Create Art Podcast

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 22 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

22 Nov 2020  3392  daily count 36742 cumulative count

                Cheryl went back to writing in the diary and motioned Carl back into the living room. She kept up a good pace and drank more evening coffee. Occasionally she would get up and walk to the patio and look out the window to return to the kitchen table and make her entry. It was about midnight when she finished.

                “Okay I just got done with everything I can think to write. Do you want to crash out and wake up early in the morning and get this done,” asked Cheryl?

                “Naw, I won’t sleep until it is done. Might as well get this knocked out tonight so that way I can sleep,” replied Carl.

                “Okay I am bushed, I’ll just go to bed right now and I’ll be waiting for those cheese omelets. Do not stay up all night because I have that feeling that you plan to plow through this until the bitter end. We got a big day tomorrow and I need you to be awake, plus Myra is going to be up early I am sure, it can be weird sleeping in a house you don’t know,” said Cheryl. “If she gets up I’ll grab her so you can get this done.”

                “Sounds like a plan, I promise I’ll be crashed out on the couch in about an hour or so, I am used to writing for work quickly,” said Carl.

                Cheryl gave him a hug and went to the bedroom. In a short amount of time, Carl heard her light snoring after she had turned out the light. He kept the music from the TV going while he worked on his entry. Luckily, he had enough coffee in the pot for a few more cups and wrote the events of the day as thoroughly as he could. The details of every event that he could remember found its way onto the page and after he had finished three pages in an hour, he decided he was done for the evening. He began to wonder what Cheryl had written and wanted to take a peek at her recounting of the details to make sure he didn’t miss anything but decided that would only bring harm to everyone involved. If there were any missed details it was too late now as his eyes were very heavy. He closed the book and sighed heavily. Taking the book into the office he placed it in the top shelf of his desk and locked the shelf. He felt good about what he added as it was the best he could remember, and he would be able to return to it later if he wanted to clearly remember the day.

                He made his way back to the bathroom to change into his pajamas. Basically it was sweatpants and a t-shirt, he took the towel that Myra had used and placed it in the laundry basket as he changed. She had left the bathroom spotless and he was impressed. When he was nine years old he would have left a pool of water on the floor and toothpaste caked in the sink. Myra seemed to be an old soul to him, but then he remembered that girls mature faster than boys, or at least he was sure he read it somewhere. Once changed he went to the living room and made it to the couch. He got up and went to the kitchen to clean up the coffee maker and prep it for the morning. The digital clock read 2 in the morning and he let out a long slow yawn. He was pleased that he got everything done before ethe sun came up, that would have been a disaster for him in what they needed to accomplish for the day. He looked into the fridge and saw that he had enough eggs, butter and cheese for the omelets. After that he went to the couch and pulled the blankets on him. The music on the TV was still going and he thought about turning on the timer, but then remembered he promised Myra that he would let the music play all night. He could hear Cheryl softly snoring and he could hear Myra’s deep breathing. Everything was quiet in the house and the world as even the traffic from the nearby highway seemed to ebb to almost nothing. With everything in the apartment checked to his liking he laid back and let his eyes shut. Soon he was dreaming and snoring to himself.

                Car’s dreams were strange that early morning, he saw himself and Myra in a lawyers office dressed up in suit and she was in a purple dress talking in soft voices to a judge. The judge said something about adoption and Myra cheered and gave him a hug. His brother Nate was there shaking his hand and Cheryl was there as well crying softly to herself. There was a rapid succession of visions of them at a park, swimming in a lake, a birthday party where everyone was gathered, and Myra was blowing out her birthday candles. During all these mini dreams he could hear voices in the background mumbling incoherently. The dreams came faster and shorter each time until Carl woke up in a cold sweat. He was on the couch, the music was still playing, this time it was a Lee Morgan tune he could not read on the screen. Myra was curled up on the easy chair without a blanket, asleep, breathing deeply. Carl got up and went to the chair. The sun was still not up yet and the digital clock read 5:30. He picked up Myra carefully trying not to wake her and took her to her new bedroom. The blankets must have been kicked off in the night sometime and she probably slept walked to the chair and was trying not to wake anyone. He placed her gently onto the bed and put her blankets back on her. Kissed her forehead and turned to go.

                “Good night Papa,” Myra sleepily said.

                “Good night sweetheart, go back to sleep,” he said as a natural reflex that startled him a bit.

