The Millionaire's Secrets by Mark Fisher

Author:Mark Fisher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 1996-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

In which the young man resolutely sets to work . . .

LESS THAN half an hour later John was seated at his desk in front of his computer, which would likely be his only companion for the next few weeks. He immediately concluded that the simplest—and therefore the most interesting—story he had to tell was the one about his meeting with the extraordinary old millionaire. He’d never written a screenplay, but his long experience as an advertising writer had sharpened his skill with words and developed his already fertile imagination.

He’d hardly been working a few minutes when a blue jay came along and perched on the ledge of the open window next to his desk. It was the first time he’d seen a blue jay in New York. Excited at seeing his favorite bird again, he hurried to the kitchen for some nuts and threw a few onto the ledge. The jay pecked at the largest one, picking it up in its black beak, and flew off. John remembered the recurring dream he’d had about a wingless blue jay and immediately concluded that this blue jay’s visit was a good omen. A new life was beginning for him, despite adversity, despite the pain of losing Rachel. He had to throw himself into his work, body and soul. He had to concentrate with all of his power.

His years in advertising had prepared him for work under pressure, so he was able to put in double shifts, spending fifteen hours a day, seven days a week, in front of the computer. At this rate he was able to complete a first draft in a month.

The first thing he did was pay a visit to his local video store, freshly printed script in hand, to see Steve, one of the employees and an obsessive movie buff, with whom he’d spent long hours discussing the merits and failings of various movies. He’d had occasion to see Steve on a regular basis since meeting Rachel, as their favorite pastime had consisted of watching old classics and eating pizza, half vegetarian, half combination, to satisfy their respective tastes.

“What happened to you?” asked Steve at the video store, seeing John in his wheelchair for the first time.

“I fell getting out of my private jet.”

Steve, a twenty-five-year-old film student, hair tied up in a ponytail, with small twinkling eyes, said, “No, seriously, what happened?”

“I don’t really know. It’s some kind of bizarre disease. Something to do with my spine.”

“How long’s it going to take before you’re better?”

“The doctor doesn’t even know that.”

“That’s a bummer.” Then, after a pause, “I hope you didn’t contaminate Rachel?”

“No, it’s not contagious.”

“How is she?”

“She’s okay....”

It was as if he felt ashamed to admit that it was over between them, as if allowing their relationship to exist in the mind of someone else somehow kept it alive.

“You really picked a good woman there,” Steve continued. “You should marry her before some shark comes along and steals her.”

“That’s true,” said John.

“So what are you renting today?”

“Nothing.

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