It was just after 1 am when I got home.
My leg was still trembling after my date with ~sigh~ Old Faithful. Lord, help me! They don’t make’em like they make’em in MIAMI!
With a goofy grin on my face I checked my email.
Oh. Kel sent his manuscript already.
He had called me up last week after being MIA for I don’t know how long. But I guess that was my fault since I gave him the cold shoulder that last time we saw each other.
None of that seemed to matter as he breathed excitedly into the phone. “I’m one chapter away from finishing my book!” I smiled. Kel had been working on his book for two and a half years. I knew that it was some kind of science fiction type action type deal that I figured that I wouldn’t like.
But what really impressed me was when I went to his apartment earlier this year and I saw his workspace. He had a big bulletin board with each chapter of his novel tacked to it. He had pictures of his character and short descriptions of who they were also tacked on to the board. As I surveyed his space my heart filled with warmth.
Now THIS is a real writer!
But I never got a peek at his manuscript then. He still had quite a while to go before it was done. So when he called me last week to tell me he was almost finished, I grinned and told him, “I’m a few chapters away from finishing my book too!”
“That’s awesome!” he said and we both laughed at the kinship.
“I guess we’ll have to trade,” I said.
I opened up the email, read the brief message and downloaded the attachment. I crossed my legs, grabbed my bottle of water and took a swig as I leaned back against the headboard of my bed.
“Let’s see what Kel is working with.”
As I began his first chapter I grinned as he introduced his main character. I remember him telling me that he based her looks on me, with the same haircut that I used to have and green eyes too.
I read and I read and I read and I read and my heart began to beat faster with each sentence.
I picked up my phone although it was nearly 2am and quickly dialed his number.
“Hello,” he answered groggily.
“WAKE UP!”
“I’m up. I’m up.”
“Boy! I’m reading your book and this is the REAL DEAL!”
He laughed. “I’m glad you like it.”
“No! I don’t think you understand. I don’t read stuff like this but I’m all up in this story! I’m scared!”
“What are you afraid of?” he asked.
“I’m just afraid to know what’s about to happen next.”
“Well, it’s nothing freaky…”
“I’m just,” I struggled to explain how I felt. I felt that his novel was going to become a hit and that it would easily translate over into film.
“Look,” I said seriously. “We have to get you an editor and clean this up. I’ve already been contacting agents and that’s your next step. You’ve got to get your proposal together. This is really good!”
“Thank you,” he spoke modestly. “I’m glad you like it.”
“No time for that,” I cut him off. “We’re about to do this together.”
“I like that.”
“Uh huh,” I murmered and then issued a challenge. “Let’s see who can sell the most copies.”