Good Luck

Sit self down in front of computer this morning to work on Murder Mystery. Discover half an hour later, that have paid bills, read newspaper online, and have lost badly at chess (to the computer). Tell self firmly that must get writing right away. Brew new pot of coffee. Write a couple of sentences. Become frustrated. Feel that the introduction of charaters is too difficult and decide to jump to the Foul Deed. Manage to get ancient Incan knife into the heart of an already poisioned man but run up against several problems--am not sure who does the poisioning, who does the stabbing, and am not even sure who the dead man is. (Do know that the victim is a man.) Read what I've written. The body is discovered in a tent, the river roaring in the background and the rain comes down in sheets. Think that this is very evocative. Rush off to work before reality can intervene. On train, sell mystery and get at a two-book deal. Idea optioned by Movie Studio. Buy an apartment in Brooklyn and invest the rest of the advance. Arrive at work in high spirits. The Contessa is already at her desk. She sighs. I say, I hope I'm not the cause of the sigh. She doesn't say anything and become alarmed that I am the cause. Feel that moment is extremely awkward if this the case. She says, I just never thought I would grow up to be a Secretary. Do not like to have it put that way, and her bad attitude threatens to torpedo my good mood. Thankfully, regain hold on fantasy life. Am successful mystery writer and have reserves of compassion to draw on. Console the Contessa who, it turns out, received a rejection from a well known journal. Say firmly, You just have to Keep On Trying. Reserves of compassion dealt serious blow by arrival of the New Man who asks How is the Rolodex Project Coming Along. Spend the rest of the morning typing names and adddresses into spreadsheet. The Contessa and I agree that the New Man has impeccably bad timing and ought to be taken out and Shot. Eat lunch in Washington Square Park. Watch two small children, blonde brother and sister, splash in the fountain. They play a game with very complcated rules. The sister (who wears glasses) marches the boy around. When some mysterious goal is met, they shriek with laughter. It is sunny and warm but not at all humid. Think these children are darling. Another child, younger than these two, comes into the fountain and attempts to make friends. Original children become very sarcastic with the younger child. Every time he says something like Hey, Let's Sit Down in the Water, the other children look at each other and ask, What did he say? What did he say? What did he say? and laugh cruelly. Become indignant on behalf of the smallest child. Do not care for sarcasm in young children and get up to leave. See Suzy next to the Arch. We give each other looks of hatred, but kiss each other on the cheek. Suzy asks about screen test. Have forgotten about screen test until this moment and feel the horror of my existence. (Note: call up and cancel screen test.) Suzy says, well good luck. We say goodbye to each other. Wonder, for the rest of the afternoon, if Suzy meant good luck! or good luck. Feel, not for the first time, that The Emotions rule life more than The Fates.