The other day I was coming out of my room just as Mike was passing by. I gave him a polite, “Hi, Mike,” as I turned toward the elevator. Without missing a beat, he fired back, “I don’t have to talk to you!”
Well, great. I thought to myself, “You freeking weirdo!”
I rolled into the elevator, and just as the doors were about to close, Mike stepped in right next to me — like nothing had happened. At first, I figured he was on his phone, so I ignored it. Then he blurted out, “I’m looking for Viola.”
Christ. After that warm greeting, the last thing I was about to do was give him directions. I don’t even know anyone named Viola. I decided to let that one hang in the air and stayed quiet. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped out without a word, just shot me this look of pure disdain — like I’d somehow ruined his day.Later that day, at dinner, I spotted him sitting at table six, holding court with three women fawning over him while he sang along to Summer Wind, the Sinatra classic — like he was the second coming of the Chairman of the Board.
A few days later, I was wearing my old Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore T-shirt. As I rolled past Mike, he locked eyes with me and said, “You like good music, huh?”
Not wanting to get too chummy, I just gave him a quick nod and kept right on rolling.Later, at dinner, I started telling Hank and Jimmy about my run-in with Mike. Both of them let out a loud roar of laughter. “That’s what he does,” Hank said. “Yeah, you know how many times I’ve seen him walking around talking to himself?” Jimmy added.
“Don’t know, but that can’t be good!” I replied.
The Karaoke King had clearly made his mark on the place, and from the looks of it, the show was just getting started. A little while later Oscar came along and sat with us just as “Hound dog” was starting. ” That guy’s menta!l”he declares. Alex asks” Oh, you know him?” “Yea his room is next to mine and I hear him talking and singing all night.” He answers.So, I just had to ask, does he ever fight with himself? No, but sometimes out of nowhere I hear him laughing really loud like some kind of demon! It’s scary.
