Page 47 of True

Christmasstarring Donna Michaels. Donna was a favorite of his—far underrated, and a Television Academy American treasure. Her character of Audrey onPhipps Landingwas diva paradigm

extraordinaire and should be a prerequisite study for wannabe television thespians around the world.

Taraji learned a thing or two from her.

He lingered for a moment grabbing his phone and clicking on the IMDB app. The ingénue

playing her son's love interest in the movie was, of course, gorgeous… and Alec quickly deduced that the age difference put Donna much closer to being the man's great grandmother. The plot summary

explained that the younger woman was ahired personal assistant teaching the importance of giving.

Blech.

He continued clicking through channels, past a black widow devouring her mate on Discover,

past C-Span and QVC, until landing on TBS. Here, he found an old black and white movie called

Christmas in Connecticut. starring Barbara Stanwyck. He wasn't sure, but he thought that Stanwyck was somewhat of a gay icon and possibly a closeted lesbian of her time. Demarco would have a

complete dossier, no doubt.

Of all the movies so far, this was the most bearable… but its ridiculous plot of a food writer

faking a column and having to come clean soon sent him spiraling into a paroxysm of anxiety

regarding his situation. The movie's plot was way too close to home. He had been fabricating his

column… writing humorous observations of single gay life inTales of the Circle.Thecoupledperspective (with Mac) that he had used—his outside-in window for shrewd commentary—was a

sham. Now, he was the very subject of his satire—a single gayliving the lifein our nation's capital.

Maybe he should write the next column first—get this and the breakup out of his system. Maybe

thatwas why he was blocked, the hypocrisy weighing heavy in his subconscious.

Maybe he should give up writing altogether.

Maybe I should have a drink.

He turned the TV off and found the keys to the Titan.

11

Alec entered Bear Tavern to the sound of applause. The lights were low and it was more

crowded than he had anticipated, maybe twenty people total scattered at tables. On the well-lit stage was a handsome young man named Hector Longfeather performing magic tricks. In his hand, he was

holding a deck of cards which he spread, showing both sides. He then took the deck of card and flung them out into the audience with both hands, only now instead of cards it was sparkling confetti

showering over those in the front. More applause.

Alec's eye was caught by movement over at the bar. Buddy and Marge were waving for him to

come over, patting a barstool as if they were expecting him the whole time. He weaved his way

through the tables and joined them.

"You made it," said Buddy, helping him with his coat, and tossing it to a nearby empty table.