I walked past the Treasure Island grocery store and stepped off the sidewalk and headed down the path to Steve's Blues Bar, wondering if people who saw me go through the gate knew where I was going. I walked down the well trod path to the simple little house that housed the wildest party in Chicago. Steve smiled and said hello as I walked in, ready to party.
And meet Del. And Patti. I saw Del at the bar and walked over and said hello and then Patti walked over. Size 2 dress, fuck me heels to here, plunging neckline, and laughing and happy.
Del asked, "What happened at Playboy" and I told him about taking her to meet Skip and then the fellow who did the initial selection of girls for the centerfold and then the head of the modeling agency and then-
Everyone each step of the way agreeing to work with her.
The three of us laughed and talked and every now and then Patti would look over at me right in the eyes and squeeze my hand.
I woke up in the morning and watched her sleep but I knew it was time to go to work. I got dressed and ran out the door to look at footage shot for THE WILD KINGDOM and as I left the building I saw a long limo in front.
Two guys stood by the car. Eyeing me. As I walked by them, one pressed a gun into my back.
"Get in the car", he said softly, "someone wants to talk to you".
What happens to you in life is that if a Chicago policeman holds a gun on you and you know he can shoot you and get away with it, it's difficult to be threatened by a gun unfired.
I walked away.
As I hit Armitage to turn towards Clark I looked over and saw them standing by the car. Stunned.
When I got home that night Patti was upset. And shaking.
She said to me that she never meant to get me in trouble, she should never have gone to Playboy and ..........
I explained to her after being in riots, spied on by every U.S. Intel group in the late 1960's and even threatened by the Georgia KKK really I could handle it.
And we were going through the headshots, photos and auditions and she was going to make it.
Period.
For three days Patti discovered she really was beautiful, and I reaped the rewards.
After watching hours of footage of animals having sex that the cameramen had shot to amuse the editors I headed home. But Patti wasn't there.
There was a note.
" I have to meet my mom at my sister's place. She flew in from LA".
Momma's back.........
END OF CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2: THE MONOLOG: OF LOVECRAFT, HUBBARD, CROWLEY AND ANGER
Click on NEXT PAGE in the right hand corner for chapter 2
