Page 59 of Disco Witches of Fire Island

“He’s also not the only one that doesn’t want the wordAIDSassociated with the Pines,” Howie added, shaking his head.

“Exactly,” Vince said. “So, you see, lad, we can’t go accusing people without absolute proof. It’s not only our livelihoods at stake.” His eyes pointed over to Howie and Lenny. “Some folks here have to keep in good with you-know-who.”

Joe nodded, still furious but comprehending how Howie and Lenny’s housecleaning business also depended on Scotty Black and all his rich friends.

“But you’re not wrong,” Vince said. “Scotty knows the benefit might help Asylum Harbor make its nut, which would dump a cold bucket of ice water on that gombeen’s plans to shutter us.”

“I’m not giving up,” Dory announced. “I’ll just have to see if the printer can send more posters over by tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll stay up long enough this time to get the word out. ”

“Lenny and I won’t have time to put them up again, I’m afraid,” Howie said. “We have back-to-back gigs until the benefit next week.”

“If I start my shift late, I can do it,” Joe offered.

Dory patted Joe’s cheek. “Thank you, darling. You’re a wonderful young man. I’ll see if Elena can help you. We’ll try our best.”

“It’s all we can do,” Howie added. “Though I’ll also put in a request to the Great Goddess Mother to send a Chesapeake Bay’s worth of crabs straight into Scotty Black’s boxers.”

Howie, Dory, and Lenny tried to laugh, but they couldn’t. Joe knew how important this ACT UP benefit had been to them, especially to Dory. Of course, it had also become important to him. Joe desperately wanted the benefit to be a success in honor of Elliot, as well as all the friends Howie, Dory, Lenny, and Saint D’Norman had lost or were losing. Joe’s eyes narrowed as he slammed his fist on the bar counter. “Nowayare we letting Scotty Black get away with this.”

31.Fresca and Secrets

“When we’ve packed our dancing shoes, our magic tools, our snacks, and our favorite disco outfits, we think we are ready for any challenge. But without our brother and sister Disco Witches, we have nothing.”

—Disco Witch Manifesto #102

When the very last benefit poster was affixed to a telephone pole, the large spool of tape screeched with joy. Joe and Elena had not only successfully replaced all the torn-down posters, they’d increased the coverage by twenty percent. Every legal surface in the Pines and the Grove proclaimed that Dory Lieberman-Delagrange and a raft of celebrities would be hosting the“ACT UP NY Benefit at Asylum Harbor Bar, July 20, 1989, 2PMto 6PM. $25 donation. FREE DRINKS. Act Up! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!”

It seemed the perfect time for the two to celebrate by relaxing with a couple cans of Fresca. As it was past five, the beach was empty except for two Cherry Grove nudists, their jiggly bits splayed for roasting by the last wink of the sun.

“God, I’m tired.” Elena yawned, stretching out on the still-warm sand. “Hopefully the posters stay up long enough for people to see them this time.”

“They better.” Joe lifted his face to the salty breeze. Despite the circumstances, it felt great hanging out with Elena for an entire day. He looked over at her lying there with her golden-brown curls gildedKodachrome by the setting sun. Women like Elena could be so much easier to talk to than men. There wasn’t the constant obsession to hook up with “the hottest daddy,” like there was with Ronnie. Nor was there (usually) any worry that one might be sexually attracted to the other. Elena was a complete respite from all that.

An array of squawking drew Joe’s eyes from Elena to the waves. A group of seagulls and cormorants were dodging down for sand crabs in the shiny part of the sand, their reflections making it seem as if some other bird was right under their feet, racing them to their catch.

“How can this island be so beautiful,” Joe said, “and yet at the same time inspire evil dickheads like Scotty Black and Trey Winkle?”

“It’s just the way it is.” Elena kept her eyes closed. “There are monsters and angels crawling all over this bloated sandbar. Let me tell you, Dory’s got stories. Remember the goldfish pond that the homeowners’ association put up in the harbor?”

“Oh, right,” Joe said. “Back in May. Where the wooden bench is now. It had a little fountain with plants and, like, five fish. It was cute. Why’d they replace it?”

“Classic Pines politics. The owners spent months arguing about it. This one thought it was classy, that one thought it was a waste of money, and another was angry he didn’t get to design it. Blah blah blah. You’d think they were negotiating a nuclear arms deal. Next thing you know, someone poured a gallon of detergent in it, killing all the fish and plants. Thus, the bench.”

Joe grimaced. “They actually murdered goldfish over a grudge?”

“Yep. Theyfeel thingsjust a little too deeply out here. It’s the same thing in fashion. At nearly every runway show, everyone’s freaking out, screaming like someone just ate a baby.”

Joe laughed.

“I mean, Jesus, it’s just a fucking dress! The homeowners out here are the same. One moment they’re Auntie Mame, and the next they’re Anthony Perkins inPsycho—especially if it’s related to a water feature or the typeface on a signpost. Not everyone is evil. But if you want to fall in love with the island, you need to separate its beauty from all that nonsense.”

Joe lay his body down next to Elena’s. He listened to the fizzy sound the sand made when his head shifted back and forth. He dug his hands and toes deep through the toasty powder until they hit the cooler, damper grit. After a bit he sensed something in Elena’s silence. “What are you thinking about?”

After a brief hesitation, she said, “Remember how you were worried that your roommates were witches?”

Joe bolted upright. “Did you hear something?”

She laughed, and without even looking, she gently pushed Joe back down. “Relax! No broomsticks seen over High Tea just yet. It’s just …” She inhaled deeply. “Since coming out here, this place has been kind of magical for me. Remember I told you how I was having these conflicted feelings about Cleigh?”

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