                He went back to the couch and got back under his blankets. The music that played was again by Grover Bechet he noticed.  Wanted to pull out his phone and research this person, but remembered that he was not allowed to do that, so he just closed his eyes again and tried to get back to sleep. It didn’t take too long to get back to sleep and when he awoke this time, it was still early, about 6:30 when he woke to Cheryl sitting on the easy chair.

                “Good morning early riser, did you sleep okay,” groggily asked Carl?

                “Had a weird dream, actually a weird set of dreams. I’m sure it is all related to everything that happened yesterday. Did you get any sleep,” asked Cheryl?

                “Yeah, Myra got up about an hour or so ago and was sitting where you are sitting, I put her back down to bed no problem. I finished at about two and I had a bunch of weird dreams as well. It’s the stress of yesterday, I am sure tonight we will be dead tired and will crash hard. You want me to make a pot of coffee, and is there a morning coffee that I should be making other than black,” asked Carl?

                “I think I need to switch to whatever keeps you going at your pace. Yeah some coffee would be nice, wait we don’t want to wake her up with the sound of the grinder,” said Cheryl.

                “Pre-ground stuff. I used a burr grinder so it will be fine. Its just a drip coffee maker so t is not going to live up to your standards, but for right now it wil be fine. Hold on let me get it started,” said Carl. He got up from the couch slowly and heard the usual joints popping. He got into the kitchen quietly and turned on the coffee maker, pulling two cups he placed them on the coffee table. They both sat in silence as the maker sputtered and gurgled as the coffee slowly dripped into the carafe, The familiar smell that they both devoted their lives too soon filled the room which warmed it up during the cool early morning. It took about ten minutes and the carafe was full. Carl went back to the kitchen and grabbed it and poured Cheryl’s cup first and then his own. He returned the carafe back to the coffee maker in the kitchen and came back to the couch and sat in front of his coffee, breathing in the aroma before he took his first sip.

                “Tomorrow I will do a French press in the morning. I like the ritual of French press coffee but today I just can’t do it,” said Carl.

                “Ooohhhh getting fancy for me now huh. Are you sure you want to take our relationship to that level, making French press coffee for someone is a lifelong commitment,” teased Cheryl?

                “Well you would have to spend the night again or at least be here early enough to drink it. Speaking of that, are you planning on staying the night again,” asked Carl?

                “Yeah I think so. Myra would really benefit to have a woman here, but I know the couch is not that comfortable to sleep on and it is not fair to you to have you on the couch every night while we figure this situation out,” said Cheryl.

                “Hey, I don’t mind too much right now. I can do this for as long as we need, plus I have had many nights sleeping on this couch, I got it because it was so comfortable. When I bought it, I told the salesperson that I needed something that I could crash out on and when I laid on this couch in the showroom, I almost feel asleep right there. I was actually having one of my episodes and well I felt bad, so I bought the floor model right then and there as soon as I came to,” confessed Carl.

                “That sounds scary, how often do you have these episodes,” asked Cheryl?

                “Well I have been keeping track of them for the past two years. I usually get them about once or twice a day. The frequency has increased slowly but the intensity has gone down,” said Carl.

                “What do you mean by intensity,” Cheryl asked as she sipped her coffee.

                “Well, I would zone out longer and deeper initially, that is what caused me to talk with the doc and essentially altered me to the tumor. Now it just takes a slight nudge or something to change in my field of vision and I can come out of it almost right away. Before I needed a good shake to get me out of the episode,” said Carl.

                “Does the doctor expect it to get worse as time goes on,” asked Cheryl?

                “It will probably go back to what it was until my brain just shuts down due to the pressure and the resources being drained by the tumor. By that time though, I will probably need to be in a hospice, and I will not know when death will be happening. I’ll just go into an episode and never come out,” said Carl.

                “That sounds really scary, how do you deal with that,” asked Cheryl?

                “Well I try not to think about it. One day it is going to happen and there really is not anything I can do about it. And before you ay anything, the chemo only slows the tumor, it does not stop the episodes from happening,” said Carl.

                “So, are you aware when an episode happens,” asked Cheryl?

                “Most times not, which I am happy about because I think I would freak out not being able to control what is happening around me. I have woken up during an episode and it feels like being paralyzed for a minute or two and I really hate that feeling,” said Carl.

                “I can see how that would be scary,” said Cheryl.

                “So, onto other things, Myra woke up last night and when I put her to bed she called me Papa,” said Carl.

