RichEisbrouch

Amy looked great. With her hair down and loose again, and in a skirt rather than jeans, she looked slightly older. And with me in jeans and a dark T-shirt, she could have been someone I was dating. We went back to Jake and Annie’s. It was casual and familiar, and I liked it there. She’d started asking questions as soon as she opened her door. “Wait till we both have a drink,” I said. “I didn’t think you drank,” she joked. “I’ll risk a beer.”

Yeah, I think Don's both proud of and somewhat indulgent of both his kids. But, hell, they're his kids.

I think Don could have easily explained to Sharon where Scoot was. But, as you say, I don't think he could have explained why. LA, and for that matter other places, tends to have signs labeled in destinations, not routes. When you're driving west on the 10 and want to turn on the 405, your choices are San Diego and Sacramento. If you don't know which one's south and which one's north, you're in trouble. If you really want to know how Don got lost leaving Silverlake, first, you need to understand that the 101 comes into LA from the southeast, then goes east-west across the San Fernando Valley, then turns to the northwest. So many people think the 101 is simply an east-west road and can't understand the signs saying 101 north and south. Don turned north on the 2 instead of south, took the 2 to the 5, turned the wrong way on the 101, got off on the 710, took that to the 10, missed the tricky turn for the 101 north because he was looking for the 101 west, stayed on the 10, then finally took the 110 back to the 101. Gee, I've never done that.

Chapter 25 already had a lot squeezed into it, and Amy needed her own chapter. Noah turns up for a bit at the end, but, yeah, there isn't enough of him in the book. But I don't think he's worried about Don breaking his heart. They have a solid relationship. And I know 30s and 40s noir rendered LA in black-and-white, and Hammett and Chandler's books seem to read that way because of their associated movies, but I've only seen LA in bright and sunny technicolor.

I went back to Julie kind of amused at myself. I put the key and the lock on the kitchen counter, and she asked, “Is he right behind you?” “Unfortunately, I’m way behind him. It’s what happens when you raise a wise-ass kid.” “Has he always been this bad?” “No, he’s always been this good. He and his sister both. They’ve done things Sharon and I wished they hadn’t. But we might’ve done the same things ourselves.” Julie laughed. “N

Yeah, I've lived in LA for the last few dozen years. And, yeah, I worked in the industry and am still marginally involved in it. I thought I posted the same bio here I had on Amazon. I'll have to check. Also, if you're interested, check out my story "Circumstances" which is also about the industry. I'm glad these characters have a hold on you. That's makes me happy even if your take on them isn't the same as mine. Part of LA is perhaps its own different world, maybe because all the facets of the entertainment industry are stacked on top of each other. The people in it are largely very bright, very driven, ambitious, and hard-working. Part of New York matches that, though the energy there seems more turned inward. Maybe because we have space and all that sunshine, and they're all piled on top of each other. They wear black and care about clothes. We wear shorts and flip-flops and sometimes forget about clothes. Different but the same. The next book I post takes place in Mexico and is about a guy from Iowa. Whole different energy. And the election, yeah: I finally started to relax about that about a week ago. Again, thanks for writing. And for reading.

It's partly a sense of adventure he's stumbled into, tied to Julie. But also, it's a sense of relaxation, and not driving himself so constantly, and introspection that he's never experienced before.

“I was wondering where you’d gone,” Scoot said when I came back. “I knew you were okay.” “I am. But you said you had these questions.” “I do. Want to come out and talk?” “Not just yet,” he said grinning. “Looks like a great pool.” “It is. And I watch it every day. Julie leaves the doors open when it’s warm.” “And the lights on when they’re closed?” “Not at night

Technically, since this book was written in 2006, Scoot isn't really a Millenial man. Also, he was raised in a small town, but within a very educated Liberal community, and has a strong mother and sister to provide immediate models of equality. But ya gotta factor in that he is a 23-year-old guy in the LA/film world toy shop where anything goes. At least, it's not like the late 70s/early 80s coke-driven industry, though Scoot seems to stay away from drugs. That's, again, the good influence of his parents. Still, I think what most drives Scoot is his curiosity, built on his intelligence. So I wouldn't completely give up hope.

