Chapter 11 #2
He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his gray hair.
“You’re right, of course. I’ll give her some time to calm down, and then I’ll apologize.
I just pray that I can keep my mouth shut the next time she brings up the future.
I know she’s feeling pressure. I don’t want any of it to come from me. ”
Rarity went back inside her backyard, and as she did, she heard the click of Terrance’s gate right after her own. Sometimes relationships were hard. Sometimes they were impossible. Terrance and Shirley were right on the borderline of impossible.
She went back inside with Killer to start her evening. She had plenty to think about to keep herself busy.
* * *
Saturday morning, kids were running around the bookstore. Cars still lined up on the street, waiting for a spot they could pull in and drop off their kid. In three hours, the kids would be sitting on their phones, waiting for a text message telling them their mom or dad was right outside.
Romeo and Jonathon were in the back room along with Killer. He’d started shaking in his bed under the counter, so Rarity had moved him to the back and shut the door. Hopefully, the closed door and “No Admittance” sign were enough to keep the kids out.
She knocked on the door, then stepped inside to refill her coffee. “So did Drew find anything?”
“Not a drop of controversy on either one of them. Talia had been heartbroken when Mason broke it off, but she was a businessperson and she understood the game. If you worked in the same field, you had to keep it professional. Especially when you found out he’d been cheating.
Talia was the wounded party, but she took the high road.
And she got a little money in an account from Mason. ”
“So he’d done something that warranted a payout.”
Jonathon shrugged. “Or he just wanted to be a nice guy.”
“Odd question, but who’s in Mason’s will? Who will inherit whatever totals the guy had?” Rarity had been thinking about Mason’s life all morning.
Jonathon shrugged. “No clue, but I know Drew’s trying to find this out as we speak. I didn’t see him last night since I got back late. He was already tucked in bed. For someone who’s a bachelor, he’s acting like an old married couple.”
“And what about Bret? Any charges of stalking anyone?”
“One could only hope, but no. He has a squeaky-clean record. Drew’s trying to pull on any loose strings there today. Are you going to the mid-festival ceremonies?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Rarity sighed, then headed to the door. “I guess I better get out there. Thanks for keeping an eye out for Killer.”
“He and Romeo are protecting me.” Jonathon looked back at his screen. “Come get me when it’s over.”
As the movie started, Rarity assumed the kids would quiet down.
Instead, Katie kept stopping the movie and asking questions, a flashlight tucked under her face making her look spooky.
Rarity kept listening and realized that Katie was teaching story structure with each question, using the beats from the classic Joseph Campbell book The Power of Myth, and The Writer’s Journey by Chris Vogler.
Katie had been taking a class comparing the two books this last semester.
Something Rarity never thought would be useful outside the ivy halls of academia or a writers’ workshop.
She had turned an alien spider movie into a teaching moment.
And the Sedona English teachers were getting kids who were way ahead in their knowledge of how literature worked.
As Katie continued the book club, Rarity looked for a book that taught these concepts in a younger text just in case a kid asked for a book to study the concepts. But she didn’t find anything.
By the time the last kid and their parent had left, she’d sold eight copies of The Writer’s Journey—with seven of those on back order since she only carried one.
Ten copies of The Power of Myth—all of them having to be ordered.
And three of The Heroine’s Journey, a little different take on the hero’s journey material.
Rarity had to believe that the kids’ parents would be helping out with some of the reading.
Most of the kids bought the book for the next meeting.
Rarity kept track of the kids who didn’t.
She had a fund for keeping these kids in the club and paying for their books.
She handed five books to Katie with a list. “Here’s the winners list for this month. ”
A young girl looked at Katie walking away. “I never win a book.” Then she watched Katie stop by the first boy and hand off the book. The girl turned back and handed her the money for her purchase. “Never mind. I get it.”
Rarity smiled at the young girl’s wisdom and nodded. “You’re already lucky.”
After everyone had left, Jonathon and Killer came out of the back room. He nodded to Katie. “That was well done. I learned a lot from your presentation.”
“Did it go okay? I worried that the kids would get tired of me stopping the movie. I gave them a list of the beats before we started.” Katie flopped down onto a chair. “I’m worn out.”
“You need to write a book about that.” Rarity pointed to her computer. “I went looking, thinking the kids would ask, and they did. So I had to sell adult books to the group. I let the parents who ordered the books know that if it was too hard, I’d let them return it in a week.”
“I can probably list off everyone who ordered additional material. And they’re all highly advanced readers.
I think they’ll be fine.” Katie leaned up with her elbows on her knees.
“Are you serious about me writing a book? I’ve been looking for my thesis subject.
I would have to get it approved, since it’s not science based, but it would be good, right? ”
“It would be amazing,” Rarity clarified. Darby and Malia came into the shop.
“If the kids are all gone, lunch has arrived.” Darby peeked around the corner. “Malia was nice enough to come to my house and get me before bringing the food here.”
“You are relieved of your charge, Malia.” Jonathon held out his hand. “Now give me my salad. I’m starving.”
Gathering around the counter where Malia had dropped the bags, they all found their lunches. Rarity could hear Katie, Malia, and Darby making plans for tonight.
“Are you all going to the first week closing ceremonies?” Rarity unwrapped her turkey and ham sub.
“Of course. Malia met this guy last night and he said he’s bringing his friends tonight. Maybe we’ll be invited to an after-party.” Darby grinned, unwrapping her salad. “No carbs for me today if I have a snowball’s chance of getting into that dress tonight.”
“Crisco, or butter. My mom swore on it. But then you’re all slippery,” Katie pointed out.
Rarity didn’t want to be the one to tell them that an after-party maybe wasn’t a good idea. She met Jonathon’s gaze and he nodded.
Then he broke all their dreams of the night.