At the entrance to the old Screamin' Jay Hawkins Theater in downtown Cleaveland, one of the security guards pats Jake down. "Any tomatoes?" she says.
"Tomatoes?" Jake says, holding his arms up in the air.
"No? How about eggs or pies?"
"Uh, no," Jake says, eyeing a table nearby piled high with produce and other food.
"OK, you can go in," she says and waves him past.
In the lobby, Jake catches up to Francine. "I made it!" she says, "I thought for sure I'd get the boot from the facial recognition software, but Dick must be desperate for people to attend his rallies."
"What's up with the produce stand back there?" Jake says, using his right thumb to point backwards at the entrance.
"Ha! I think half the people here brought something to throw at Dick, and security confiscated it. Either that or they've turned the theater into a very large refrigerator. It is really cold in here," Francine says, shivering in her short sleeve t-shirt.
"Brrr. You're right. The air conditioning must be turned on full blast," Jake says, putting his hands on his arms and rubbing them.
"Where's Ringo? Did he make it past security?"
"I haven't seen him," Jake says, "Man, I still can't believe I'm hanging out with The Pamphleteer."
"I still can't believe I know someone actually named 'Ringo'. His parents must have been big Beatles fans."
People file past Francine and Jake into the theater. Many carry "Stick with Dick" signs. "Well, let's wait here for him," Jake says, leaning up against a lobby wall and putting his left arm around Francine to keep her warm.
"He was handing out those pamphlets earlier. He might not have gotten in because of that," Francine says, looking worried.
"Well, if he doesn't get in, then we can catch up with him later. He seems to go with the wind anyway. I can't believe he's just staying with North for a couple of days until his next show. What a free spirit!"
"Or what a cheapskate! He doesn't have a car and begs rides from show to show, staying with fans. But, from talking with him on the ride back from the show, he seems like a good guy. A little too far to the left, but he definitely knows what's going on. He wouldn't admit to being behind the pamphlets, but he had quite a few on him, including a couple that I've never seen before, so I think he writes them," Francine says, scanning the crowd, "In any case, he told North he could get him booked onto the show Friday as well, as long as he drives him there."
"And, once again, I'll miss it because I have to work. I hope this thing's done before I have to leave for work," Jake sighs, "So, what do you think the big announcement will be at this rally? Is Dick going to announce his vice-president?"
"No, it's too early for that, but I think Poorpeople will be here to endorse Dick. Thanks for coming by the way. I know you don't find politics too interesting."
"Well, I can't stand Dick, but I couldn't pass up meeting The Pamphleteer."
"There he is!" Francine says, pointing and waving.
Ringo, a white man in his twenties with long brown hair and who dresses basically the same as he does in the ring, wearing all black and carrying a messenger bag, approaches Francine and Jake. "Hey, guys!" he says, "Sorry to take so long, but they kept searching me. I fooled them though. I tucked the eggs in my underwear."
He sticks his left hand down the front of his pants and quickly pulls it back out dripping with yolk, "Ah, fuck! They broke!"
Blog Love Omega Glee is a novel by Wred Fright about two bloggers who fall in love while the world falls apart, which is being serialized on his blog. To start reading from the beginning or read another installment, please visit Blog Love Omega Glee Central on WredFright.Com. If you like what you've read, or you've read all of Blog Love Omega Glee and want more Fright, then please read his first novel, which is available in print and as an ebook.
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