Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Butterfly Locs… hello.”
She smiled into the phone. “Hello to you, too. What are you up to this fine mornin’, Caspian?”
“I just finished workin’ out at the gym with my friend, Legend.”
“Legend? That’s his name?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Okay. I like that. That’s different. I like Caspian, too. You don’t hear that every day, either.”
“Azure definitely fits into that same category, too.”
“Yeah, it’s different. Not to be mistaken with the software. Mine has the original meaning: a shade of blue.”
“That’s pretty. Azure… it fits you. I must say, you’re a lovely woman.”
“Thank you. I think I first heard the name Caspian from Prince Caspian. You know, a fictional character in The Chronicles of Narnia.”
“Hmmm, good catch.”
“You said you live in Roswell, Georgia? That’s pretty close to Atlanta, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s about thirty minutes away. Dependin’ on traffic. I’m originally from Louisville, Kentucky though. Right here. Portland, to be exact. I was born in South Louisville, then when my mama died I moved to Portland with my aunt and ’er husband, Uncle Bobby, and my cousin, Noah.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I just want to tell you that the vase and planter turned out perfect for my place. I painted the vase green, just like I said, and put long-stemmed white feathers in it. My apartment is in shades of green, black and white, and they look so nice sittin’ next to the fireplace.”
“Well, that sounds mighty fine. Glad it worked out for you. Thank you for givin’ me a much-needed laugh at the yard sale, with what you said to that lady ’nd all. It’s been an interestin’ couple of weeks dealing with my aunt’s affairs, tryna help my ailin’ uncle and cousin and what not. They ain’t got much money, so I’m helping out and just being there for emotional support.”
“You’re welcome for the laugh, but really, I just don’t like it when folks show their ass in public like that.”
“She was just tryna haggle. I honestly didn’t care.”
“It was disrespectful… all over some damn ornaments. Like she was entitled to bargain with you over the price. It was evident to me that most of that stuff out there had belonged to a woman, and y’all was two men, so I put two and two together even before your cousin told me that the stuff belonged to his mama. Someone passed on. I’ve been to enough yard sales and garage sales to figure these things out. No need in givin’ folks a hard time. More than likely, they’ve already had enough heartache and don’t need a stranger pilin’ more on top of ’em. So, what do you do back in Fairburn?”
“I’m a journalist for the JSTOR Daily, and a podcaster.”
“Are you for real? I think I’ve read some articles online from there.”
“Yeah, it’s nice. I do pieces on mysterious cold cases, offering my personal views along with any new information that may have come out.”
“Oh, wow! That sounds so interesting! So, you’re a writer, huh? You went to school for journalism?”
“Yeah, I attended Emerson College in Boston and got my B.A. in broadcast journalism, then got my Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. I’ve also studied radio, TV, and digital broadcasting. I have a monthly podcast dealing with cold cases and do interviews with guests, things like that. That’s turned into a great show on Spotify, and we’ve recently acquired some big sponsors, so the show is really movin’ along nicely.”
“I’m truly impressed. I enjoy reading about unsolved mysteries. My father is a true crime buff. As for me, I’m an artist by night and Operations Manager for Michael’s corporate office by day.”
“Michael’s? The arts and crafts supply store?”
“That’s right.”
“And you paint?”
“Paint and draw. Lots of commission work. My work has been showcased in various magazines and the KMAC museum, as well as been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Cincinnati Art Museum, and Crocker Art Museum in San Diego. I have done contract work for Danny Glover, Nicole Kidman, Keke Palmer, LL Cool J, Tyler Perry, Lady Gaga, Meryl Streep, and I’m trying to send Viola Davis somethin’ as we speak.”
“Well, hell! Got me a regular ol’ Iona Rozeal Brown in my midst!”
She burst out laughing, her cheeks flushed with heat.
“Yeah, I’m proud of it. I’ve worked hard, but when you do so at somethin’ you love, it hardly feels like workin’.”
“I like that. Yeah, let’s finish this conversation over dinner. What’s your schedule like tonight and tomorrow?”
“Well, tonight I have plans, but I could probably squeeze you in tomorrow.”
“I can do tomorrow, too. 6:30 sound good?”
“Sounds just fine.”
“Can I pick you up?”
“I’d prefer to meet you there.”
“Okay, no problem.” The next few moments were spent with him giving info about the restaurant, and that he’d get them a reservation, and so on and so forth.