CHAPTER THIRTEEN
FINN
Kavya and Zooey hold hands beside me as we walk through NiagaraCon. I’m sporting my vintageReading RainbowT-shirt, Zooey wears a shirt featuring Poison Ivy from theBatmancomics, and Kavya’s carrying a bag for the newInterview with a Vampireshow. With plenty of snacks and full water bottles, we’re ready for a day of pop culture fun.
I look through the schedule as we stroll. “Oh! The dancing old guy from that Six Flags commercial is going to be here.” I lower the paper. “Do we care about that?”
Kavya deadpans the song, “Buhm buhm buhm buhm buhm buhh-dun,” she says, then shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”
“You told me there would be minor celebrities,” Zooey says, “but there are some fantastically obscure pop culture figures on this schedule. I’m impressed.”
“It’s part of the fun of a very small con,” Kavya explains to her girlfriend. “That, and all the homemade costumes.”
People dressed in falling-apart Pokémon costumes walk in the opposite direction.
“Cool,” Zooey says. “I’m into it.”
“Speaking of minor celebrities,” Kavya pauses and points at the schedule in my hand. “Did you notice the director ofGalaxy Demonsis here?”
“What!” I look and see that she’s right. “He never does appearances. After the last season bombed, he retreated from public life.”
“I remember that show,” Zooey says. “People really hated it.”
“Not Finn,” Kavya adds.
“I loved it! Most audiences just have no appreciation of camp. The show was always best when it was silly. I mean, they put demons in space suits! And after they teleported the high school to the Mother Ship Beelzebub at the end of season one, sillier was the only possible direction to go, in my opinion.” I tap the schedule. “I’m going to tell the director myself. I bet he never hears that.”
The show makes me think of NotAnOgre. One of our first heated debates was about the second season, which he counted among the worst in sci-fi TV history. I remember how much I enjoyed discussing the merits and drawbacks with him, and while we each only solidified our initial opinions, the conversation did help me realize things about the show that I’d never noticed before.
“Oh!” Zooey says, excited, and points across the con. “There’s an entire booth of Miyazaki stuff!”
The three of us eagerly head over to check out the booth, and the day starts to slip away. There’s a lot that I love about NiagaraCon, but my favorite part is seeing all the genuine, unashamed enthusiasm. People are here to have fun and celebrate their favorite stories and characters, and the sense of joy spreads easily.
By the time I break away to attend theGalaxy Demonsdiscussion, I’m buzzing with happiness, the stress of the gayborhood left far behind.
The panel is set in a side room, away from all the main action. When I get there, I see that it’s actually no more than a hotel suite that’s been dedicated to the purpose. There’s a small sign announcing the director’s name and the series, and the door is left half ajar. I adjust my tote bag on my shoulder and walk in, excited that a small crowd means that I’ll have lots of opportunity to talk with the director.
When I enter the room, though, I see only one other person, scowling away.
“Riley?”
There are folding chairs set up, and he’s sitting in the last of the three rows, arms crossed over his chest and legs spread. He’s in a black T-shirt and worn jeans, and he jerks his head to look at me.
“Unbelievable,” he says as he throws his hands up. “Just absolutely unbelievable.”
“You’re aGalaxy Demonsfan?” I ask, incredulous.
He stands. “No. Almost no one is a fan of that show. I’m here to tell the director why the final season pissed me off.”
“Naturally!”
Riley glowers. “The newspaper called this morning. They’re doing a story.” He arches an eyebrow, studying me. “Although I doubt you’re surprised to hear that.”
I am surprised to hear it, and disappointed, considering our plan was to hold off on that step until we moved along with the letter. The newspaper must have decided to move forward on their own. Still, I quickly process the information, not wanting to show him any hesitancy.
I clear my throat. “They’ve got their fingers on the pulse of the neighborhood. Of course they’re interested.”
“Because the big, scary garage is ruining the vibe.”
