Page 41 of Endless Summer: Stories
Jay starts off by running his hands lovingly over the first page and saying, “Ifeltthis story.”
“Me too,” Bon Jovi Beth says. “The sublimated loneliness was palpable when the protagonist was in the powder room surrounded by pictures of her best friend’s family.”
“Agree,” Caroline Corrigan says. “Powerful imagery, the use of that powder room. Our protagonist is masterfully positioned as the other—an outsider without a family history of her own to claim. And yet it’s clear the protagonist has a soul, whereas the family—it’s a brilliant portrayal of her best friend’s mother, by the way—might have been more troubled than they appear.”
“Those parents seem like the kind who never have sex,” Katelyn says.
“I loved the dog,” John says. “And how the dog followed the protagonist everywhere. It’s a subtle way to let the reader know whom to root for.”
“Disagree,” Caroline Corrigan says, and her expression is gleeful. Finally, a bone of contention! “Children and animals in fiction smack of an easy device. The dog was the only element of this story I objected to. I say euthanize the dog.”
The class is quiet. This is not a popular opinion.
“I have questions about her decision to stay at the end,” Ray says. “How is she going to make it work?”
“You’re supposed to have questions,” Jay says. “I like that not everything is spelled out for us.”
“Agree,” Caroline Corrigan says. She frowns. “I think this might be the strongest story we’ve seen. I’m recommending it for theBread Loaf Review.”
When JP pulls up in front of Nantucket Memorial Airport in his Blazer, Vivi runs to him, her yellow duffel thumping against her side.
“I’m so happy to be home!” she says.
Vivi has kept another secret from JP, but once they’re lying on Steps Beach with sandwiches from Something Natural and a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate Vivi’s return, she shares the news of her triumph. Not only was Vivi’s story “The Powder Room” chosen to be in theBread Loaf Review,but Vivi was asked to read it aloud on the final evening of the conference, and she received a standing ovation.
JP doesn’t react quite the way she hoped he would. He looks… concerned.
“So, wait,” he says. “You wrote a short story about Savannah’s powder room?”
“I did what all writers do—I took an experience that had emotional resonance and transformed it so that it made narrative sense.”
“I hope you won’t ever write about me,” JP says. He clears his throat. “About us.”
“Don’t be silly, Jackie,” Vivi says. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
