Behind the Mask - A Sequel (of Sorts) to A Star Is Born

We Need A Plan

We Need A Plan

Over the next few weeks, rehearsals dominated my time, though I saw Sarah every chance I could get. We did a few amazing hikes on the Olympic peninsula, and I took her sailing on Lake Union during the afternoon regattas that fall.

But the sword of Damocles still hung over me, as I knew this chapter of my life would soon come to an end. We had never really figured out how we would tell our families and friends. Bruce, Juan, Phil, and Hektor (who moved out to Seattle as well) would bring up the need for a plan on occasion, but we were all enjoying things so much, there was no real pressure.

It was probably for the best that we got another scare. A gossip site called Pander announced that they were going to reveal the "true identity" of Black Mask within a week. Annie called in a panic, and said it was time for her to do the exclusive interview we had promised. Phil gathered the group at the warehouse studio, and we decided to invite Annie out to Seattle.

Fortunately, it turned out the Pander "scoop" was a marketing ploy, but it made us realize that if we wanted our story to emerge on our terms, we had to make some decision. Since Annie had come all the way, we invited her to join us as we planned the "coming out" event.

I asked the group what they though, and Brian and Juan both said we had to find a way to tell as many people as we could at once. We owed them as much, and they needed to hear about our secret directly from us. Maybe a show in a small, intimate setting, like one of the local clubs where the 90s grunge bands made their start. But how would we convince our friends and family to come without telling them the secret in advance?

Hektor again saved the day. "Do a bait and switch," he said. Line up a known act, pretend you won a block of tickets to the show, and share them with your friends. Throw in plane fare and hotel to make it an offer the out of towners can't refuse. And do it on a long weekend a few months out, when no one has gotten around to making plans.

Who would we invite? Annie chimed in. "I'll call Bono. He and I have known each other since I started covering U2 in the early 1980s. He's somehow managed to stay grounded despite living a life in the spotlight, and he will appreciate what you are up against." We all looked at each other in amazement, then agreement, though I suspected Bono had better things to do.