Chapter Seven

“Oh my,” was all Ryan could say as his eyes scanned about the room, trying to take in everything he was seeing: around him are dozens of obvious drag-queens in every get up from Cher to Dolly. There are the requisite real women, the “Grace” to most of these males “Will” and there are even a few straight couples sitting in booths although they are few and far between. Everyone is watching a queen sing a stunning, if not dramatic, version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You.” There is a DJ booth along the right of the large room, and a kind of dais with karaoke equipment is set up on the wall directly across from the main entrance. Along the left of the entrance is a sleek, black bar with large man dressed in yellow spandex and a curly black wig serving drinks.

Ryan wasn't embarrassed or even uncomfortable, just startled. He had had a deep appreciation for the gay community, you can’t be in theater in New York and not have at least a few gay male friends, and his ego is always stroked when he’s in a bar like this. Apparently he is a very good “type” for many gay men. Although she never moved too far away, Kaylin was the hit of the bar, getting hugs and kisses from patrons and staff alike. Her outfit was praised over and over, and she was asked to spin more than once. Her laughter was warm and authentic and she held his hand the entire time allowing him to pirouette her while he laughed and offered to shake each person’s hand and even accepted hugs when they were offered. Kaylin referred to her friends as ladies and introduced Ryan as her date; just the act of her using such simple term made his smile widen. They were escorted to small booth to the left of the stage by a host-ess? wearing the most skin-tight dress he’d ever scene.

“Sweetheart what can I get you to drink while you wait?” she crooned, looking down at Ryan as Kay got herself situated and waved across the crowded room. Ryan looked to Kaylin to go first, but realized he was the one being addressed: they obviously know what she wants.

“Ah, what kind of beer do you have?”

“The foamy kind,” the hostess quipped and let out a bang of laughter.

“I’ll take one!” he laughed in response and settled in.

The Kelly Clarkson singer finished the song and everyone clapped politely when suddenly, over the speakers came a shrill Valley Girl voice, “Oh hell no!! Kaylin McSandsen get your skinny ass up here!” and the bar eruptted in applause.

Ryan looked over to his date, who is has hung her head, but was smiling broadly to herself. He raised his eyebrows in mock-surprise, and urged her on, “Your audience awaits!!” he laughed and, although she shrugged, Kaylin began to scoot off the booth and to saunter to the stage.

“Ya’ll know I’m here on a date, right?” she quipped into the microphone, adjusting it to her height, “don’t make me look bad!” She smiled out to him and he leaned on the table, he’d only heard snippets of her singing voice at the audition, but couldn't remember it from any of the other fifty or so women he heard that day. “What’ll it be tonight, Buffy?” Kay asked, rocking her head in the direction of the DJ, and Ryan saw that behind the DJ booth is a petite blond man dressed in preppy beach wear: it’s Spike, dressed as Buffy, of course.

Immediately the music starts up and Kay looked down at the TV positioned in front of her, reading the title of the song chosen. She smiled and closed her eyes dramatically, holding on to the mic. “You always pick this one, dear.” The crowd clapped again as Kay tossed her head to let her long hair fall down her back before leaning into the mic.

“She rings like a bell through the night and wouldn’t you love to love her?” Kay sang the lyrics of Rhiannon from memory, looking around the room, her voice accurate and sensual in a way that he thought only Stevie Nicks could.

Kaylin finished the song and the bar went crazy, Ryan clapped along with them and whistled loudly, almost knocking over the beer that has been brought over. Kay smiled and took a bow saying thank you to the people sitting around her showering her with praise. She walked over to the DJ booth and then both Kay and the DJ, Buffy, looked his way. Kay skipped over to their booth and pulls Ryan up. He gave a faint protest, but was happy to do it; he was a performer after all. As he approached the dais, Buffy looks him up and down.

“Well…well!!” came the voice again over the speakers. “Whaddya goin’ sing, babe?” Ryan faced Buffy, and looked Kaylin’s way. He said something that Kaylin couldn’t hear from her place at the table, but Buffy was smirking deviously and over the speakers came, “Oh Kaylin…I like this one! There’s been a request for you…”

She went back over to the karaoke machine and Buffy handed her the second mic. The music started to play and she took her place next to Ryan who was looking fairly smug, but she recognized the music immediately as a Stevie Nicks duet with Don Henley. Their voices melded into a sweet harmony and Kaylin became suddenly nervous; she didn't want to mess this up: this song, or this night.