy. More commonly, modern hypnotherapy consisted of tapes used to influence a client at night, subliminally encouraging the changing of certain negative behaviours, whether it be smoking or having low self-esteem. This was most effective during the first hour or so of slumber. 'Jennifer, I want you to relax, watch the pendant before you, swinging from side to side. Follow it with your eyes. Concentrate on its movement.' Daniel had, for the sake of entertainment, opted for the method of hypnotism considered to be the most classical and spectacular for the non-professional onlooker. Jennifer lost herself in the swinging pendant. Although she felt uneasy about Daniel and his strange manner, she knew that she was safe here, with Sharon and Elaine nearby. She was in the company of friends. She submitted herself to the hypnotism. She forgot about her shyness, she ignored the temptation to resist the hypnotism. Finally, she blocked-out everyone in the room, almost to the point of excluding the hypnotist from her consciousness. For several minutes she followed the arc of the swinging pendant. Daniel was speaking, she was responding, but she was no longer aware of what either of them were saying. There was just a silver circle, swinging and shining against the darkness. Before going home that evening, Jennifer tried to find out what had happened. No-one would tell her, they just smiled cheekily. 'Don't worry,' Sharon said, checking that Daniel and Elaine were out of ear-shot. 'It was a load of rubbish. Nobody took it seriously.' That was true, nobody had taken the hypnotism seriously, except Daniel himself. He was the only person to have confidence in his skills. The others thought that it had been a joke, a mere party trick. He alone knew that they were wrong. * * * * * On her way to lunch the following Monday, Jennifer walked across King George Square, just in front of Brisbane's city hall. She was one of hundreds of office-workers heading towards their favourite restaurant or food-court. Amongst the passers-by she thought that she recognised a face. Daniel? She was surprised to see him there. What a strange co-incidence, she had met him for the first time that weekend and now here he was again, a couple of days later. She turned to see where he was going, only to find that he had stopped barely a metre away and was watching her as she walked. Is he following me? I should tell Elaine... he's even stranger than I thought! Daniel shot her a crooked grin as her gaze fell upon him, a puzzled look written all over her face. People were rushing past them both, hurrying along to have lunch. Daniel was as still as a statue and kept looking at her. Suddenly a loud sound thundered across the square. The city hall clock. Jennifer spun towards the clock-tower, her face froze, staring at the clock-face. She was lost in time and space. She had lost control of her actions and thoughts, she had fallen into some kind of trance. The introductory chiming stopped and then, a moment later, the bell struck one loud peal for one o'clock. Jennifer's gaze remained fixed upon the clock. Daniel's remained upon her. Other people had started to slow down, wondering why in the world she was looking up at the clock in such a bizarre way. She let her briefcase fall from her hand then raised her delicate white fingers to her grey business vest and began unbuttoning it. She shrugged her slender shoulders and it fell to the ground. People, mostly men of course, were stopping all around her, enjoying the show. Daniel was now just part of the leering mob, his lips curled into a sly smile. Every staring face, except for that of the hypnotist, displayed an expression of wide-eyed, open-mouthed amazement as Jennifer continued undressing in the middle of the crowded square. She reached towards her back and unclasped her bra. Nobody tried to stop her, they simply stood there and watched her as she stripped down to her creamy pale skin. |
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