excolocrack | This month's star title: Set-Up For Scandal!

In the last installment...

June 1961 - Val flirts with James in front of Ted, but James manages to make it seem like he's after Val's job so Val shows him the door. James compounds his error by badmouthing Ted and Val to Beryl and Kate, and then seeming to hit on Genny. Bad day for James! Ted decides to ask out Genny to annoy James, and Genny, Val, Ted and Beryl all go out for dinner to discuss plans for a detective romance series. Meanwhile, Syl and Al go out for drinks and end up in bed together. And Kate and Tess go out dancing, where Tess is confronted by her ex-girlfriend - but Kate doesn't seem worried by what this tells her about Tess.

Friday, July 7th, 1961, the office

So Monday started with hearing that Ernest Hemingway had died on Sunday, and that's set the tone for the week. I've had a headache for two solid days that's only just starting to fade, mostly due to a printing crisis with one of our runs. Let's just say that in three places the word "duck" didn't start with a d... The censors are getting pretty strict about obscenities these days, so that started my headache, and then I had the usual author-induced stresses.

At least this detective romance we're putting together seems like it's got legs. I'm looking at the cover Genny's drawn. The streetlamp's got a good glow to it, and she's managed to make the lady sexy and wholesome at the same time - not easy. The guy's just your average lantern-jawed gumshoe, but that's fine. And Beryl's put together a good story, though I've got a few suggestions for amendments. She's a cooperative sort, though, so I don't mind meeting with her, unlike some of our writers. And I have to admit she's easy on the eye, which is a good distraction from my other emotional woes...

I loosen my collar, because it's a hot day. I'm dreading August. Hope I'll get away for a couple of weeks because the city will be unbearable. It's not the best night for black tie, but I'll be sweating in a tuxedo anyway because this evening there's the Popular Fiction Publishing Awards, which everyone in the pulp game in NYC goes to - less for the prizes and more for the canapes and the gossip. There's always gossip. Me, I'm just going to enjoy the free champagne.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That sounds lovely," she says, and I'm waiting for a but. And then she smiles and agrees, and I relax. I didn't realise I was feeling nervous about asking. I suppose I must like her, which is a bit of a complication given I'm in love with my best friend and she's married, but it's still quite nice.

"When will you be getting there? And should I worry that you asked me before breaking out your notes?"

"The dinner is at 7 for 7.30," I say, "but if you liked I could pick you up." In a cab, obviously, I don't keep a car, but still. I smile at her. "And if I had anything horrible to say about your chapters I don't think I'd have dared ask at all, so no worries on that score." I gesture at the chair opposite my desk so she can sit, and then I go through the notes. There's nothing very major, and I run through them quite fast.

"That's about all," I say, handing her the manuscript with my corrections and suggestions in the margins. "And thank you, by the way," I say. "It's been a while since I took someone I liked to something like this."

"The dinner is at 7 for 7.30, but if you liked I could pick you up," and I nod, a little relieved. That takes the last leg of planning out of the equation, at least. Take out my notebook as I sit down, and take a quiet breath.

When we're done I take the manuscript back, and this part is never exactly pleasant but there's something satisfying about having it done, I will say that. I think I can have the pages back early-mid-next week--the weekend's free right now, I won't hear back about the outline for Kincaid until Monday--but that's if everything goes well... "I'll aim for Friday, unless you need it back sooner?"

"And thank you, by the way," and I'm startled into a smile. "It's been a while since I took someone I liked to something like this."

Think of saying honey, I can't imagine why, and file the line away for the typewriter. A bit heavy-handed on the flattery for the office, I think. "Well, thank you for the invitation," I say instead, "and I'm glad to have a chance to go." Don't fiddle with the edges of the manuscript, and stand as I pick it up. "I'll see you in a few hours, then?" I live with Kate; I'm sure Daisy can get him the address.

I smile at Beryl.

"Friday is perfectly fine," I say, "though if it could be by lunchtime I would be terribly grateful." No one likes working late on a Friday. "And yes, I'll see you later. I'll come by about 6.45?" I smile and watch her go out, and when she's gone I grin to myself and drum my fingers triumphantly on the desk. I'm pleased with how that went, and now I have a date I think I can go to see Ted (http://excolocrack.livejournal.com/19979.html?thread=3419915#t3419915).

This month's star title: Set-Up For Scandal!

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