It is funny how things happen if you are out and about; you can never plan things. My girlfriend and I met Stephanie and Scott one night when they happened to drop by the Brass Key yakfest and plop themselves down across the table from us. Their outfits were striking and they were somewhat eccentric and knew a bit about our neck of the woods. So we struck up a bit of a conversation and were invited to drop by Stephanie’s store in town. We saw them a few more times at various events – now being familiar, it was easy to say hi and catch up – and then again at the gala where they invited us to the piano bar.

At the piano bar, we managed to find seats at the bar and were sitting there having our drinks when Tracy, a beautiful, thin, 6-foot blonde, showed up and was trying without success to get the gay bartender’s attention. There was our connection, right away. We both saw (as men, if nothing else) how ridiculous it was for a striking, leggy blonde to be struggling to get a drink in this place when anywhere else people would be falling over themselves to serve her. It is kinda neat how two guys who obviously take passing as feminine very seriously can share a truly male moment of truth from within those lovely cocktail dresses. Tracy eventually decided to call on her male self to solve her problem and quickly got the bartender’s attention.

Meanwhile we had time to talk a bit. Then, it turns out, the drinks Tracy was getting were for her table, where, lo and behold, Stephanie and Scott were seated; they came over and said hello when they came in, but we had since lost track of them. So, of course, we joined them.

“And now, everyone, Mr. Scott Hayes,” said the piano player, and up Scott went to do a number. The ease with which he performed and held the audience in his hands was beautiful to behold. I envy him that. He was funny and charming and charismatic. And he was wearing a tux, a wig, a top hat and high heels.

Crossed (Dressing) Signals

Both he and Stephanie were very nice to us all week, though I’m not sure they knew what to make of me. I’d let them hold my hand or get inside my space without withdrawing, but I’d do nothing except smile. I’m sure it meant nothing to them (they may not even have noticed) and I didn’t know what I wanted from them, if anything. I guess I just wanted to see if anything occurred to me (nothing at all – completely blank), or what my reaction would be if they had done anything. In a sense, I’m like an adolescent girl testing her limits. I wonder what kind of confused impression I was giving off.

In the same vein, I kinda wanted to get hit on at a bar (by boy, girl or otherwise) just to see what it would be like, but I was a bit worried about what to do about it so I never made any effort to attract people or if I did, I may have given unreadable or conflicting signals. I have no experience as a girl in bars or in social circles other than polite conversation. So, I’ll have to work on that next.

It was nice to talk to everyone one last time at the Brass Key and exchange emails and other contact info. Having more time to get to know Tracy was a big bonus too. My GF and I decided to make our exit then and skip the brunch on Sunday, but by the time we left, the weather had turned bad and we ended up walking for 20 minutes in the cold, pouring rain and driving winds in high heels. We were drenched when we reached our room, so we spent 20 minutes together in the hot shower. Not a bad way to end the Fair. 🙂