day first

 "You can't tell a story collaboratively," said Jack. `Good stories start with a single voice and transition from expression to expression, until ... "

"Shut it," said Emily. "Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean it's not done."

"But the narrative structure is weak," whimpered Jack. "And it's just lazy to force different characters to tease out different parts."

"Once a failed writer, always a failed writer," replied Emily, as she brought coffee to her mouth. "The only thing failed writers are good at is spotting other failed writers."

"Well, we are a pair," said Jack. "But then, you never even tried."

"Just waiting for the right story," said Emily. "I don't waste my time practicing on the perfect novel. I fill my days with reading, coffee, and hunting for that perfect story note!"

Rolling his eyes, Jack said, "You don't get better at writing by reading. Sure, you might load up on witty phrases, rehashed plot lines, and knock-off Tolkien wannabes - but it takes work to build your own world."

The waitress crossed the coffee shoppe and stopped at their table.

"You two leaving soon? We closed half an hour ago," said Sadie.

Looking up, Jack noticed the darkened sky and muttered an apology.

"Ah, sorry," said Emily. "Good coffee."

Nodding, Sadie took their trash and picked up the small, metal disk.

'Nice weight,' thought Sadie, as she slipped it into her right pocket.



Jack stopped at the bus station.

"Why do you insist on taking the bus everywhere?" asked Emily. "I have a perfectly sensible car."

Eying the bus schedule, Emily said, "Besides, I think they're done for the night."

"You know why I won't get in your car," said Jack. "The smell alone would kill an elephant."

"That was ONE time!" said Emily. "Besides, Max was sick, and I was taking her to the vet."

"How is Max, by the way?" asked Jack, holding out his hand.

"Max will be 15 in a few days, "said Emily. "And she hasn't gotten back into the car since she got home. I think she's traumatized by the memory."

Lightly punching Jack's shoulder, Emily said, "Thanks for the memory - now you have to let me take you home."

Clicking her fob, Emily unlocked and started the car.

"Same place," asked Emily, as she began rolling forward. "I remember you had this cozy apartment above the old Chinese food restaurant."

"Yup," said Jack. "And all the fortune cookies I can eat."

"Nice," said Emily, as wind and light rain hit the car.

"I always assumed you hated Max because you were a dog person," said Emily.

"Hate is a strong word," said Jack, picking invisible lint off his shoulder. "Let's just say that when I come home smelling like cats, my dog goes nuts."

"I'm surprised Chester can smell anything, given how pungent the Chinese restaurant is," said Emily, as she made a left turn. "I'm just glad he's too big to mysteriously disappear."

"You know that's an urban legend, right?" said Jack. "It might be the case they eat dogs in their home country, but I've never known them to do it here."

"I do have an idea for a story, though," said Jack quietly. "I was thinking of revisiting Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

"What do you mean, revisit?" asked Emily, as she came to a stop in front of the Wok N Roll. 

"The story has a really mutable framework," said Jack. "And with some allowances, it could be all sorts of crazy."

"Well, Jack," said Emily, "this is your stop. We should do this again."

Nodding, Jack said, "Thanks for the ride," and stepped onto the curb.

Emily smiled and drove off, locking the door as she made her way home.

Jack opened the door to the restaurant.

Flipping a coin to the tiny jade temple, Jack waved to the cashier, climbed the two flights of stairs, and hung up his coat.

The aquarium on the other side of the room displayed two brightly colored fish that seemed to throw kisses to Jack.

"Lucy and Desi," said Jack. "Hungry?"

Tapping in fish food, Jack thought about Emily.

'I haven't seen her in months,' thought Jack. 'She looked good.'

Emily held her left hand on the steering wheel as she felt around in her purse.

"Where is it?" whispered Emily. "I know I had it before I talked with Jack."

The search being fruitless, Emily pulled off to a well-lit side of the road and dumped her purse into the passenger seat. Memories and memorabilia littered out of the purse, and she lifted and scraped the pile.

"I must have left it at the diner," said Emily.

With a sigh, Emily scooped the pile quickly back into her purse and began driving.

The traffic lights seemed to laugh at her.

"I just hope nobody has used it," said Emily. 

