Page 39 of The Wish
Walking past his colleagues, they all call out various forms of: ‘See you. Good luck, Alex, you’ve got this.’
For once, Alex waves and smiles back.
They’re just nearing the exit when Ian appears. ‘Alex, wait up,’ he calls out.
With obvious disinterest in any conversation with Ian, Alex stops walking, forcing Ian to come to him.
‘Heading out?’ Ian asks.
‘Just doing what you told me to do.’
‘So, how’s it going?’
‘Do you want to hear anything other than spectacular?’
‘Come on, Alex, we’re on the same team here.’
‘Yeah, right, sure we are. OK, Ian, anyway, got to go. Oh, by the way Steve’s coming out with me again this afternoon.’
This said as a statement, not a request.
‘Back up a minute. This was something given to you, it’s bad enough you’re not here doing your job, but I can’t let you haveSteve or anyone else, we’re behind in the work we have to do for real, paying clients.’
‘Well, you said that Frank wants me to do what I need to do to make Jesse’s wish, and that includes using Steve’s expertise or I’ll never finish it in time . . . if you get what I’m saying.’
Ian’s expression changes and Alex can feel him trying to work out how to back down without losing face.
‘You think you can run this show, don’t you? Just hurry the hell up and finish the job. I’m meeting with a TV network later this week. Publicity, Alex, which means sales and a nice big bonus for us all.’
Disgusted, Alex walks away, shaking his head. Behind him, he hears Ian calling out, ‘Back to work, the lot of you.’
The sooner he can get out of here, the better.
Walking through 6 East, Alex slips a camera from the bag over his shoulder. Jesse and Amy are sitting together on Amy’s bed. Raising the camera he takes a photo. The girls look up at him, smiling.
‘Hey, you didn’t get my good side!’ Amy squeals, while immediately striking a pose.
Alex snaps another photo.
‘What about video?’ Jesse asks Alex.
‘That too, one at time, Jesse, you have to be patient,’ Alex says, smiling.
‘I am patient, I am a patient,’ Jesse says, laughing. ‘You know what I mean.’
Amy strikes another pose, and Alex obliges with another click of his camera, just as Sandy enters the room.
‘What’s going on?’ Sandy asks, looking from Jesse to Amy to Alex.
‘Alex needs to take some photos, is that all right?’ Jesse asks.
‘Sure, just make sure you get permission from everybody you photograph, Alex, and that means permission from parents too.’
‘Yeah, I know. I have releases in my bag for everyone to sign. If they don’t, then I won’t use their images.’
‘I take it this is for your wish, Jesse?’
‘Yes, it is, and Sandy, you’re in it. Can we have your photo, pleeease?’