                “That’s cute,” squealed Cheryl.

                “Well yeah, but I never told her to call me papa, and she has referred to her father as dad. I told Nate I would like to be called papa because it seems more intimate, but I never told her. That is definitely weird,” said Carl.

                “A little odd, but she may have heard it from TV or read it in a story. It is a good sign that she is comfortable with you.  With everything going on in her life that is a good sign that she feels comfortable enough with you to have a pet name. I would not worry about it too much,” said Cheryl.

                “I just find it off that she called me that. How long do you think we should let her sleep, I mean it is almost 7 in the morning,” asked Carl?

                “Let her sleep as long as she wants today,” replied Cheryl. “She has earned a good nights sleep.”

                Carl and Cheryl continued to drink their coffee in silence for some time. The sun began to rise and light up the living room. Cheryl stood up and opened the blinds on the patio door to let in more light.

                “I am going to grab a quick shower before breakfast and before I need to leave for work, are you okay listening for Myra,” asked Cheryl?

                “Sure, go ahead, grab a towel from the linen closet, the laundry basket is I closet in the bathroom. Sorry I don’t have better smelling shampoo, you are going to smell like me today,” Carl said.

                “Not a problem, besides, I like the way you smell when you come into the shop. Get those omelets ready, I am getting hungry,” said Cheryl.

                She went back to Carl’s bedroom and grabbed a change of clothes and then back to the bathroom where Carl heard her start the shower. He took her cup and placed it in the sink and then pulled out a frying pan and the ingredients for the omelets. He heard Myra slowly stirring and resisted the urge to check on her. Carl got deep into making the breakfast for all three of them and set the table as the stove top heated up. As he was flipping the omelets Myra sat at the kitchen table. She was still dressed in her pajamas and her yawn startled Carl.

                “Whoa he good morning, I didn’t hear you come into the kitchen. How are you feeling this morning,” asked Carl, surprised?

                “Good morning papa, I had a good night, how about you. I watched you sleeping on the couch for a little bit before you took me back to bed,” replied Myra.

                Carl was a bit taken aback by being called papa now that Myra seemed fully awake. He turned down the burner on the stove top as he turned around to face her.

                “I slept pretty good, did Cheryl and I wake you up,” asked Carl, still perplexed as to why Myra called him papa?

                “No, it was just time for me to get up. I am hungry, how much longer until we can eat breakfast,” asked Myra?               

                “Well Cheryl is in the shower so when she gets done, we can eat. It should not be much longer now. By the way, you called me papa when I put you back to bed and just now You do not have to call me that if you don’t want to. I like it, but I don’t want you to feel you have to call me that, whatever you are comfortable with,” said Carl

                “But I have always called you Papa since the adoption,” said Myra.

                “Since the what,” Carl asked? He could not believe what he just heard.

                “Papa, you remember a year ago when you adopted me. Did you forget again? Go grab the diary and remind yourself like you always do. Its in the front where you put my birth certificate and all the paperwork,” said Myra.

                “The diary is locked in my desk in the office,” said Carl.

                “I know, its always locked in your desk because you don’t want me to read it until I get older. We have gone through this so many times. Remember you put it in there in case you forget. Take the omelets off the heat before you go because I like mine runny, “said Myra.

                Carl moved the pan to the cool side of the stove top and headed to his office. Myra followed him. He unlocked the drawer and pulled out the diary. He noticed some paperwork sticking out of the diary between the cover and the first page. When he pulled out the paperwork and opened the paper and saw Myra’s birth certificate and the adoption paperwork. It was dated the previous year and looked to be real.

                “I don’t understand, we just met you yesterday, what is this, how did you get into the desk and why did you touch the diary,” asked Carl?

                “Papa you and Uncle Nate have the only keys to your desk. This is like the third time we had this conversation this past you. Remember you told me that you sometimes forget thing. We did it like this so I could help you remember,” said Myra.

                “Okay, lets put this back and eat some breakfast. I am not sure what is going on here,” said Carl. Carl put the paperwork back in the diary and put the diary back into his desk and locked it. They both went to the kitchen and Myra sat down at the table. Carl took the pan and placed the omelets on the plates.

                “Papa, this has happened before, you always get upset when it does. The doctor said it is normal and you will be okay. Just make sure to write it down when you talk to him in a few weeks,” said Myra.

                “How do you know I have a doctors appointment in a few weeks,” asked Carl?

