"Hey, Dani. You know. I've been thinking. We need to get back on track. When's the last time you've blogged on our website?"
"Me? Last April, when I posted an excerpt for Lynne Logan's latest book on our MySpace. What about you?"
"Oh, dear. Worse than that." Tia grinned. "Mine was when I set the website blog up. Or soon after. I remember writing something about my dad."
Dani nodded: "You did, that's true."
"Oh-oh." Tia glanced at her blank monitor. "I think we're really behind."
"Ya think?" Dani said in her usual snarky tone that generally sent Tia off into a peal of laughter.
[Laughter echoed around Tia's office for several minutes.]
"Seriously, though, Dani. We really should get back to coming up with a topic to blog about."
"Definitely. Okay, let's do it. And here's a vow we can take." Dani held up her hand. "We, Tia Dani, are committed to blog faithfully, whether it be raining, sleeting, snowing--"
"Wait! Wait..." Tia turned to look at her. "We live in Arizona. When has the weather ever been that bad here? You know, where we've had to battle with the elements instead of writing?"
A long sigh slid from Dani's mouth. "I don't care then. What do you want our vow to be?"
"Hmmm...okay.. How about this? We commit faithfully to blog regularly whether there be persnickety Internet problems–"
"Persnickety?" Dani rolled her eyes. "Now that's a word one doesn't hear everyday."
"Hush, now. I'm thinking." Tia drummed her fingers next to her keyboard. "Besides, I like persnickety...it has character. So, don't interrupt me. I've got more to add to this vow."
Dani waved her hand. "Add away, dear Tia."
Tia began to type furiously. "Whether there be persnickety Internet problems, cranky computers and–"
Brrrring, brringgg
Dani: "Hold that thought. Gotta answer my cell phone. Hello?"
Oh, great. Tia thought. This will take a while. Every time I get a great idea, her phone has to ring. "While you answer it. I'm going to the bathroom."
[Ten minutes later Tia is rummaging through her cupboard for something to snack on.]
Walking into the kitchen, Dani snapped her cell phone shut. "That's done. Just another Realtor wanting to know about a house. So what were we doing?"
"I forgot. Here, you want some potato chips?" Tia tossed a freshly opened bag onto the kitchen counter. "I'm hungry."
"Of course. You have to ask?" Dani slipped her hand into the bag and pulled a handful of chips. "You know...I had an idea for a short story last night. You want to hear about it?"
"Sure." Tia scooted out one of the bar stools and hopped onto it.
Dani grabbed the other stool. "It's a darker paranormal. Nothing like we normally do?"
"Really?" Tia looked at her with one eyebrow lifted. "Since when have we ever done anything normal?"
"That's true. Every story we come up with has a tendency to take on it's own life." Dani reached for another round of chips. "Anyway, here's the idea. Three women own a book store and the hero comes in as an author, who's researching werewolf stories."
"Why?" Tia munched several chips at once.
"Why what?"
"Why three women? Which one of them is going to be the heroine?"
"I don't care." Dani brushed potato chip crumbs from the front of her black T-shirt. "Besides, what does it matter who's to be the heroine? I'm just telling you my idea for a story. We can iron out the fine details later."
Tia shook her head. "I don't know. What about the hero? Why did he come to just that particular book store? You know the rule. In romantic fiction, coincidences aren't supposed to just happen."
"Tia!" Another long drawn out sigh followed Dani's exclamation. "Turn off that analytical brain of yours and just listen to me. I'm telling you my idea, not the whole bloody story."
"Huh...oooh...how awesome. A bloody werewolf story. I like that. Okay...so...there's three women and one man, right?"
"Right. We start out with this spooky prologue. Up at the lake. A dark night."
"Which lake?" Tia stopped munching and looked at Dani curiously. "Where's the story supposed to take place?"
"Who cares, right now? Anyway, there's a full moon–"
"I hate to say this, but if there's a full moon, it won't be a dark night."
"Fine! Then it was a dark and stormy night."
[Both break out laughing.]
"I like the full moon idea, Dani. We'll stick with that."
Dani shifted on the bar stool. Sometimes I think I could hate you. "Are you ready to listen now? It's a really great idea."
"Fire away."
"Here goes. Back to wherever we were."
"It was a dark and –"
"Forget that. We're back at the lake and the moon was full."
Tia suddenly laughed and potato chips flew everywhere. "Sounds like a song. Stagger Lee, right?"
"Right...but I believe the moon was yellow."
In typical fashion, Tia cleared her throat and started singing. "The night was clear, and the moon was yellow..."
Together they finished the last line. "And the leaves came tumblin' down. . ."
[This time they both broke out in hysterical laughter].
Dani shoved the chips aside. "Oh God, it's time for my diet Coke."
Tia fanned her face and took a deep breath. "I almost inhaled a chip after that one. Guess I'll get myself a Pepsi."
[Five minute break here while they talk about nothing in particular]
Dani suddenly remembers why she was there for the day. " Let's return to my story."
"Right. So what else happens?"
"It's a werewolf story, but comes with a catch."
"Oooooookay?" Tia gave her friend a doubtful look, thinking there were all kinds of "catches", but knew she had to hear Dani out. In other words...KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT!
"Here's the deal. Our werewolf is really a–"
Woof. Whine..woof...whimper.
"Dang it!" Tia hopped off the bar stool. "Why does this always happen when we start to roll on something? Now, the double D's have to go outside."
"No problem. I'll tell you the rest of the story while we're outdoors with them."
[Fifteen minutes later—after both puppies "really" had to go...then greet their favorite mailman with a thousand doggie licks– Tia and Dani are back in the office in front of the computer.]
"You know, Dani. Your idea has a great premise. I think we should run with it. Let me get the major points down." She looked at her computer screen. "Omigosh! I forgot we were doing this earlier."
Dani groaned. "Oh shoot! That's right. We were going to come up with something for our website blog."
Tia flexed her fingers over her keyboard and grinned. "Don't worry. I think I have just the title for it."
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....
To be continued.....
