Eryk's Queenie (18 - 24 April 2001)

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The Playboy woman, whose old fogy folks don’t want her to rent the apartment to a cat owner, keeps calling Eryk. She keeps telling him how much she likes us (or likes him—although I get the sense that she’s not into guys—or perhaps she assumes he and I are a couple, this being “Boystown” after all). But Eryk will not part with that darn cat.* Although the Playboy woman pulled the “For Rent” sign from the building’s front door four days ago, she told Eryk that she’s showing the apartment “to a few more people.” Are we her fallback prospects? Either way, she is very friendly. But then personability is key when your job involves coaxing young women to disrobe and pose for a globally circulated publication. Then again, the place has been on the market for three months. So… she’s picky? Well, you gotta be a picky if you’re the one auditioning Playboy Playmates. Amirite? 
18 April 2001 

After being strung along for another week and a half, the Playboy woman told Eryk that her mother decided to lease the apartment to someone who is already living in the building. The Playboy woman did not divulge the status of said tenant’s existing apartment. Meanwhile, we lost the $800 apartment that was supposed to be our Plan B. A trip to the local apartment finder service two days ago turned up nothing within our price range. Eryk wants to move out of his current situation no later than the first of the month; so, with time running out, he’s going to look at a few studios and one-bedrooms in Chinatown. As for me, it looks like I’m staying put in my $400 per month shoebox.† 
19 April 2001 


Eryk and Queenie are moving into the building I tried to move into nine months ago: The Suzerain. This happens to be where my ex-girlfriend lives—and where I lost my virginity.‡ My ex-theatre company’s artistic director also lives in The Suzerain.§ I warned Eryk that I probably wouldn’t be visiting him all that much. 
24 April 2001 

*[Several months later, I spotted a CAT sitting on one of the windowsills of this very same building. WTF?] 

†[Given how many women Eryk liked to bring home, it was probably for the best.] 

‡[If memory serves, I asked Eryk not to sleep with my ex. He probably couldn’t help himself — not because she’s my ex, but rather because she’s a woman and he’s an aquamarine-haired Casanova.] 

§[And if it weren’t for him, I might still be virgin today.]

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