                “Because you told me to remind you to put it on your calendar. Are you having another episode like you did yesterday at the park,” asked Myra?

                “I must be, I am sorry, this just isn’t making any sense to me,” replied Carl.

                Cheryl stepped out of the bathroom and sat down at the kitchen table next to Myra.

                “How did you sleep dear,” asked Cheryl?

                “Pretty good I was really tired. Papa looks like he didn’t sleep that well on the couch. He had another episode just now,” replied Myra.

                “Carl are you feeling alright,” asked Cheryl?

                “We need to talk in the other room,” said Carl.

                “Myra, you go ahead and eat and Carl and I will be on the patio okay,” asked Cheryl?

                “Sure, he forgot again about the adoption,” said Myra.

                “About the what,” asked Cheryl?

                “To the patio now Cheryl” said Carl.

                They left Myra to eat breakfast alone as Carl grabbed Cheryl’s elbow and led her onto the patio.

                “She thinks I adopted her a year ago, and she keeps calling me Papa like it is...

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 20 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

20 Nov 2020  1744   daily count  33350 cumulative count

                Carl wrote down the names of the previous holders of the diary. Since according to the diary he was not allowed to research them, he thought that his brother may be able to do that and still stay within the bounds of the curse. He moved onto the next page that was written in the same hand. The instructions were as follows:

                ‘Once you have possessed the diary, you must write the first entry no later than the following day. This entry tells of the circumstances in that you received this book. Do not read other entries from the other holders of this diary. The curse will ruin you and those you hold dear. You will write a total of five entries, they can be of whatever length you wish. He first must tell of how you came across the book, as much detail as you can remember must be written down so that if there is a hope for breaking this curse, those in the future will have all the information they will need. Your next three entries will be about momentous events in your life. These can be weddings, deaths, war, plague, births, you have free reign over them. However, they cannot be just musings of a particular day so whose wisely. The last entry will be the circumstances on how you passed along the diary.  All details and reasonings must be put in this entry. You must pass along the diary as you will not be able to withstand the fury of the souls of the previous holders of this dairy. Do no curse those who have come before you and do not curse the one who has passed along this diary to you. They are trying to spare their families and friends the wraith of the diary as one day you too will be forced with a choice, sacrifice yourself and all those you hold dear or pass along the curse to someone else. If you follow these instructions your life will be extinguished, however your family will be spared. You will not incur the wraith of those before you, your life will simply end quietly and peacefully. You will enter into the land of the dead, and God will have mercy upon your soul, however, your soul will only partially be in the afterlife, as it may be called upon to enact swift fury upon those who wish to break the instructions you have read. If any break these instructions all the previous souls are bound for eternity to condemn the living. If they fail and do not bring the living back into line, then all of the souls afflicted with this curse shall be damned in the most hellish afterlife imaginable by demons. Heed these words and your loved ones will be taken care of, deviate and you will know wraith greater than Legion. If you should die before you make your five entries your soul will be cast into the same place as the other souls if any attempt to break the curse. Make your five entries and pass over into the next life.’

                Carl and Cheryl looked at each other with uncertainty on how to proceed. Carl sipped more coffee and Cheryl was visibly shook.

                “Well, it looks like we are both in this for the long haul. The longest haul possible. Do we read anymore,” asked Carl?

                “Yeah, this is truly crazy in a bad way, are we going to take this seriously? I mean, if we do then even death is no relief from the curse. Do you think that Myra’s dad believed in it,” asked Cheryl?

                “Well he left her off at the coffee shop. Maybe he violated the curse in some way and is trying to help her escape. First things first, she does not get to see this, second, lets tread lightly on this when we talk with Angela and Nate tomorrow. This is already a bad situation and if this diary is at all true then you and I are pretty screwed for a long time,” said Carl.

                “Lets just sign our names into it, maybe we will feel better after that and tomorrow we can write in it,” said Cheryl.

                “What time did he leave yesterday, wasn’t that like at 9:45 in the morning. We have until then to write the first entry,” said Carl.

                “So are you going to write in the diary tonight, I thin kit should be both of us since we are both signing our names into it. I mean you might miss some details and according to the instructions I think it would be best if we are as detailed as possible,” said Cheryl.

                “We can’t read what each other wrote. Here is an idea, you write in it first with as much detail as you think you need and then I write in it in as much detail as I can remember,” said Carl.

                “Does that count as two entries,” asked Cheryl?

