Friday, November 27, 2009

The Black Friday Interview

Editor’s Note: This being the day after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, I decided that today would be a good day to sit down with the three protagonists again. We’re sitting in Ellen’s cafĂ©. It is all decked out in Christmas colors, there are strings of light and greenery that they don’t normally have and next to the staircase there is a tall Christmas tree. Shoppers are coming in carrying packages and the noise level is quite high, but we’ll see how we do.


Timothy Fish:
I want to thank you guys for talking to me again—especially you Sara. I can see how busy you are.

Sara:
I’m glad to get a break. I’ve been here since before five o’clock this morning.

Neal:
And you were here yesterday too, weren’t you?

Sara:
Yeah, but not all day. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s house.

Timothy Fish:
Which one?

Sara:
Ellen’s mother. Yeah, I wasn’t very clear, was I? That’s the problem with having three grandmothers.

Timothy Fish:
Neal, I suppose you’re home visiting your parents. You’re still in college, how is that going?

Neal:
It’s going okay.

Timothy Fish:
You’ve got another year before you graduate, right?

Neal:
Yeah, it looks like it.

Timothy Fish:
Are you planning on going on a mission trip again this summer?

Neal:
No, I’m trying to work something else out, but I’d rather not talk about it at the moment. You and I can talk about it offline, if you want.

Timothy Fish:
That’s fine. What I really wanted to talk to you guys about, since it is Thanksgiving week are the things you are thankful for.

Geoff:
I’ll tell you what I’m thankful for. I think yesterday was the best Thanksgiving my family has had in a long time. Mom even got along with Heather this year. Life’s a lot better than it used to be.

Sara:
I’m thankful to have a mother. And I can assure you I know what it’s like to be without one.

Neal:
Well, if you’re going to be that way, I guess I’m thankful that there are only three of us. There are only four seats at this table. I’m sure I’d be the first one to get dropped it there were another.

Timothy Fish:
We might just have to find another way of doing this, but I’m not dropping anyone. But, for your information, there will be a fourth pretty soon.

Geoff:
Anyone we know?

Timothy Fish:
You might—Martin Zale?

Geoff:
Yeah, I know him. I had his daughters in school. Valerie is in my class now. It’ll make an excellent story.

Timothy Fish:
I hope everyone else agrees with you.

Neal:
How long before it’s done?

Sara:
Yeah, do we get to read it first?

Timothy Fish:
It’ll be a few more days, but yeah, I’ll let you guys read it now if you like.

Sara:
Will it tell me who I’m going to marry?

Timothy Fish:
No, I’m afraid not, but you’re in it.

Geoff:
Does she beat anyone up?

Timothy Fish:
No, not this time. About the worst thing she does is to park in a no parking zone.

Neal:
We’d better call the police on that one.

Sara:
Am I in it a lot or just a little?

Timothy Fish:
Mostly as it deals with your friendship with Kelly.

Sara:
One of these days, I want you to write about me having a boyfriend.

Timothy Fish:
Everyone wants to put their two-cents in about what I should write.

Sara:
Don’t pay attention to everyone else. It’s my life, you ought to listen to me.

Timothy Fish:
We’ll see. But that’s all we have time for. I’m sure you’ll talk to me about this later.

Sara:
Count on it.