WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 18 NOV 2020
Todays Topic
Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at timothy@createartpodcast.com
The Story So Far
18 Nov 2020 1716 daily count 29909 cumulative count
Cheryl slowly drank her coffee and thought about what Carl said. They both sat there in silence for a few minutes.
“So, why do you think he left his daughter,” Cheryl asked?
“I am hoping to find some clues in the diary he left. I’m going to at least go through the instructions tonight and see what that is all about and Nate is getting basic info from Myra right now so that way Angela his co worker can get going on the legal paperwork. But more importantly, what are you thinking about, how deep down this rabbit hole do you want to go. I can handle things from here on out, but just realize that I won’t be down at the shop as much because I have a new responsibility,” asked Carl?
“We have a new responsibility. I got you involved, and I have no plans of dumping Myra off on anyone. We can figure out things later, but I want to be incredibly involved. I was thinking about what you said about repeating the mistake of the past with your previous marriage. We have all made mistakes in the past, you more than most because you are an old soul, but I have made mistakes as well and have had some bad relationships. We are both in this now with Myra and I intend to see it to the end, whatever that may be. As far as for what you and I have together, we have a friendship, and we can see where that goes in the future. I do not want to predict because yesterday I would never have predicted that the events of today would have happened,” said Cheryl.
“Okay then, you can teach me how to make ‘evening’ coffee and we can both learn how to raise a nine-year-old girl. How difficult can that be,” joked Carl.
They both looked at each other and laughed After a moment they clinked coffee mugs together and took a sip. The sun had done behind the apartment complex and dark was creeping in on them. Carl stood up and turned on the porch light.
“Let’s keep it off for now, its so peaceful out here,” said Cheryl.
Carl turned it off as requested and sat back down. Cheryl grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Then she simply held it in her hand as she looked off into the sky and drank her coffee. Carl was initially surprised and looked at her imploringly. When he saw that she was not going to say anything or return his look he too stared off into the sky. They were both looking at different things in the sky that night.
Nate tapped on the window which gently startled Carl and Cheryl. He opened the sliding door to let them know he and Myra had finished.
“Didn’t mean to startle you two out there but Myra has done a great job answering my questions and you can come back in now if you like,” said Nate, noticing Carl and Cheryl holding hands. The got up with their coffee and headed inside to the kitchen table where Myra was already sitting down.
“Okay, so we all have had a difficult day today. We are going to have more difficult days ahead but also some good days. Carl, Cheryl, I had a great talk with Myra just now and she gave me a lot of information I can use to help us all out. So, Myra is an intelligent nine-year-old and very fashionable with her new clothes. She is an only child and knows her last name and knows the name of the town we are in right now. She was in fourth grade when this happened and was getting great grades, she loves reading and learning and her favorite subject is science. She wants to become a doctor one day and help people. She likes helping around the house and keeping things neat, so welcome Myra,” announced Nate. While he was talking Myra squirmed in her seat for a moment and then sat tall and proud. “Carl why don’t you go next and formally introduce yourself to Myra, “said Nate.
Carl cleared his throat and looked at Myra. He took a sip of coffee and swallowed hard. “Well hi I am Carl. I live here, and I am a forty-two-year-old man. I love coffee, a lot of coffee and I work as a business analyst for the government. I enjoy reading and art galleries. I have been divorced for 3 years and I have no children. I am the youngest of two and well here I am right now. I would like to help you out and have you stay here with me. I love to cook and as you know from dinner, I am good with comfort food. I do not know much what to say,” said Carl is a shaky voice.
“That is all that needs to be said for right now. Cheryl, how about you,” said Nate?
“Well Myra and I had a good talk in the bedroom earlier, but as for me I am twenty-four, a college student in a theater program studying lighting design. I love to paint, and I am the youngest of six kids. I paint and I write and right now I am the head barista at the coffee shop that we have all been to. I like to make sandwiches and I like to dress up from time to time. I am single and have no kids. I like kids and would be very happy to have Myra in my life forever,” said Cheryl.
“So now we know each other and what we are about, this is our family. We are here for each other and we have to talk with each other and let one another know when we don’t like something or when we do like something. I have enough information to give to Angela who will also be part of our team and we will work on getting Myra into school and all set up with all the things she is going to need to be successful in life. I am heading out now and I will stop by tomorrow to make sure everyone is okay. Myra, would you like to come over to my house this weekend and meet more kids closer to your age than Carl,” joked Nate?
“Sure, that would be great,” said Myra excitedly.
“Okay, so Saturday you will get to meet my family, Cheryl, depending on your schedule you can come over as well as I guess we are going to be bringing you into this family. Everyone get a good nights sleep. We will tackle more things in the next days and weeks. This is not going to be easy for anyone, but as I am the old hand at this with raising my own family, I can tell you I feel good about your chances. We will talk more Myra and you will be talking with Angela tomorrow so make sure Carl doesn’t feed you any coffee and don’t stay up late,” said Nate.
Carl stood up as Nate headed to the door and gave him a hug. He was followed by Myra and Cheryl who formed a circle around Nate and they all held each other for a few minutes.
“Get some sleep you crazy kids, talk with you tomorrow,” said Nate as he opened the front door and left.
After Nate left, Carl sat back down at the kitchen table. Cheryl and Myra joined him as he drank his coffee. Myra was quiet watching what would happen next. Her eyes darted back and forth between Cheryl and Carl for some time.
“I am going to get ready for bed like Uncle Nate said, should I take a bath or a shower before I get into my pajamas,” asked Myra?
“Yeah I think that is a good idea, I don’t have any girly soap so I am sorry, you are going to smell like a guy tonight, but we can do some shopping tomorrow for toiletries that you will need. Use any of the towels in the linen closet you need anything else just let me know okay,” said Carl.
Myra grabbed a towel and went into her new bedroom for a few minutes and came out with a fresh set of pajamas that Cheryl had purchased. After grabbing everything she needed she went straight to the bathroom and started running the water. Cheryl got up and started for the front door.
“Where are you going, I thought you were staying the night,” asked Carl?
“Relax, I am grabbing my overnight bag from the car, I will be right back. We can do this, we are going to do this, together,” she said.
Carl went back to the kitchen table and took another sip of coffee. When he was done, he put his head on the table and sighed heavily. He listened to the shower and heard Cheryl close her car door. His world was filling with life and sound suddenly, he felt more alive and energetic that he had in months. He just didn’t know what the next few days would hold, much less the results of the upcoming MRI he had to take. He knew the tasks at work were going to pile up and started to plan on how he would catch up. He would go Friday night to work and pick up his laptop and try to get some quiet time Friday and Saturday night or Sunday morning an get his work back on track. He was excited to see his world changing, but he needed to make sure that he would be able to provide for the addition or the possible additions that were coming into his world.
Cheryl knocked on the door and Carl instinctively got up and looked through the peep hole. He opened it once he saw Cheryl and led her to his bedroom. Once she had put down her bag, she motioned for him to leave the room. Embarrassed he sheepishly left for the kitchen once again. Drinking his coffee, he could feel his third wind coming and knew that he was not going to get a good night of sleep.
Reaching Out
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