Part Five: Names

Some part of me was rebelling. “You never do this,” it was saying. “Never. Why start now?”

“Because I may burst with curiosity if I don’t,” I replied.

The rebellious part of me considered this. “Nah. I don’t think so.”

“I’m doing it anyway,” I said.

“You’re not sure about that.”

Blast me for knowing all my secrets. “I’m going to,” I replied firmly. “Kindly shut up.”

The girl was packing up, still scowling a little. “Excuse me,” I said, rather quieter than I had meant to.

She glanced over.

“Hi.”

“Hello.” She looked a little surprised.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I got bored with the lecture and read a bit of what you were working on.”

She flushed. Oops. “I liked it,” I said hurridly. “I’m a fantasy reader, and from the bit I read, I’d like to read your book.”

“Not in its current state, you wouldn’t,” she said, but she looked a little less embarrassed.

“Have you been having trouble with it?”

“Yeah.” She finished putting her laptop away, zipped her backpack, and stood up. I followed her example as she continued talking. “I do first drafts really easily, ‘cause with the first draft, anything goes. But then I have to use my other drafts to fix the major problems of the first, and usually that isn’t nearly as much fun.”

“What draft are you on?” I asked, following her to the door of the classroom. This ‘conversation’ stuff wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d thought.

“Third,” she said. “For some people, that means they’re starting to get to the polishing stage. I’m still making huge changes. I was stuck a couple of days ago, until I added another character – though now I have to re-write most of the book. She’s a somewhat important character. I don’t know how I managed to get this far without her, but now that she’s here, I’m dreading the work I have to do to fit her in.” She sighed. “And I have no way of knowing if she’ll be the last huge change.”

Well then. Now there’s only one missing piece to the puzzle. “My name’s Kate, by the way,” I said.

She smiled. “Kate. I love that name.”

“Really? I think it’s kinda plain.”

“Not all names need to be exotic.”

“Even in fantasy?” I remembered that her characters had mostly normal names.

“Even in fantasy. Oh, and I’m Kendra.”

I grinned. Jackpot. “Your name is much prettier than mine.”

“If you say so.” She shrugged, but she was still smiling. “Where are you off to?”

“Just lunch,” I said. “You?”

“FA building. I’ll see you in class.”

“See you.”

And I would. Having found her, there was no way I was going to give up the opportunity to become better acquainted with Kendra Sondson, eventual author of Red-Nosed Dragon.

Part One: Existing
Part Two: Frustrated
Part Three: Wondering
Part Four: Writer