                “I don’t think so, you put the date on it and write to the end of a page, even if you have to fill it with blah blah blah, then I turn over the page and I won’t be able to see what you wrote and I will write to the end of the page. It looks like there are a ton of bookmarks and dog eared pages so we can keep track of where we are, we just need to promise each other not to read what the other wrote,” replied Carl.

                “I think another thing we need to do is make sure we both agree on the event that we write about and both of us need to be there when the other person writes, just to make sure we don’t add an entry and short change our lives. The good thing about this is if we follow the instructions, we won’t die a horrible death. I’ve always feared that I’d go out in a bad way,” said Cheryl.

                “Well I am in a different boat than you,” said Carl tapping on his head. “Remember I am not even supposed to be here right now according to my little timebomb.”

                “Your little time bomb, oh you mean the tumor. You call it your little timebomb,” asked Cheryl?

                “Well when you have a tumor slowly growing in your brain that will eventually kill you some day your humor tends toward the dark side. Dying quietly and painlessly sounds like a great alternative to what is probably going to be a messy life for me anyhow. You have to promise me you will follow the instructions to the letter in this diary. The doctor told me my systems will eventually shut down one at a time until al that is left is basically breathing and my mind will forget how to do even that basic function. This isn’t just about Myra anymore, it is about me,” said Carl with tears in his eyes.

                “Okay, so it looks like you are buying into this hook line and sinker,  can’t begin to comprehend how you feel right now but I will go along with this as long as it keeps you going. I’ll start the first entry and you finish it. Here lets just sign our names in the book together and get this done before something bad happens,” said Cheryl.

                She was first to sign her name in the diary and when she finished Carl signed his name in it and wrote down the date in front of Cheryl’s name. He handed the pen back to her. He looked at the diary and saw where the last dog-eared page was and carefully opened it up. There were a few sentences on the page and he quickly turned it to the net blank page. The diary seemed to be mostly full wondered what happened if the pages ran out for the next person.  

                Cheryl took the pen and motioned with her hands to have Carl leave her be. He got up with his coffee and went to the coffee maker to refresh his cup. It had grown icy cold since he first poured it. The digital display read ten at night and this confirmed what he originally thought, it was going to be a long night for him. He went to the living room and sat on the couch placing his coffee on the table and putting his feet up. He could hear Cheryl writing in the old tome, sometimes very fast other times very slow and ponderous.

                “Do you always put your feet up on the coffee table, “asked Cheryl from the kitchen?

                “Yes, even at the coffee shop. Its my house I can do that you know,” replied Carl.

                “No wonder we have so many marks on our coffee tables at work, do e a favor put your feet down okay, “asked Cheryl.

                Carl took his feet off the table and slouched on the couch. At first he was a bit upset at being told what to do in his own house, but then he remembered, this was no longer his house, it was their house. Th screen flickered with trivia about the jazz musicians playing in the background. Carl had most of them memorized, but then one came up that he didn’t know but recalled the name. He thought for a second and called out to Cheryl.

                “Hey, check out the names page where we signed, is there a Grover Bechet,” asked Carl?

                “Hold on this book is old and brittle I don’t want to hurt it or look at a page by accident. You said Grover Bechet right,” asked Cheryl?

                “Yeah, that’s the name,” said Carl.

                “Uhm, yes, and the date for him is 1919 until 1943. Wait how did you know that name,” asked Cheryl?

                “The music channel is playing a song by him and something inside me said that name looked familiar. I must have picked it up when I went through the diary. I think we are okay because this is just a million and one chance that something like this would have happened, “said Carl.

                “Be careful with that, we don’t really know if that breaks the rules,” replied Cheryl.

                “Do you feel the wraith of the previous holders breathing down your neck,” asked Carl?

                “I am not sure what that would feel like,” replied Cheryl.

                “We must be good then, keep going,” said Carl.

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

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WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 19 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

19 Nov 2020  1697  daily count 31606 cumulative count

                After a few minutes Cheryl appeared from his bedroom in a fleece pajama set and sat down next to him at the kitchen table. The listened silently as Myra showered. Cheryl smiled at Carl drinking his coffee.

                “So, aren’t you going to join our pajama party or do you sleep in the buff,” asked Cheryl?

                “Yeah I should get ready for bed shouldn’t I? I am going through the diary tonight, care to join me or are you going to hit the sack early,” asked Carl?

                “I plan to stay up a bit since this is a new place. I think the only person getting much sleep tonight will be Myra. I’ll keep an ear out for her tonight if she needs anything,” replied Cheryl.

