I sat down to it. The typer had been silent long enough and I had only managed two pages for Winston in over a fortnight. Argento played on the TV in the background feeding the mood that was required to deliver the kind of screenplay that the King of Cringe was looking for. There was a knock on my door, I called that it was open. Delores
Chu popped her small head around the corner.
'Douglas, are you busy?'
Three more letters on the page. It was a start.
'Never, what's cracking?'
'I just wanted to let you know that Veronica won't be coming this time.'
'That's a shame, how's she keeping?' I asked.
'Better, maybe Thanksgiving.'
'Thanksgiving, ok well if you still want me to lay down some epic wisdom I'll have a chin-wag with her at Thanksgiving.'
'What are your plans for Thanksgiving?'
My fingers had been lingering over their destination, I lowered them as the moment passed.
'Nothing. We don't really have Thanksgiving in Ireland.'
'You don't give thanks for anything?'
'We have Arthur's Day, it's the closest thing to thanks most people give.'
'There'll be an extra seat at my table,' she said as her face
blushed 'you're always welcome.'
I grinned like a prized fool 'I appreciate that, you're a classy lady.'
I got to my feet and walked to the door. Pulling it open I kissed her on the cheek. She smiled, and a watermark appeared on her lower lash. Turning tail she disappeared back towards the front desk. I went back to the keys but the fingertips had cooled and though I knew the words I was about to write when Chu came-a-calling I didn't know any
to follow them.