Sadie helped clean up the remains of customers and put away the milk and creamer. After various duties, Sadie gathered her share of the tips and headed to the door.

"Night!" said Sadie, to the nearly empty room.

"Don't forget you're opening tomorrow morning," said Alan. "We don't have anyone else."

"Yes, Alan," said Sadie. "You got it."

"And thanks," said Alan. "I appreciate you being able to cover."

"No problem," said Sadie. "Will you walk me to my car?"

"Sure," said Alan. "But I don't think you should worry."

"I'd rather be safe than sorry," said Sadie.

"No problem," said Alan.

With the doors locked, Alan and Sadie made their way behind the diner.

As Sadie approached her car, a cat jumped off the nearby dumpster, knocking two loosely balanced hubcaps onto the ground, and Alan spun around.

"What was that?" asked Alan.

"Poor man's proximity alarm," said Sadie, as she picked up the hubcaps.

"Smart," said Alan. "Well, see you tomorrow."

"Yup," said Sadie. "Good night!"

As Sadie left the parking spot, she turned on the radio and sang along.

'I hate this time of night,' thought Sadie.

Interlude

Goldilocks happily trounced on the sunlit path and stumbled gently through the forest. Chirping birds and the hint of a fresh breeze filled her with simple glee. And on the path she trod until she found a small split in the path. In the distance, the left appeared to head towards a small clearing; the right headed deeper into the forest.

Choosing the left, Goldilocks happily discovered a garden. Seven small rows of tilled land with tiny placards. Written on the placards were words she did not recognize. The sides of the clearing had little to no loose foliage. Additionally, the path from which she had entered the clearing continued to the other side of the clearing and led back into the forest.

Continuing on the path, Goldilocks discovered a second small clearing. And in the middle of this second clearing sat a house. Full of curiosity, Goldilocks walked past the small, wooden mailbox and stood in front of the door. As her stomach rumbled, she smelled something mysterious and tasty and tried opening the door. It opened inwards easily.

Goldilocks stepped into the house and followed the smell. On her right was a table on which three bowls had been placed. Walking over to the bowls, she sat down on the closest chair, lifted the spoon, and tasted the contents. With alarm, she dropped the spoon and covered her mouth, crying out sharply in pain. She then moved to the next nearest bowl and tasted the contents of the bowl. With disgust, she dropped the second spoon and grimaced. She then moved to the third bowl and tasted its contents. Her stomach growled appreciatively, and she ate everything in the bowl.

After finishing, Goldilocks realized she was a little cold, having filled her belly, and so left the chair and walked closer to the lit fireplace. She noticed three chairs and chose the first to sit and warm her toes. It was too large to sit comfortably, and she tried sitting in the next-closest chair. This chair was so small that even sitting with her back straight, her feet lay flat on the floor. The third chair, however, was an excellent fit, and she moved to this chair and enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

Goldilocks, having warmed up, realized she was tired from playing in the forest and decided to look for somewhere to sleep. She wandered through the house until she found a single room with three beds. And she tried each. The first bed was entirely too big, and she found it easier to roll out than to climb on her hands and knees. While on the second bed, she found it was simply too small; with her head on the pillow, her heels hung off the bed. And the third bed was such an excellent fit that she didn't notice she had fallen asleep and had taken absolutely no notice of the preponderance of the smell of bears.

And, as Goldilocks slept, a sound in the front room revealed three bears of differing sizes standing near their dining room table. They quietly looked at the open front door, the empty bowl, and the disturbed chair, and followed the bits of porridge which led to their bedroom. The bedroom door still open, they saw a small girl with dirty blonde hair wrapped up in a blanket, snoring away peacefully.

The largest of the bears gently pushed to the front of the three and stood by Goldilocks' head. Rearing up on his hind legs, he articulated the traditional bear greeting with its concomitant clicks, belches, and bellows. This startled Goldilocks awake. And Goldilocks, ashamed and startled, ran past all three bears and back into the clearing.

And was never seen again.

Jack awoke in a panic.

Sweat dripping from his head, he had the impression of being chased by bears.

'I wish I knew what these dreams meant,' thought Jack.