                Carl got up and went to his bedroom. He picked out some sweatpants and a t-shirt and changed into them. He grabbed one of the pillows off his bed and a blanket and took them to the couch in the living room. He turned on the music channel on the TV that played soft jazz and lowered the sound so that it conversations could be audible but not overpowered. He grabbed the diary and set that on the kitchen table. He went back to his office and grabbed a legal pad and pens and took them to the kitchen table.

                “Well, we got our work cut out for us tonight. I do snore, or so I have been old by my ex-wife and former girlfriends, so I’ll leave the music on tonight, plus music helps me sleep. I am usually up at five or six in the morning so I can make breakfast for everyone in the morning. How does cheese omelets strike you,” Carl asked?

                “Probably better than the ones we make at the shop. I have a midday shift tomorrow so I will probably blast out of here at eight to go back to my apartment and do you mind if I shower here in the morning,” asked Cheryl?

                “Yeah I have towels in the linen closet, enough for everyone right now. Should I plan on you moving in anytime soon? I can rearrange my office and make that into a bedroom,” asked Carl?

                “Slow down tiger, we haven’t gotten that far into this yet. Let’s sleep on it. I snore too so you may want to invest in noise cancelling ear plugs. We can see how this goes for awhile and where we want to end up. This is a nice apartment complex though and I think the grade school is nearby. We are going to need to get her enrolled very soon so she can catch up and we can keep her on track. First things first, lets dive into that diary tonight to see what we can find and move from there,” replied Cheryl.

                “I guess I am getting ahead of myself aren’t I? Okay tonight we dive into the diary and tomorrow we talk with Angela and get our next steps in order. I am just reacting to being suddenly thrust into this and I want to do things right by Myra. I don’t want to put pressure on you,” said Carl as he drank more coffee.

                “Well one issue is that you are hyped up on coffee. Switch over to water after noon and you won’t be so jumpy. Myra will be done with her shower soon, once she goes down for bed we can look at the diary,” said Cheryl.

                At that Myra turned off the shower and toweled off and got into her pajamas. Her hair reached her shoulders and was quick to dry off. Once dressed in her pajamas she went to the kitchen where Carl and Cheryl were and sat down.

                “I’m done with my shower and ready for bed, I didn’t know where to put the towel and I don’t have a toothbrush so or a hairbrush. Can we buy that tomorrow,” asked Myra?

                “I have a brush you can use tonight, no worries. I knew we were starting from zero and brought an extra one in my overnight bag. Here you go,” Cheryl went to Carl’s bedroom and came back to sit down behind Myra and began brushing her damp hair. Cheryl took her time with Myra’s hair and combed out all the tangles and snarls. It didn’t take long and Myra’s hair was fuller after the brushing.

                “Thanks, my dad never did that for me,” said Myra.

                “Well most guys don’t know that you should brush your hair after a shower, they have it so easy,” joked Cheryl. “Look at Carl’s hair, can’t even run a comb through that fuzz.”

                “Okay, we have a big day tomorrow, lets get you to bed. I am leaving the bathroom light on for you in case you need it in the middle of the night. I’ll be on the couch and Cheryl will be in the other bedroom. If you need anything you can wake us up to let us know. You feeling better,” asked Carl to Myra?

                “The shower was great, yes I do feel better and tired. Thank you both so much for being so kind to me. Do you have anything to read to help me sleep,” asked Myra?

                “Well, probably nothing that you would want to read. Uhm Cheryl did you bring anything,” asked Carl?

                “Ahh, no I didn’t have anything at my house. I have an idea, since Carl likes to sleep with music on, how about we leave your door cracked open so you can listen to that while you go to sleep We can put books on the list for tomorrow,” said Cheryl.

                “That sounds good, so goodnight. Can you two come in and tuck me in,” asked Myra?

                “I thought you would never ask, sure,” Carl responded.

                All three headed into Myra’s new room. The clothes she got from Cheryl and Nate were in neat piles and Carl turned on the lamp by the bed. Myra climbed in as Cheryl and Carl took turns giving her a hug and as they left the room Myra said, “Get some sleep like Uncle Nate said.”

                Carl and Cheryl teared up a bit when Myra said that. They both turned around and gave Myra another hug, this time tighter than the first. They left her room and made sure the door was cracked open as they made their way to the kitchen. Once at the kitchen table, Carl took his seat at the head and Cheryl pulled up a chair beside him. They both looked at the diary in front of them. Carl took another drink of coffee.

