Elyse clapped heartily with the rest of the audience. Once the applause died down, she turned to her friend. "So, do you think he's funny?" Sharmaine Shazmani was draped along the red velvet banquette like a pampered show cat used to winning blue ribbons. While formulating her opinion, she smoothed her shiny, bleach-blonde hair down over one shoulder. "Yeah," she began slowly, "he's funny. Maybe a tad cerebral for your Average Joe. But he has a following, right? So people must like him." "I guess. He's popular here in New York. Don't know about the rest of the country. But it was nice of him to get us in." "Totally." She added in a throaty voice, "Even though I'm sure he gets a certain number of comps." "Yeah, but he could've saved them for his agent, or somebody important. But he gave them to us." "I beg your pardon? I'm important." "You know what I mean. Anyway, I got to pay you back, at least, for some of the times you've gotten me in to see you perform." "Which reminds me...
