Walks back to the tent. One of the cops confirms the host's suspicion: because the gay groups holding the last three hours have joined together, they are allowed to speak right through the fifteen minute break.
He sits behind the table, and lights a cigarette. One of the City's mediators laughs, "Hey, Dan, were you here during the Lung Association time?"
"Yeah, and I was dying for a smoke, too, but didn't have the nerve to light up in front of them.""Heh. It was amazing watching them leave after the speeches, all those people dying to light up as they made their way out... puff puff puff!"
"Huh - I missed that. Was off in the corner of the lot, smoking."
"Oh - listen - they just introduced Candice Gingrich - you know, Newt's sister?"
I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE - I AM RELATED TO A REPUBLICAN.
Laughter from the crowd.
NEWT GINGRICH IS MY BROTHER.
Boo, hiss, laughter.
I SPOKE TO MY MOTHER TODAY, AND SHE SAID: CANDICE, YOU BE NICE TO YOUR BROTHER!
Laughter.
"I think a lot of these people came tonight to hear her. They seem to be enjoying her, so far.""Yeah, I think you're right."
WELL, I'LL BE NICE TO THEM WHEN THEY START BEING NICE TO GAY AND LESBIAN FAMILIES!
Whoops and cheers.
I'LL BE NICE TO THEM WHEN THEY START BEING NICE TO PEOPLE WITH AIDS!
More cheers.
I'LL BE NICE TO THEM WHEN THEY START BEING NICE TO IMMIGRANTS!
Applause.
I'LL BE NICE TO THEM WHEN THEY START BEING NICE TO THE HOMELESS! AND I'LL BE NICE TO THEM WHEN THEY START BEING NICE TO WOMEN!
Cheers from over a thousand people echo across the zone.
"Good crowd here, tonight, eh, Danial?"Host looks up. It's Bob, the network tech.
"Yeah! How you been holding up?"
"Oh your San Diego sun is something awful, but I've made it into the night, at least."
"Good."
Danial looks beyond the crowd, sees a white orb hanging above the trees, at the left end of the Convention Center. "What the hell?! That can't be the moon!"
"Huh? My God, no..." and Bob bursts out laughing, "Man, you had me going for a minute. Sure looks like it could be the moon, but no, that's one of those balloons floating over the metal detector gates.""Oh, yeah. Of course. I'm so damn exhausted I thought...."
"Uh-huh, it had me fooled, too. You know what those are for?"
"Decoration?"
"No, they are actually aerial counterweights, holding up signs that point toward the GOP express - the shuttle bus system for the delegates."
He writes the false moon into his notes. Hell, but I am getting tired. Starting to see things!
"Well, I gotta go watch the camera platform.""Okay. See you later."
I want to call Kim before it gets too late and she goes to bed.
Host walks across the back of the crowd, toward the temporary pay phone pod in the far corner. Well dressed evening walkers are passing outside the fence, looking in at the echoing, cheering rally. Wonders if they know that's the Salamander Gingrich's sister still talking now, working the crowd up, making them laugh, bonding them together.
Good speaker.
"Hello, love?""Oh, hello, D. Are you done?"
"No, there's still more than another hour to go before I can leave."
The crowd breaks into wild cheering.
"Jeez, Danial, it sounds like you are having altogether too much fun!"
"It is kind of exciting. We finally got some big crowds in here today."
"Good. You sure you going to want to give up all that Gaslamp excitement and move back in with me?"
"Kim, more than anything in the world, I want our marriage to work out. Standing here, alone in this crowd, I feel that stronger than ever. I miss you, love."
"Awwww."
"I know it ain't going to be easy, but... I still want to try. I love you."
"And I love you, too."
HOW DARE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DENY US THE RIGHT TO HAVE A FAMILY LIKE ANY HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE, OR ANY BISEXUAL COUPLE OF OPPOSITE SEX?
"Did you hear that?""I couldn't make out the words, but I hear the cheering. Can you hear me?"
"Just barely, if I cram the phone up against my ear."
"Thanks for calling, I... I'm really glad to hear from you. I was wondering if you would phone me today."
"I thought I'd better call before you go to sleep."
"Thanks. I appreciate that."
"Well... talk to you tomorrow?"
"Okay. How are you holding up?"
"I'm exhausted."
"How long have you been there today?"
"Since seven in the morning."
"Shit. They aren't going to pay you anything?"
"Nope. But I'm writing like the devil."
"Ah. That's good."
"I think I'll put it up on the Xanadu website."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I...."
Cheers, whistles, jeers.
"What?""I said I should get to sleep."
"All right. I love you. Good night."
"Good night, Danial. Thanks again for calling. I love you, too."
I walk from the phones toward the crowd.
THE DELEGATES ARE LEAVING! LET'S ALL GO UP TO THE FENCE AND LET THEM KNOW HOW WE FEEL!
"What about AIDS? What about AIDS? Shame! Shame! Shame!"
The crowd stretches out along the fence, chanting, waving flags, signs, banners. Danial sees a friend of his first wife's, back in the days ten years ago when she and this guy were library aides, their first job with the City.
"Brad!""Hello, Danial! Enjoying the rally?"
"Man, I've been here all day, and this one, and the Chicano rally earlier, are the best I've seen!"
"You've been here all day?"
"Yeah, I'm the host, actually."
"No! You racking up the overtime?"
"Na-unh. I'm a volunteer."
"Oh. Well, you must have heard a lot of speeches."
"Oh yes. But I think the best line I heard was that woman saying - You aren't in Kansas anymore!"
"Heh. Hey, did you hear the one later, when she said - I just love Nancy Reagan, she's so lifelike!"
"Ha! I missed that. That's outrageous!"
Brad turns to the fence, stares out across the tracks, toward the convention center. "Do you think they can even hear us?"
I have almost made it. Just another hour after this one..."Sure, they can hear us. But are they listening?"
"Hmmm... I see your point."
"But hey, it's still a great rally."
"Yes. It is."
"Well, I'm gonna go back to the tent and sit. I'm beat."
"You going to be here every day?"
"Yeah."
"Good luck!"
He turns his head, then glances back - "Danial, you know I'm going to Chicago?"
"Oh yeah? Are you a... delegate?"
"Uh-huh. Well, an alternate actually."
"Brad, that is so fantastic, congratulations!"
"Thanks." He watches Danial yawn, suddenly. "You must be tired. When can you go home?"
"Pretty soon, I hope."
"Go - get some sleep."