| To be
honest, I had no clue how it
would go. So, as I jittered along
on the CTA line to the Rosemont
stop, that Friday night, I kept
reminding myself of that. She
might not even recognize me. And,
seeing as the trip took almost an
hour, from downtown Chicago, I
had a lot of time to be reminding
myself of that. Still, as soon as
I saw the Holiday Inn, where the
convention was taking place, I
began to run, in my pointy Unique
Thrift cowboy boots, in
anticipation and giddy gay boy
hope! I saw her the moment I
entered the showroom and waving
the bouquet of slightly crinkled
flowers before me– perhaps I
had clutched them too tightly
throughout the trip!?! –I
approached. “Its you!’
she yelped and jumped out from
behind her display counter to
give me a full on Scream Queen
Superstar Hug! True, I had been
writing- and purchasing
memorabilia- from her, at least
once a month, for almost two
years, but still, an insecure fag
never knows! Anyhow, for those
brief seconds, I felt secure and
at home. And, thus began my
weekend with Brinke.
Coolest moment in
my life, Number One: They invite
me to dine! After the convention
wrapped up for the night, I walk
out with Brinke and
filmmaker/writer, Jason Paul
Collum. They swerve toward the
candy-lighted nightclub for
dinner and drinks. I stop to say,
“Good-bye,” and head
back home. Brinke turns and says,
“Aren’t you coming
in?” “I don’t want
to intrude,” I reply.
“We’re all friends,
now,” she replies and places
her arm upon my back, as the
three of us walk into the club,
together. Bliss!
Coolest
moment in my life, Number Two: We
dance! Jason Paul brings Brinke
into Boystown in Chicago on
Saturday evening, after the
convention wraps up, and I met
them out. We eat dinner at
Nookies and, while the
personality deficient waiter has
no idea that he is serving the
Queen of Horror, I figure that I
admire her enough for the both of
us. So, when we venture over to
the multi-layered pose-fest,
Sidetrack, a popular gay bar, I
decide to point out to everyone
that I know – “This is
Brinke. She’s an
actress.” Still, no one has
a clue. They assume that, as a
theater person, everyone I know
is an actress. Well, I could
assure them – not like this! This is a “Haunting
Fear-Slavegirls
From Beyond Infinity-Vicious-Bimbo
Movie Bash” type
performer that I am hanging out
with here! Anyhow, by the time we
head over to Roscoes, across the
street, I realize it’s time
to give the “Hey! Don’t
you recognize her?”game up.
Besides, this way, I get to keep
her all to myself. Furthermore,
she wants to boogie! So, that we
do! She moves, beautifully,
despite claims that she
hasn’t danced in years.
Jason Paul and I are just proud
to be her partners. Hell, I think
that we are just proud to be
there, at all! In fact, I have
the picture to show it!
Finally,
at Jason Paul’s car, before
the three of us bid adieu, I
purchase his book on Scream
Queens, Assault of the Killer
B’s, and she signs it
for me. She writes, “My dear
Brian – You made my trip to
Chicago so wonderful, thank
you!!! Brinke Stevens”.
Hell, I couldn’t have ended
it better myself!
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