Me: We need to talk.
Aurelia: You know I’m always willing to talk.
Me: School starts tomorrow.
Aurelia: No it doesn’t. It doesn’t start for two more weeks.
Me: The kids don’t start until then. Teachers start earlier.
Aurelia: Teachers don’t start until Monday a week from now.
Me: Officially. But you know what teachers do that week? Attend meetings. District meetings. Staff meetings. Family meetings. There is no way I can be adequately prepared for school if I wait until next week. So this means I will not be able to blog as—
Aurelia: You certainly will!
Me: No, really, I—
Aurelia: My story is far more important than meetings!
Me: Yes, of course, but I—
Aurelia: Robert!
Me: Would you just—
Aurelia: (to Robert) Did you hear what she just said? She’s going to claim she can’t blog anymore.
Me: That’s not what I—
Aurelia: Yes, it is, that’s what you—
Robert: Aurelia.
Aurelia: What?
Robert: Let’s listen.
Aurelia: (sigh) Fine.
Me: I was going to say that I’m not going to be able to blog as often as I have been doing.
Aurelia: Oh.
Me: Seeing as I will be busy teaching lots of children important things like how to value great stories.
Aurelia: That seems fair.
Me: But I promise to blog at least once a week.
Aurelia: ONCE a week?! You have three day weekends!
Me: The children have three day weekends. I often have only—
Aurelia: And then you have two day weekends.
Me: Yes, but the priority on those weekends must be helping Salva and Beth finish their story.
Aurelia: (sigh) Yes, of course, but once a week. Robert, do you think once a week is adequate considering everything we went through on that expedition?!
Robert: I think Aurelia has a point.
Me: I said at least once a week. Of course I’ll try to do better. And if any of you have something pressing to say, you know I won’t have any choice but to listen.
Aurelia: True.
Me: So . . . we’re OK then?
Robert: Are we going to get some of those chocolate chip cookies you made in preparation for those family meetings?
Me: Of course.
Robert: Well, then it sounds fair to me.
Me: Aurelia?
Aurelia: You’re going to try to do better than once a week?
Me: Yes.
Aurelia: And you pledge to write at least once a week.
Me: I will not break that promise without discussing it with you first.
Aurelia: That sounds like hedging.
Me: It’s being honest. You value honesty.
Aurelia: (sigh) Very well. But Robert and I want to go to the awards ceremony to cheer on Aerin and Dane.
Me: Absolutely.
Aurelia: OK then. Moving on . . .
Ah, characters. They try to rule our lives ever so much. :P
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck with juggling the teaching schedule AND the writing schedule. It sounds like a handful, that's for certain!
Aw, that is so sweet of Aurelia and Robert to cheer on Dane and Aerin:)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with teaching this year! I certainly hope you'll be able to post weekly, as each post has been very insightful into your writing process and your characters. Best wishes!
Absolutely lovely. :) THIS is why I love your books so much. Your characters are alive and vibrant! My characters get like this too. I should write it down sometime.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Good luck with school! :)
-Amelia