Captivating Holiday Read: Discover Scene Three of Reunion: Coda

Late Morning, Thursday, July 4, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Happy Birthday, USA

Hi, everyone.

Happy birthday, America! Today marks 248 years since the Continental Congress said goodbye to the British Empire and hello to a new nation of 13 colonies that would become the United States of America. I hope all my fellow Americans, wherever you are, have a wonderful Fourth of July and celebrate our independence.

On Writing & Storytelling: At Last! I Wrote Scene Three for Chapter 18

I had been stuck in a rut, unable to finish the 18th chapter of Reunion: Coda after writing the second scene. But somehow, I pulled it off – I wrote a solid first draft for Scene Three (which I call Histories and Revelations). This was unexpected, because I’ve been feeling pretty low lately, and depression and writing don’t always get along.

I was surprised because yesterday’s afternoon writing shift started like the two previous workdays  – behind schedule and with a mix of lethargy and no inspiration. I try my best to start working on Reunion: Coda no later than 2:30 PM on weekdays; yesterday I was at my desk at 3, and I didn’t start on what I thought would be just the outline for Scene Three until 4.

Yesterday’s writing stint in the afternoon was supposed to be like any other weekday – sluggish and uninspired. I try to start working on Reunion: Coda around 2:30 PM on weekdays; but yesterday I dragged myself to my desk at 3, and I barely scratched the surface of what I thought was the blueprint for Scene Three at 4.

But then, after I wrapped up the outline at 4:30 and skimmed it, I felt a surge of confidence to “just dive into the scene.” It was already late in the day – my usual hours are from 2 to 6 PM – so I figured I would just scribble down a couple of paragraphs, call it a day before 7, and save the rest of Histories and Revelations for today.

I was in the zone until nearly 7 PM and instead of just jotting down a few paragraphs, I completed the entire scene.

To be exact, I finished what I believed to be a solid first (or maybe second) draft for Scene Three, which is currently five pages and 1,261 words long.

Here. Let me show you an excerpt from Histories and Revelations:

Jim Garraty’s Office, Columbia University, Fayerweather Hall, March 15, 2000, 4 PM

The office is a sanctuary of academia, where the scent of aged paper and the soft glow of the desk lamp are my only companions. Midterms and research papers form a miniature skyline on my desk, each stack casting a long shadow as the day wanes.

A soft rapping at the door stirs me from my reverie, a rhythmic tapping that echoes Poe’s haunting verses. I call out, “Enter,” my voice betraying a hint of curiosity, half-expecting a student laden with excuses or queries about grades.

It’s Nicole—Nick—Boisvert. She steps into the room, her presence mixing nostalgia and professionalism. She’s the embodiment of Candice Bergen in her prime, with her blonde hair catching the light, framing a face that speaks of intelligence and a life vividly lived. Her eyes, clear blue, hold a depth of understanding that comes from years of shared history. They sparkle with a combination of assurance and a silent query as they lock with mine.

Our past, a whirlwind of post-divorce passion, lingers in the air, an amicable ghost that watches over our current camaraderie. I think to myself as she closes the door with a quiet click, her hand lingering on the knob for a moment longer than necessary.

“Jim, I hope I’m not interrupting,” she begins. Her voice is a familiar melody that once played a significant part in my life’s soundtrack. Her stance is relaxed yet formal, a testament to the many roles she’s played in my life.

“Not at all, Nick. It’s always a pleasure to see you,” I reply, my tone welcoming yet tinged with surprise. I gesture to the chair opposite my desk, a silent invitation that she accepts with a graceful nod. “What brings you here?”

We fall into an easy exchange, the dance of colleagues with a shared past. The conversation flows from midterms to the peculiarities of our students, a rhythm we’ve mastered over the years. My hands unconsciously shuffle the papers on my desk, a sign of the slight unease that her unexpected visit has stirred within me.

I grab one of the piles of papers and glance at the first page. It’s a midterm from my World War II for Beginners course, one of the rare optional classes I still teach. This topic has always fascinated me, especially since it allows me to share what I’ve discovered about the most epic war in history from all my years of research. 

I glance at the extra credit question I added at the end of the test, a whimsical attempt to gauge the students’ prior knowledge of the subject. “What misconceptions did you have about World War II before you took this course?” I read aloud, my eyebrow raised in mild amusement, curious to see what Nick thinks of it.

She leans forward, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze intent and thoughtful. “That sounds interesting. What did they say?”

I flip through the papers, skimming the answers. Some of them are predictable, others are surprising, and a few are downright hilarious. I chuckle as I read some of the gems, sharing them with Nick, who laughs along, her head tilting back in genuine amusement:

• “I always thought the war was fought in black and white, like in the old movies.”
• “I honestly believed that America, Britain, and Germany fought against Russia, sort of like a NATO before the Cold War.”
• “I didn’t know that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. I thought it was some random island in the Pacific.”
• “I thought Hitler was a good leader who just went crazy at the end.”
• “I had no idea that women played such an important role in the war effort. I thought they just stayed home and baked cookies.”

Action This Day

I haven’t decided if I will be on holiday mode this July 4, 2024. I should; I went to bed incredibly late last night (way past midnight, I think). I woke up at 4:30 this morning and failed to fall asleep again even though I stayed in bed until 7:30.  That wasn’t fun, and even though I had a reasonably filling breakfast, I’m not at my best now.

If I decide to work, however, I will focus on making edits and revisions to Scene Three instead of, say, pushing on to Scene Four of Chapter 18. Editing is not exactly a piece of cake, but for me, it’s less difficult to do than writing fresh copy. (It’s also, less fun, at least superficially. But, as every writer knows, it’s in the editorial process that the magic of our craft happens.)

I’m not sure if I’ll work on my novel today or just take it easy and try to appreciate the festive mood, follow my “weekend schedule,” and celebrate the freedom that lets me write what I love. By the way, if you need a short and exciting read this weekend, why not try Reunion: A Story, the prelude to my upcoming novel Reunion: Coda? It’s a poignant story that mixes teenage drama, missed chances, adult regrets, and the power of friendship that will make you want to keep reading. And the best part is, you can get the Kindle Edition for only $0.99 (in Amazon US) for a short time only! That’s a huge 75% off from the regular price of $3.99. Don’t let this opportunity slip away and get your copy and enter the world of Reunion. You’ll love it!