Send me an Angel

Dear Harry,

After I wrote the letter to you last week, I got a bit of a bug up my butt and decided to post an advert on Craigslist impersonating you. I hope you’re not upset with me. However, I thought it would be funny to post an ad as though it were you looking for a Svengali to form a magic act. The idea sort of sprang from the frustration I shared with you in my last letter in having guys answer my adverts. But then not following up with the email responses I send them. So I posted the following on Craigslist.

Houdini ISO Svengali
Houdini in search of Svengali to conjure up moments magical or at the very least create a grand illusion or two. But most importantly for friendship. Mad skillz in the use of smoke and mirrors, prestidigitation, and escape arts are a must. Training and abilities in card tricks a big plus. Major bonus if you’re able to mesmerize me into crooning sweet nothings into your ear each evening, but not remember it by morning’s light as you dematerialize in a wisp.

May need to take the show on the road though as it appears this town is rapidly becoming a bust. I’ve been in talks with Tesla and he’s willing to sponsor provided we can find placement for one of his new cars in the act. Maybe we can work up a good vanishing trick with an escape twist? I think we can pull it off. What about you?

Serious inquiries only please.

I must tell you the responses I received proved to be quite interesting. I got a few more responses to than I thought I might.  Honestly to receive any was a bit of a surprise as I didn’t think I would get any given the nature of the post. Especially given I posted the advert mostly to be cheeky. A couple of them proved to be a bit of a hoot. And one of them in some kind of weird way has turned out to be fun and rather intriguing.

But let me see if I might properly explain.

I received an email from a gentleman last week using the moniker Jonny Angel. He’s a rather clever fellow as his email addy is a derivative of the same name, Jonny Daemon. I of course had to give him props for being extra clever.

He sent me the sweetest note on Friday while I was at the movies with S&M seeing Blue Valentine. He wrote to ask if I might consider him for the part of Svengali in the burgeoning road show. And went on to explain that he is a disciple of Mr. Babbage. The work of Mr.Tesla has always held interest for him and lives in a tower overlooking the fair city of Alexandria. And he is roughly the same stature as I and is 8 years my junior.

I was intrigued as much by the note of Mr. Angel as he is with the work of Mr. Tesla. So I sent him a return note in kind Saturday morning expressing the same.

That evening I had a date with a gentleman T. who answered my advert I told you about in my last letter posing as Rumi seeking his Shams. He’s a very dear gentleman. I enjoyed the evening with him and hope to spend more time getting to know him. In a moment all too cosmically ironic, I received an email from a gentleman calling himself Criss Angel that afternoon before I headed out to dinner with T.

So many angels so little time, or so it would seem.

In my response to Mr. Angel, I suggested we might meet over the next couple of weeks for me to informally interview him for the position. As part of that response, I included a photo of myself as he had included one in his initial response to me. Much to my surprise and delight, he agreed to meet for an informal interview.  And in his response made the cutest joke about being concerned for my safety in reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As you see, I share the name of a character in the movie who met an untimely demise. He made this joke due to the fact that I’d mentioned that I’d been to the motion picture show when his message was received. He expressed concern that should I know Drs. Furter and Scott that my safety may be in jeopardy.

I responded to let him know that indeed I was well as I had escaped the clutches of Dr. Furter. However, I remained concerned for the well-being of dear Dr. Scott and my twin cousin of the same name. And that I was delighted to hear he was able to meet through the next fortnight to sup. Again in his response he made the cutest joke. He inquired, though acknowledging it was short notice, as to whether I’d be free to meet Friday evening. And if I were, to please confirm my availability via a wireless telegram to his mobile number. As part of this joke he did something ever more cute he wrote his number in the old fashioned alpha-numeric style that was used by the Bell system until the mid-1960s.

I was truly floored.

Of course, forever being the smart ass that I am I responded with the following SMS:

JONNY STOP MY MASTER SAYS FRIDAY IS A GO STOP JUST NEED TO KNOW RENDEZOUS POINT AND TIME STOP PLEASE STOP DO NOT STOP STOP

And being just as nerdy as I, he responded with the simple reply of ACK. Again, I had to pull myself up off the floor.

Harry, I have to tell you I’m a little afraid here. I think I may have found someone to have the crazy nerd love I have always sought.

I pray I don’t fuck it up.

BTW, I got a message from a Roger who is looking for a message for Bess. Do you have anything to pass along?

Thanks for the magic!