I'm hoping you read the second version of chapter 23. I reposted last night, a couple hours after I posted the first version. I made a half-dozen small changes in what Julie said that made her less interested in things that might seem superficial.

Yep, but I hope what she said didn't come off as sexist or shallow. I'm thinking of tempering it. She loves the guy, but she knows her odds and is very well defended. And maybe Zak would be interested in that mask when he tries to one-up Scoot. But I doubt it. His imagination goes in other directions.

When I went looking for the bathroom, I found Julie. She was working on her kitchen counter, paperwork spread all over the center island, talking on the phone. The Great Dane lay at her feet. As soon as Julie saw me, she ended the call. “Sorry about the lies,” she began. “I hope you understand.” I laughed. “I understand nothing.” She laughed, too, then we both laughed. Then she said, “It really isn’t funny.” “What do you mean?”

Thanks. That's reassuring on this book. The next one I'm posting's a much simpler romance. But this one still has 6 chapters to go.

Thanks. As I've mentioned below, you're not alone. That's the chapter that loses readers. The thing about the book goes back to the title: people aren't reading the book they think they are. Like Sharon, they've been looking in the wrong direction. It's not about Scoot, it's not a traditional mystery, and it's certainly not a murder mystery. It's always been about Don. He's been center all the time. And the reason the book doesn't end with this chapter is there are things he still hasn't figured out.

Does that mean you've given up? This is the chapter where that happens, but it's also the image that started the book. I once threw "The Story of O" across the room, when I'd finally had enough of its treatment of women. But it's harder to do that when you're not reading a paperback.

There's definitely more. And no tricks. Also, someone just picked up a copy of the book on Amazon. Be aware: That's a slightly different version. I hadn't expected that, but I've been revising as we go along. This version is extremely similar but definitely better. I'll replace the earlier version when we finish.

Nah, she was a model, but I'm not sure that ever comes up. And people like listening to industry stories. Especially people like Don, well outside the business.

“Hey, Dad,” was the first thing Scoot told me. Then he grinned and added, “Nice jeans.” I turned to Julie Kent, but she was already walking away. “It’s all right,” Scoot said. “She told me she was going to bring you.” I looked at him. “You could say something,” he went on. I was still absorbing the fact that everything I’d been told for the last hour was a lie. And that everything Julie Kent told me on Tuesday w

You'll just have to wait till tomorrow night. Thanks.

That's interesting about your imagining the story in black-and-white. I was thinking last night that there's nothing noir about it. Guess I'm wrong. Also, I just had to go back and add a line about Julie's switch of cars from her Porsche to her Mercedes. The line got dropped in my editing.

And I can't wait to see people's reactions to the next chapter. Coming Tuesday night.

That's an easy mistake to correct. Thanks. Personally, I prefer to know how long a book or movie is before I commit my time to it. That's why I gave a frame of reference from the beginning. The reason it's a mystery is because things don't get cleared up immediately. But you've been picking up on a lot and are certainly one of the most attentive readers. Thanks, again.

Actually, it was from Julie Kent’s assistant. “Mr. Burris?” she asked formally. “Yes.” “Julie Kent’s office.” “Somehow, I knew that.” It didn’t even throw her. She went right on. “Julie would like to talk with you.” “I hope its good news.” She ignored me. “I’ll put her through.” I could have been talking to a robot. Either she was well-trained or had no sense of

Water blown completely next chapter. I promise.

I talked with Noah almost first thing, Massachusetts time. I’d set Scoot’s alarm to wake me at four because I knew I could catch Noah eating breakfast and reading the morning paper. I told him what had happened with Owen. And how I felt. Then I waited for his answer. “Straight guys don’t understand,” he said. “No matter what they think they know. At some point they really believe it’s our choice. Or something we’ll grow out of. But they don’t realize it makes us happy. And they