With the Barthromian captain taped securely to my pen box and turned to face the black wastelands behind my desk, I patiently await my next visitor.
Delilah hoists up her low cut dress to better cover her ample cleavage and smiles. “Hello.”
“Is that the dress Ms. MC used to wear to that year end party?”
“Yeah, you cut it three drafts ago. Ms. Wildstar wanted it, but she couldn’t fill it out like I can.” She spins around.
“Indeed. I don’t think Ms. MC even did it such justice.”
“Really?”
“Totally.” I smile. “How does Glicfip like it?”
“He loves it. Oh, and thank you for giving him a new name. It’s much easier to say. And it sounds so different.”
“Like he comes from a whole different planet or something.”
“Exactly!” She grins.
“So what can I do for you today?”
“I’m supposed to ask you about manifesting your love of writing when you’re not doing Nano.”
“You mean, my other project outside of NaNoWriMo?”
Her grin hastily downgrades to a wavering smile. “Yes, those.”
“I think we both know that I write all year, well, other than the summer months. Those are often too busy and filled with interruptions to get much done, but if something really has me fired up, I’ve been known write even then. I also enjoy critiquing writing for other people when I’m in a non-writing mode, which sometimes happens between projects or when I’m on an editing/revising binge.”
My pens begin to jangle in their plastic cup set into the empty tissue box. Delilah jumps.
“What was that?” She wraps her arms around herself. “Are there dust bunnies back there? Trala says they’re horrible and mean and ugly! You’ll protect me, won’t you?”
“I’m not Glicfip, dear. I’ve killed characters. Many of them. Even ones I really like when it serves a good purpose.”
The box bounces. Then pens bounce with it, thunking up and down.
“Maybe if you had something important to tell me, I’d be more inclined to protect you.”
The girl looks around wildly. “I don’t know anything important. Really, I don’t. I should go.”
“So soon?”
She dashes for the edge of the desk, but the tight dress confines her steps. I grab her.
I feel sorry for the Barthromian captain, Jean. How long do you plan to keep him taped up like that?
ReplyDeleteWe'll have to see how long it takes for someone to tell me what's going on.
ReplyDelete