                “Well I guess it is time to learn what we are dealing with here,” said Carl.

                “Before you open it, Myra told me about her mother, she died when Myra was about three. Her dad had been taking care of her since then. Right now she has essentially lost both parents so naturally she is nervous about you. Her dad never explained to her how or why her mother died, but she is definitely worried about you because she barely remembers things from that long ago, but she remembers how tired her mother was all the time and when you had your episode today, it reminded her of that. Don’t be surprised if she wakes up to check on you or to make sure we haven’t abandoned her. It’s been a hard way to start life for her,” said Cheryl sipping her coffee.

                Carl opened the book to the first page. He could tell it was a very old book, but when he began reading it softly, he was astonished. The pages were yellowed and brittle and the writing was in calligraphy that made slower to read. His eye immediately went to the list of names and dates in the second page. It went all the way back to 1734 and up to what he assumed was Myra’s fathers name. As the dates got closer to the present the calligraphy faded from the entries and turned into print and cursive. Those were easier to read, but not as dramatic. His eyes went back to the first page where he noted the opening date of the diary and a list of instructions. They read

                ‘To whomever possesses this diary, I am terribly sorry, but you are now part of the curse. Whomever gave you this book has been cursed and there is no way known to break it. You will need to find someone unknown to you to continue the chain. He chain cannot be broken. Do not try to discover the identities of those before you who have been cursed, else their tortured souls will haunt you until you go mad. Once you receive this book and open it you have one day to enter your name and the date into the ledger, before you pass this diary onto another you must close out your portion with the date that you passed it along. There can be no breakage of dates greater than one day, else the tortured souls will haunt you until you have gone mad. Do not speak of this diary to your family or associates else they will be visited by the tortured souls and be driven mad. No one will believe you and if you do tell others, they will think you mad. Follow these rules and your life will be extended but also your misery. Break these rules and your life will end horribly.’

                At this Carl looked worriedly over at Cheryl. She looked up at him with horror in her eyes.

                “So, do we continue to read, or do we shut it? It looks like we are both cursed now,” asked Carl?

                “Well, technically the book was passed to both of us, so I think we both should sign it. Looking through the names I didn’t see any females, so I’ll be the first. Besides, a curse form 1734, I mean come on, this is the twenty-first century. Let’s at least get a good augh out of this,” replied Cheryl.

                “Okay, in for a penny in for a pound, “ said Carl. 

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

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WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 18 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

18 Nov 2020   1716 daily count 29909 cumulative count

                Cheryl slowly drank her coffee and thought about what Carl said. They both sat there in silence for a few minutes.

                “So, why do you think he left his daughter,” Cheryl asked?

                “I am hoping to find some clues in the diary he left. I’m going to at least go through the instructions tonight and see what that is all about and Nate is getting basic info from Myra right now so that way Angela his co worker can get going on the legal paperwork. But more importantly, what are you thinking about, how deep down this rabbit hole do you want to go. I can handle things from here on out, but just realize that I won’t be down at the shop as much because I have a new responsibility,” asked Carl?

                “We have a new responsibility. I got you involved, and I have no plans of dumping Myra off on anyone. We can figure out things later, but I want to be incredibly involved. I was thinking about what you said about repeating the mistake of the past with your previous marriage. We have all made mistakes in the past, you more than most because you are an old soul, but I have made mistakes as well and have had some bad relationships. We are both in this now with Myra and I intend to see it to the end, whatever that may be. As far as for what you and I have together, we have a friendship, and we can see where that goes in the future. I do not want to predict because yesterday I would never have predicted that the events of today would have happened,” said Cheryl.

                “Okay then, you can teach me how to make ‘evening’ coffee and we can both learn how to raise a nine-year-old girl. How difficult can that be,” joked Carl.

                They both looked at each other and laughed After a moment they clinked coffee mugs together and took a sip. The sun had done behind the apartment complex and dark was creeping in on them. Carl stood up and turned on the porch light.

                “Let’s keep it off for now, its so peaceful out here,” said Cheryl.

                Carl turned it off as requested and sat back down. Cheryl grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Then she simply held it in her hand as she looked off into the sky and drank her coffee. Carl was initially surprised and looked at her imploringly. When he saw that she was not going to say anything or return his look he too stared off into the sky. They were both looking at different things in the sky that night.

