So grateful to be a writer
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| Nineteen years ago here I was, writing my first book while we lived in Great Britain. |
Lately life has been so full of distractions that I forget part of who I am, an author. Reading aloud for Home and Far Away this morning, I was pleasantly reminded of a marvelous section of my existence and how important that treasure is to share. Here's a scene from Chapter 10. If you're interested in more of Sooz's backstory, check out Far Away from Home: The Enran Chronicles Book Three.
Sooz only remained in her room long enough for Richard to fall asleep. Then she quietly went downstairs, collecting her novel and the dictionary from the living room, taking the books into the front room. She preferred reading in there because she could turn on the light without fearing she would alert Richard or Gilly to her nocturnal presence.
That Chella slept as well as she did was a relief to Sooz, even if Chella required the light, although Sooz had turned it off when she initially went upstairs. She was grateful Richard had been well paid for his days in Cloverdale, for he was now supporting more than only his child. Sooz couldn’t imagine leaving here; she had no skills other than one for which she possessed no outward qualifications. From all she had seen in her limited exposure to television, women were expected to maintain the family home, only working if absolutely necessary. There was certainly plenty for Sooz to do here, though if Gilly was away in school as long as Richard had insinuated, perhaps Sooz would need to find a pastime.
She didn’t think about working with that doctor, but on Home and Far Away one female character knitted, while another was always making coffee for friends who sat at her kitchen table. Yet those were plot devices, Sooz knew, finding in some of June’s novels similar settings for women who weren’t allowed to explore what life beyond marriage and motherhood might be. Characters on The Shining Sun were much younger, then Sooz wondered if the plots were aimed at youths out of school for the summer. Maybe in September the storylines would shift to more mature themes.
Chella might not be pleased, Sooz smirked, then she sighed. What would occur in Chella’s life here that might be meaningful? Perhaps only that Chella had her freedom mattered, yet she was tethered to the house or porch for much of the day due to the sun and heat. Sooz gazed out the window, the moon now large enough to shed scant light, permitting Sooz to view the workshop, the tree, and if she squinted, she could see the mailbox along the road. This would be Chella’s world, limited but perhaps Sooz could take up this knitting, then teach Chella how, or maybe Chella would express her own interests, or….
Might someday a human make an overture to Chella, desiring more than a companion? Sooz didn’t ponder that for herself, she had no wish for a relationship. Yet Chella knew what it was like to love someone, though her infatuation with Noth was merely what the young people on The Shining Sun felt about each other, youthful escapades that humans seemed to require. Sooz hadn’t spent much time with humans previously, but other species weren’t so engaged. Then she frowned, moving from the sofa, heading to the front door. She opened it, standing at the screen door, hearing Max’s solid snores. The yard was illuminated, but a cool breeze blew and she wasn’t inclined to go outside, though boots waited to the right of the door on the porch. Richard had bought them for her, as well as a new pair of what he called tennis shoes. He had bought Chella a matching pair of tennis shoes, Gilly remarking she would teach Chella how to tie her shoes before going back to school in the fall.
Tears dribbled down Sooz’s face. If Amora had lived, she would be around Chella’s age, though that was merely relevant to Chella’s current emotional stage. Yet in experiencing a menstrual cycle, Sooz had been reminded she wasn’t as old as she felt, or at least her body remained capable of…. She wiped her face, huffing softly. If Noth had been able to direct them to a specific time in Earth’s history, why had he chosen this era? Then she smirked; he’d probably had no such leeway, and any later might have meant their landing would have been discovered. One of June’s novels was about people from Mars invading Earth and the resulting tumult was exactly what Sooz, Chella, and Dardram hadn’t experienced. Was Dardram still alive, Sooz wondered, and what about the rest of them? What did it matter, she then clucked aloud, shaking her head.
She turned back for the front room, then gasped. “Oh, did I wake you?”
Richard rubbed his eyes on the second to last step. “Just thought I heard something.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep and….”
“Neither could I, I mean, I kept dreaming then waking up. I need to apologize.” He gestured toward the front room, then took the remaining step.
Sooz nodded, then returned to her spot on the sofa. She moved her books, but Richard sat on the telephone seat. He cracked his knuckles, then gripped his knees. Sooz noticed that he wore shorts and an old t-shirt, his feet bare. His natural skin color was markedly lighter than his forearms, which were nearly as dark as her skin. She clasped her hands in her lap as he inhaled, then exhaled slowly. “Why do you need to apologize?” she asked.
“For bringing up your daughter. I know you wouldn’t tell Gilly about that.”
Sooz also took measured breaths. “But you’re right, she did seem moody after learning she wasn’t your first child.”
He nodded. “I guess it was good for her to know the truth, or better learning it now than it coming out later like it was some big secret.”
“Like me telling you about the multix?”
“Uh yeah, I guess.”
Sooz nodded, then inwardly felt obliged to expand upon that revelation. Yet Richard yawned, then again rubbed his eyes. “You could probably fill her head with all sorts of details,” he said sleepily, “but for now, maybe it’s best to keep it very simple.”
“Agreed.”
“Okay, well….” He stretched, but didn’t get up. Then he sighed. “I gotta go to Ukiah in the morning, but I won’t be gone long. Bank opens at ten, so I’ll definitely be home for lunch.”
“All right.”
“Fourth of July around here is a pretty big deal, even for this little Podunk town. Usually I take Gilly to see the parade, then we watch fireworks at the high school. Think any of this sounds like something you wanna do?”
“Chella can’t be out,” Sooz huffed.
“Well, not for the parade, but she might enjoy the fireworks. They don’t start till nearly ten, and….”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Fair enough.” Richard stood, then yawned again. “If there’s anything you need, I mean, I can stop at the big store in Ukiah if you need any, you know….”
“I have all I require for now.” Sooz wondered if he meant additional hygiene products. “But I’ll let you know when that changes.”
“Uh, yeah. Actually I meant clothes, I mean shorts or different shoes. Anyway, think about it. I’m not leaving till nine thirty or so.”
Sooz nodded, then cracked her knuckles. “You don’t need to spend your money on us.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have made any of it if you hadn’t been keeping an eye on my daughter. On Gilly,” he added softly.
Sooz stood, then shrugged. “I’ll think about it and let you know before you leave.”
“Fine. Hope you get some sleep.”
“The same to you.”
Richard nodded, then left the room. Sooz remained standing until she heard a door close upstairs. Then she retook her seat, pulling her knees to her chest. She closed her eyes, then allowed the memory of a melody into her head. For all those she had considered lost to her, she had yet to ponder The Other. Now she permitted that creature’s presence, weeping softly as a song she had heard on the radio supplanted that unforgettable tune in her mind.
