Chicken (17 page)

Almost.

I would like to acknowledge my parents for all the love and support they have given me. I thank my brother for being a constant source of love and sweetness my whole life, often in the face of enormous ugliness on my part.

James Levine, president of James Levine Communications, was not only helpful as a keen, astute, and cunning business adviser, but he also helped form the structure of the book with several brilliant suggestions early on in the process. Melissa and Mike must also be acknowledged for their contributions from the office. My editor, Cal Morgan, has been a joy to work with, with his immense knowledge, his remarkable diplomacy, and his dry with. I thank Judith Regan for taking a chance on me. Robert Shaw is the wonderful artist who designed our proposal. I thank Marion Rosenburg for teaching me so much about writing, and Greg Mahr for putting up with me for so many years.

Michael Cira must be thanked for being a great and constant friend who has taught me much about life. Thank you to Steph for being a good friend for many years, and to Ruth and Sam for being Ruth and Sam. Judy deserves special kudos for being so patient and understanding in the face of such rampant cussedness. I thank my sisters Kate and Liz for sticking by me when I wasn't such a great brother. Ron and Craig are to be congratulated for being the most stable members of our family. Beverly should be lauded for welcoming me with open arms over and over. Rachael has been a source of joy from before she was even born. Aunty Betty Whittle was a shining light in a sea of darkness. Larry Jones lent me five hundred bucks when I needed it. Paul Hoppe took
me to Ireland, and got me started writing seriously. Alex Kinney taught me everything I know. Katie Humes was very helpful in reading and giving comments and being kind and wonderful. Susan Wooldridge was immensely helpful technically, spiritually, and emotionally. Louis Stein must be noted for his extraordinary contribution in the areas of humor, goodwill, and hooping. I learned much from Ron Emory at Darrow School. Josh the wolf Shenk, Jack Haley, and Laura Sedlock were kind enough to read for me, and gave me excellent suggestions and feedback. Marcia Hurwitz helped me in more ways than she knows. Karen Leslie and David Sharps taught me about how to be seriously foolish. Iggy Breninkmeyer, Pascal, Irene, and Kylie were kind enough to let me sleep on their couch. Susie Greenbaum let me spread like an invading virus in her apartment as I wrote this. Janine Weissman helped me to get better.

Tina Jacobson must be singled out twice. Once, for being a brilliant agent who took a lump of coal and crafted a diamond out of it. Then for being a brilliant friend who gave a crazy mad-as-a-hatter novel to her goddaughter, the agent. Thanks for everything, Tina. You are a rare and lovely human being.

Which brings us to the mother lode. The goddaughter of Tina. The one and only Snow Leopard herself, the apple in my coffee, the cream in my eye: Arielle Eckstut. Besides being the greatest agent I've ever had by leaps and bounds (and I've had more agents than any human should have), and having the insight to take said novel and suck the truth from it, she is also a gorgeous beauty, a walking Zagat's Guide, an avid animal lover, a wild animal, a deep thinker, a profound wit, the best of friends, a very good driver, a wonderful writer, an expert Austenian, an inquisitive explorer, and a sweet and loving human of the highest order. Even living to be 120, I will never be able to thank her enough.

Finally, I'd like to issue a general apology to the many people who are owed one. The following people have helped me, and I would love for them to contact me at
[email protected]
, or through my publisher.

Praise for
Chicken
:

‘He relates his bizarre adventures in the boy-toy trade with dark wit and considerable compassion and the book proves to be that rare walk on the wild side you can thoroughly enjoy and not hate yourself for in the morning.' AMAZON.COM

‘Compulsively readable, visceral, and very funny … Sterry clearly possesses the storyteller's art.' PHILLIP LOPATE, author of
Portrait Of My Body

‘Priceless material.' DETAILS

‘Insightful and funny, great stories – captures Hollywood beautifully.' AIR TALK, National Public Radio

‘Alternatively sexy and terrifying, hysterical and weird, Chicken is a hot walk on the wild side of Hollywood's fleshy underbelly … colourful, riveting and strangely beautiful.” JERRY STAHL, author of
Plainclothes Naked and
Permanent Midnight

DAVID HENRY STERRY has worked as an actor, a marriage counselor, a screenwriter, a comedian, and an athlete. He lives in San Rafael, California

Sterry has put together a one-man show based on Chicken. More information can be found at www.davidhenrysterry.com

As a highly respected and well-paid teen-aged sex worker, Sterry was taught the following ‘rules':

Don't be late.
Don't do drugs.
Don't rip anybody off.
Be clean.
Say as little as possible.
When in doubt say even less.
The customer's always right.
If something seems weird it probably is.
GET THE MONEY UP FRONT!
GET THE MONEY UP FRONT!