Brad was one of the hottest young writers in the whole of Manhattan. He was hot both figuratively and literally. Luckily, as he was such a good writer, he knew the difference.
He was the star columnist of avant garde bee-keeping journal, The Honey & The Hive, which garnered great acclaim from the apiculture world and beyond. He’d also just published his first novel, Before There Were Hair Straighteners We Just Used Hot Stones. Alan Alda described it as the greatest novel of the last fifty years and you don’t argue with the Alda. The future certainly looked rosy for young Bradders, but the path of the fate never runs straight. Destiny was about to play him a surprise hand.
His week started normally enough by attending his weekly Bodytalk therapy session. As he relaxed to the therapist’s soothing touch, his cell phone began to ring. It was Clive, his literary agent. Clive said that he had a job offer for Brad, but it was a rather unusual one and that they should probably discuss it over lunch.
The rest of the morning really dragged. After finishing the Bodytalk session, Brad went home to write, but found that he couldn’t concentrate. He had become so intrigued by Clive’s job offer. Eventually he just watched the clock in his office and counted the minutes until it was time to leave, before shooting out of his apartment with gusto.
Fortunately, Clive was already waiting for him when he reached the restaurant and he began to explain the deal as they ordered. Apparently a lady had phoned his office and had asked if Brad could assist with the writing of a speech, as she so admired his work. Clive had pointed out that Brad was an award winning author and that his services did not come cheap. The lady said that the only payment she could offer was the company of her and a friend.
Brad nearly spat out his Rioja. It was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. Did they really think that they could get the services of a professional writer for nothing? He laughed out loud, yes he literally lolled. He could probably use this story in his next novel. He finished his meal and went home to do some paid writing work.
However, that night he lay in bed and couldn’t sleep. He had just too many thoughts screaming around in his head. Had these two ladies really offered their company in return for his mastery of the English language? Were they serious? If they were being serious, were they completely mad or was their company really that amazing? He simply couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The next morning he phoned a bemused Clive and told him that he’d agree to write the speech. He simply had to know what it was all about. Clive was used to catering to the whims of his star writers and arranged a meeting for the very next day.
Brad was due to meet the ladies in the exclusive bistro, La Bouteille Mange Le Verre and he ensured that he was there right on the allotted hour of the meeting. As he entered the restaurant, he realised that the ladies were already there waiting for him. He didn’t know what he had been expecting, but he certainly hadn’t envisioned the vivacious beauties that sat before him. They introduced themselves as Magenta De La Ferrero Rocher and Madeline Pamplemousse. They explained that for many years they had been part of a french-style pop group, Les Trois Célèbres (The Famous Three) and that they were tasked with writing a speech for their third member, Maisie Dans Le Maison.
Brad felt a little embarrassed that he had never heard of the group, but, as a true professional, he didn’t say anything. He did, however, feel a strong connection to Madeline and couldn’t help but think that he already knew her. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.
They started to run through some ideas for the speech, and Brad found that the two mademoiselles were talented and witty writers. Although they would have surely written an excellent speech without him, he enjoyed the whole process immensely and was able to contribute to the overall vibe of the oration. As he looked back on what they had all written, he was stunned to see what an amazing job they had done. It’s also safe to say that he’d never heard such an amazing spade-based anecdote before.
Brad couldn’t believe that they’d written so much in such a short space of time. It was only when he looked at his watch that he realised that 12 hours had passed. He couldn’t believe his eyes and had to double-check the time on the contingency watch that he wore on his ankle. He realised that the mere act of writing the speech with these lovely ladies was more payment than he could ever have earned. He bid them farewell and went home happy.
The next day he awoke refreshed and he resumed his normal work. Out of curiosity he searched the internet for Les Trois Célèbres but couldn’t find any mention of them. He tried searching for their individual names but again found nothing. It was most perplexing. He started to think about Madeline and the feeling that he already knew her. During the writing process he was amazed at how his ideas had seamlessly flowed into hers and vice versa. It was almost as if they were writing as one. Despite his amazing talent as a solo-writer, he’d never felt creative freedom as he did during that collaboration. It seemed to reflect something much deeper than merely writing and it was as if she had touched his very soul.
Brad knew that his life had been changed forever. He grabbed his coat and ran from his apartment. He needed to find Les Trois Célèbres tout suite.
hmm! the storyline sounds as if it may be based on a real occurance. it reminds me of the time i had best keep to myself.
lol, sounds amazing. i wish i’d been there.
In a way, we all wish we had been there. This is the power that I pack into my fiction. I’ve managed to create a world that seems so wonderful that we’d all like to inhabit it. It’s a very special gift.
it’s the power of love, a tale from above.
sometimes ,when i’m asleep , i live in another world. when i’m awake ,however, i live in a world strangely similar to the one you describe.
or is it the other way round , it’s so difficult to differentiate sometimes.
[...] The Writer – A Story – Yet another masterpiece. This tells the story of a professional writer whose very reason for being is challenged by an unusual assignment. Who do the mysterious French pop group, Les Trois Célèbres, represent? Are they a manifestation of the holy trinity or are they just three young girls having fun singing at old people? In a way, we’ll never know. But knowing isn’t always the point. [...]