Greasepaint by David C. Hayes Read Free Book Online

and slings it around to his back. He hops down from the small stage.
    â€œThanks, but I don’t think this crowd is filled with big tippers,” she says.
    â€œNo problem, what’s up?”
    Connie jerks her thumb toward the back of the bar. “Creepy ass dude back there wants to buy you a drink or something.”
    â€œSuuure,” Michael says. He looks in the direction that Connie is pointing. There is, indeed, a man in an overcoat lurking along the back wall. He goes in and out of the shadow so Michael can’t see his face.
    â€œDid he say what he wanted?” Michael asks.
    Connie shrugs. “Something about clown school, gotta go.” She turns and leaves as Michael searches for the man in the shadows. As Michael stares, the man steps into a pool of light just long enough to wave. It is Monty Reigns.
    Michael sneers and heads in the direction of Monty. From the stage Mona turns in time to see Michael leave.
    â€œMichael! You want a beer?” she asks. Michael does not turn. He can’t. Ricky sidles up to Mona and watches Michael beeline through the bar. He sighs.
    â€œHere we go again.” Ricky shakes his head as Mona glares at him. Skeezer pulls the mask off and squints in Michael’s direction.
    â€œHey, ain’t that the TV guy?” Skeezer asks.
    â€œLooks like it,” Ricky answers.
    â€œWonder what he wants with Michael,” Skeezer asks. Neither Ricky nor Mona answer. After a moment he shrugs, no longer interested.
    â€œWhatever. I need booze. And a hand job. You seen Connie?”
    Ricky is deep in thought as he stares at Michael and Monty. Mona hops down from the stage without a word and goes after Michael. After a deep breath, Ricky follows her. Skeezer watches them leave and throws his hands in the air. He turns toward the bar area and grabs his crotch.
    â€œConnie! Awooooo!”
    Michael steps up to Monty, backing the older man against the wall. Monty holds the picture of Michael as a boy in front of him like a ward against evil. Michael shoves Monty’s chest, thumping loudly each time.
    â€œYou leave me the fuck alone, all right? It’s over!” Michael growls.
    Monty swats Michael’s hand away and shoves the picture in his overcoat pocket.
    â€œCan’t do it, kid. Did you see the show tonight? Jesus, they ate it up. This is big time news. Look, this kind of exposure could…”
    Michael grabs the lapels of Monty’s coat and slams the TV star into the back wall. Michael’s size belies his strength and Monty’s wind is knocked out.
    â€œThis is my life! I won’t do this, man. It is a big fucking mistake for you to bring me back into this O…O…Orzo shit, all right?” Michael can barely get the name out. Monty gasps for air, but notices it. He smiles.
    â€œToo…late…”
    Michael’s face twists in anger. Accented by the make-up he looks like a demented mime. He raises his fist and rears back, ready to blast a hole through Monty’s head.
    Mona catches Michael’s arm. He turns and glares at her. Mona is taken aback by Michael’s reaction; she’s never seen him this angry. Michael sees how scared she is and drops his arm. He points his finger directly in Monty’s face.
    â€œThis is bad news for you, motherfucker…bad news…” Michael shakes off Mona’s arm and storms toward the exit doors. Watching Michael retreat, she turns back to Monty, ready to say something, but nothing escapes aside from a frustrated “uugh.”
    She turns from Monty and follows after Michael.
    Monty attempts to catch his breath and rubs his neck. He looks toward the exit doors when Ricky steps up. Monty catches the approaching zombie in the corner of his eye and reflexively covers up expecting another attack.
    â€œCalm down man, I’m not gonna hit you. I’m the guy that you talked to, okay?” Ricky says. Monty nods, grateful no one else wants to