Fitzgerald strolled casually down to the Hotel end of the Concourse. Out in front of the entrance to the Hotel proper, several workmen were setting up metal bleachers. In front, facing the bleachers, was a stage with portable chairs and a podium with a microphone.
"What's all this?" asked Fitzgerald. The work crew was a man and four women, which was the kind of ratio that didn't seem to attract attention around the Backstage. The male worker's name had "DEAN" on his nametag; the four women, at least according to THEIR nametags, were "JOANNE," "ROBIN," "SUZANNE," and "PEGGY."
"We're just setting up for the visitors," said the man. "Some women named Subgirlie and The TW Girl. Very mysterious. I've heard that the TW Girl has never allowed herself to be photographed!"
Fitzgerald got a gin-and-tonic from a waiter and watched the workcrew. Now they were setting up portable banquet tables and covering them with tablecloths. Staff from the Hotel were laying out place settings. "It's free," said the man named Dean. "Of course, if you want to stay for the entire weekend, you have to get a room in the Hotel. I've heard that every boob freak in the Backstage is coming around the ring for this one. I've even heard of people getting here from the Real World for this!"
"What about Subgirlie and The TW Girl? Did anyone ask them if they wanted to be hijacked into a press conference?"
"Oh, to them it'll just be a dream, as usual. All real people come here in dreams. Well, most of them. This is a dream for me, I can tell you that. I've never had all four of them all together in one place." Dean indicated his female co-workers. "Later on I thought we'd all go up to a room together, know what I mean? I mean, c'mon, this is my dream!"
Fitzgerald nodded. None of the women exactly looked like Fitzgerald's type, but to each his own. "How exactly DOES a five-way work?" he asked the workman. . . .
Thu May 3 11:11:30 2001