You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
--Doug Floyd
One is the Loneliest Number...Or is it?
Part II: Continued from August 31
My co-authors approached me knowing full-well that it would be impossible for me to refuse. This was for two reasons: a) I am a nice person and always find it hard to refuse my services where I’m so clearly needed, and b) I am unable to resist flattery. Okay, so perhaps I accepted their offer for the latter reason only, but at least I’m not cheap. They spent at least one-fifth of morning recess sweet talking. Luckily for them, my co-authors consisted of my two best friends, Nicole and Michelle. I had known Nicole since I was about four days old and Michelle and I pretended to be one another on a regular basis. Needless to say, they knew my pressure points and I caved quickly due to their incessant adulation.
Once I had signed on to the project, we set up meetings to plan the plot. We met regularly for at least two days. The first congregation occurred behind an old tree at the edge of the playground. We were all intimately familiar with the old wrinkled oak. It was affectionately referred to as the ‘kissing tree.’ All three of us had received our first kisses behind that tree during one recess or another the year before. The tree was thick in the trunk with lots of offered shade for us to lounge under comfortably while dreaming and planning. But more importantly, it was a welcomed oasis from the watchful eye of Mrs. Koester, on recess duty. The best way to design a fabulous novel, we decided, was through the delegation of tasks with me doing the grunt work (i.e. the writing) while Nicole and Michelle, geniuses that they are, helped with the plot and the ever important task of choosing the characters’ names.
As fifth graders, original works had, to this point, consisted of the basic introduction of hero or heroine, followed by a problem which the hero quickly overcomes. If our writing was really going to get notice from our peers, it was time to try a more avante garde style. We agreed the story would focus on a family of eight kids with a chapter devoted to each one and their adventures. In essence, it was eight short stories tied together through the characters’ common last name. We applauded ourselves on our originality and wondered why no one had thought ever before to try this short-story/novel idea.
Obviously, we agreed, character development was very important. Just for fun we threw in a set of triplets and a set of twins. In fact, that part was so much fun that when it came to the actual story, the writing was becoming a pain in the neck. At first, I diligently met with my co-authors before transcribing a single word. However, their helpful “write somethin’ good” was more than enough to halt the flow of language altogether. It wasn’t long before I was scribbling notes on looseleaf paper in secret, in hopes they would lose interest in the project, thereby making the trio a solo act.
To be continued...
