by Larry Brill
“Your story. Have you figured out how it ends yet?”
Nate shook his head. “No clue.”
Julie put on her helmet and straddled the scooter. She patted the seat behind her. “Come on. I could use a chocolate milkshake right now. Maybe something will come to us.”
“I can’t ride with you,” Nate said.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s so…so pink. Your scooter is pink.”
“It was your idea. Remember when I said I always wanted a motorcycle but that I was too old to do something like that? I’m younger than that now. You’re the one who said I should stop being afraid to live. So here I am, living the dream.”
“Your dad might be proud, but that’s not a motorcycle. I’ve had lawn mowers with more power than that.”
“Are you coming, or are we having our first fight?”
Nate climbed behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she started the scooter and settled in. She asked Nate if Tina Farnham would still want the story.
“She’d lap it up.”
“Then we’d better get busy on it.” Julie revved the little bike twice and let it settle back into a steady idle. She turned her head and raised her voice. Over her shoulder, she said, “One thing, though. Your character Julie? She’s way too wimpy. She needs more spine.”
“Got you.”
“And a tattoo.”
Credits
I have to gratefully start out with thanks to Will Vitales, (Mt. Pleasant High School class of ’76), who sparked the initial idea for this book with a lively discussion at our high school reunion by asking “Would you go back and do it again?” Thanks to my once-upon-a-prom date Laurie Ameln Louie (MPHS-’73), who inspired the direction it would take over dinner at Applebee’s a few days later. Kudos also to Carla Gunnels (MPHS-’74), high priestess of the alumni Facebook group and all the classmates there who helped resurrect memories and acted as my de facto focus group for various plot twists. Go Cardinals! A special shout-out to Elizabeth Loyd Almeida (MPHS-’76), who shared many details, some intimate, about finding her soul mate Dave through online dating even though I twisted it for nefarious purposes in the book. WinkConnection.com wouldn’t exist without her.
As for the grownups, thanks to Mrs. Martha Guerrero, current principal at Mt. Pleasant High School, for a day on the old campus, and her generosity of time to explain how things work in high school now. Thanks to Mr. Fred Matalone, my former teacher who shared with me what it was like to be a teacher both in the ’70s and today. Thanks to Angela Smith for her editor’s eye, to Corina Carrasco (MPHS-’74), for helping with the final coat of polish, and to Caroline Tolly, the editor who helped me put this into a coherent form. Last, but not least, thanks to my wife Kim who, after forty years and counting, greets my every bad idea with a roll of the eyes, a heavy sigh, and encouragement: “I guess it’s all in the execution.”
Also by Larry Brill
Life Advice from the Weirdest Places
10 Lessons I Learned from Lesley Gore, The Beatles and AM Radio
Standalone
The Patterer
10 Lessons I Learned from Gilligan, Mr. Ed and Primetime TV
Live At Five
Deja vu All Over Again
Watch for more at Larry Brill’s site.
About the Author
Larry Brill spent most of his adult life as a TV news anchor and reporter. It is a remarkable vantage point to watch the world go by, and to try and make sense of both the tragedy and the craziness that surrounds us.
It's the craziness that captured his imagination as he transitioned into writing several novels and his acclaimed tongue-in-cheek series of life lessons based on quotes from primetime TV, song lyrics and classic Hollywood movies.
Read more at Larry Brill’s site.
