Late

Sammy paced.

This had never happened before. And tonight, of all nights! He glanced at the clock, grimaced, and paced some more. Where was he?

Behind the curtain, he heard the chatter of the crowd, the beat of the music.

Marv the Magnificent, the "compere extraordinaire", strode up to Sammy and gave him a questioning look. Sammy answered with a shrug. Marv looked at his watch, wiped his brow, sipped from a tin hip-flask.

"It's now or never, Sam. Do or die. I believe you can do this on your own - but he'll be here yet."

Seeing the fear in his star attraction's eyes, Marv put a hand on Sammy's shoulder. "He'll be here yet", he repeated.

Sammy nodded.

Marv swept out onto the stage. The lights - those oh-so-important lights - flared and blazed. The audience roared. Marv did his thing. Sammy listened nervously, jealously. Marv could perform alone; but he couldn't.

Sammy glanced around once more. He walked in front of a spotlight. Nothing. He swept his majestic cape. Nothing. Marv's voice filtered through from the stage - only Sammy would have noticed the undertone of fear in it.

"... my pleasure to announce, the greatest - and I mean this - the GREATEST shadow puppeteer on the circuit right now..."

It wasn't going to happen. He was alone - his partner wasn't going to make it on time. It was inconceivable. Impossible.

Embarrassing.

"Sammy the Sillhouette!"

With one final look around, Sammy drew himself up to his full height and strode out onto the stage.

The audience clapped, they cheered - and quietened. A tremor swept through them: a flicker of doubt, a murmur of uncertainty. The silence grew in volume - cheers gave way to whispers. There was Sammy, standing proudly on the stage.

"But..." people asked one another.

"But..." they whispered amongst themselves.

"But..." the audience cried, "where's his shadow?"