4-4
457 Words
ON THEIR LAST AFTERNOON in South Carolina, blessedly uninterrupted by phone calls, Paul tells his mom about his show Winsome, AZ as they sit around the living room with the windows open and an ancient box fan whirring comfortingly.
She’s interested in all the details of the production company he and Victor have formed to create the show: Paul has sixty percent ownership and creative control. Victor does not, but Paul gets to lean on Victor’s connections and resources. Victor also gets to be sure Paul is actually out of his nest. The setup is a little unusual, but Paul is glad of it because everything is also a little terrifying. He hopes that if he works as hard as he can and has just enough luck, they can actually make his show work.
“What’s it about?” his mom finally asks.
On the couch, Jake drowsing on his lap, Alex snorts.
Beth raises an eyebrow at both of them. “Yes?”
Paul says, “It’s about a girl named Melissa who graduates high school —”
“This is Darcy DeRosier?” his mom asks. The name of Paul’s lead actress has cropped up in phone calls.
“Yeah. She graduates high school, super smart, can’t afford college, so gets a day job at a 7-11 and starts a business.”
“That’s a way to put it,” Alex teases.
Paul smiles fondly at him. It’s not like the subject of Winsome, AZ — named for the tiny crossroads town in the middle of nowhere it’s set in — is one he’s embarrassed about, since he’s running a show about it, but this is his mom and Alex is being a s**t.
“The town’s on a truck route. Where there are truckers, there are prostitutes. Melissa decides she’s the businesswoman to make an efficient empire out of all the inventory. Most of them are old enough to be her mother. Drama, black comedy, and strong female characters ensue.” Paul loves talking about his story. He’s spent more time than he cares to think about pitching various permutations of the idea to so many people.
“My son is running a show about w****s,” his mom says somewhere between amused and horrified.
Paul nods. Alex cackles.
She sighs and leans her cheek on her fist. “I won’t say I’m not proud of you. Or that it doesn’t sound fascinating. But it would be so much easier to watch if I didn’t know you were running it, Paul.”
By the end of the conversation Jake is asleep on Alex’s lap, and Paul pulls out his phone to take a picture. It’s not a conversation they’re even close to having, but Alex with his nephew is just lovely.
“Going to post that one too?” Alex asks, voice quiet for the sake of the sleeping kid.
“No, this one’s just for me,” Paul says.
Alex smiles softly.
Paul’s mom gestures him into the hallway.
“Well done, Paul,” she says with a nod of her head back to Alex.
Paul smiles, so fond. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
- Writer
