Page 41 of Leveling

“Exactly.”

“Well, you’re the writer, how about you tell me what my punchline will be.”

“We all have to write our own, but I’ll tell you what, sometimes when I’m stuck on a scene I find that casting helps.”

“Casting?”

“Sure, cast your life, Beckie, pick a location, choose your cast, the rest will come. Dilly is here she wants to speak to you.” The phone wiggled and jiggled and aimed at the sky.Had Anna meant it when she said I love you? Then why did she head north instead of east?

Dilly was short, dark haired, slim. “Hi Beckett, we are so glad to have your feet returned soundly to Terra firma.”

“Me too.”

“You heard about that devil-man meeting his maker?”

“I did. My condolences to you.”

“Ha ha, you always did make me laugh. We’ll have a proper celebrating party when you get back. I overheard what Chickie was telling you, you fell in love?”

“I did, but she’s gone. I want to go find her, but I don’t know how.”

“You have to start looking Beckett, this life is so short, and happiness, that’s worth looking for.”

“Yes, I knew it, but I needed you to say it, thank you.”

“Find her. Call us if we can help.”

“I will.”

Chickadee came back on the phone, “Beckie, I just wanted to say I love you and your mom and dad would have been so proud of you. We’re all rooting for you.”

“I love you too Chickadee, give Dilly a hug for me.”

“I will dear. Call us when you find her.”

“Chickadee, what if she doesn’t want to cast me in her sitcom?”

“Well, I don’t have the answer to that. It seems to me only she knows the answer.”

“And I have to find her to ask her.”

“Yes, what was the last thing she said to you?”

“She said, ‘I love you Beckett.’”

“Of course she did. And so you shouldn’t waste any more time.”

Beckett hung up the phone, wiped his fingers again and mounted his motorcycle.

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