The applause still lingered as I ran off stage and bolted down a rear corridor alone.
My escape was momentarily halted by the back door, which had the most baffling handle I’d ever seen.
Suddenly, an old acquaintance appeared behind me. “Oh, good,” I said. “Help a brother here. You gays always know the way out.”
“Try this,” he said as he leaned over my shoulder and placed his hand on mine. We pushed the handle together at just the right spot, then staggered out onto the patio.
“You were great today,” he said, settling down on a retaining wall while I paced absently.
“Thanks, man.”
“You look good and smell nice, too,” he said with a sly grin.
“Heh, thanks,” I said with a light chuckle. “Not interested, though.”
“Don’t knock me for trying,” he gently protested.
“Nah, I respect the game,” I shot back.
He lit up a cigarette and started smoking, and I sidled up beside him.
“Mind if I share?” I asked. I don’t even smoke.
He handed me the cigarette without a word while blowing into the air.
It felt nice to just relax together.