                Nate tapped on the window which gently startled Carl and Cheryl. He opened the sliding door to let them know he and Myra had finished.

                “Didn’t mean to startle you two out there but Myra has done a great job answering my questions and you can come back in now if you like,” said Nate, noticing Carl and Cheryl holding hands. The got up with their coffee and headed inside to the kitchen table where Myra was already sitting down.

                “Okay, so we all have had a difficult day today. We are going to have more difficult days ahead but also some good days. Carl, Cheryl, I had a great talk with Myra just now and she gave me a lot of information I can use to help us all out. So, Myra is an intelligent nine-year-old and very fashionable with her new clothes. She is an only child and knows her last name and knows the name of the town we are in right now.  She was in fourth grade when this happened and was getting great grades, she loves reading and learning and her favorite subject is science. She wants to become a doctor one day and help people. She likes helping around the house and keeping things neat, so welcome Myra,” announced Nate. While he was talking Myra squirmed in her seat for a moment and then sat tall and proud. “Carl why don’t you go next and formally introduce yourself to Myra, “said Nate.

                Carl cleared his throat and looked at Myra. He took a sip of coffee and swallowed hard. “Well hi I am Carl. I live here, and I am a forty-two-year-old man. I love coffee, a lot of coffee and I work as a business analyst for the government. I enjoy reading and art galleries. I have been divorced for 3 years and I have no children. I am the youngest of two and well here I am right now. I would like to help you out and have you stay here with me. I love to cook and as you know from dinner, I am good with comfort food. I do not know much what to say,” said Carl is a shaky voice.

                “That is all that needs to be said for right now. Cheryl, how about you,” said Nate?

                “Well Myra and I had a good talk in the bedroom earlier, but as for me I am twenty-four, a college student in a theater program studying lighting design. I love to paint, and I am the youngest of six kids. I paint and I write and right now I am the head barista at the coffee shop that we have all been to. I like to make sandwiches and I like to dress up from time to time. I am single and have no kids. I like kids and would be very happy to have Myra in my life forever,” said Cheryl.

                “So now we know each other and what we are about, this is our family. We are here for each other and we have to talk with each other and let one another know when we don’t like something or when we do like something. I have enough information to give to Angela who will also be part of our team and we will work on getting Myra into school and all set up with all the things she is going to need to be successful in life. I am heading out now and I will stop by tomorrow to make sure everyone is okay. Myra, would you like to come over to my house this weekend and meet more kids closer to your age than Carl,” joked Nate?

                “Sure, that would be great,” said Myra excitedly.

                “Okay, so Saturday you will get to meet my family, Cheryl, depending on your schedule you can come over as well as I guess we are going to be bringing you into this family. Everyone get a good nights sleep. We will tackle more things in the next days and weeks. This is not going to be easy for anyone, but as I am the old hand at this with raising my own family, I can tell you I feel good about your chances. We will talk more Myra and you will be talking with Angela tomorrow so make sure Carl doesn’t feed you any coffee and don’t stay up late,” said Nate.

                Carl stood up as Nate headed to the door and gave him a hug. He was followed by Myra and Cheryl who formed a circle around Nate and they all held each other for a few minutes.

                “Get some sleep you crazy kids, talk with you tomorrow,” said Nate as he opened the front door and left.

                After Nate left, Carl sat back down at the kitchen table. Cheryl and Myra joined him as he drank his coffee. Myra was quiet watching what would happen next. Her eyes darted back and forth between Cheryl and Carl for some time.

                “I am going to get ready for bed like Uncle Nate said, should I take a bath or a shower before I get into my pajamas,” asked Myra?

                “Yeah I think that is a good idea, I don’t have any girly soap so I am sorry, you are going to smell like a guy tonight, but we can do some shopping tomorrow for toiletries that you will need. Use any of the towels in the linen closet you need anything else just let me know okay,” said Carl.

                Myra grabbed a towel and went into her new bedroom for a few minutes and came out with a fresh set of pajamas that Cheryl had purchased. After grabbing everything she needed she went straight to the bathroom and started running the water. Cheryl got up and started for the front door.

                “Where are you going, I thought you were staying the night,” asked Carl?

                “Relax, I am grabbing my overnight bag from the car, I will be right back. We can do this, we are going to do this, together,” she said.

                Carl went back to the kitchen table and took another sip of coffee. When he was done, he put his head on the table and sighed heavily. He listened to the shower and heard Cheryl close her car door. His world was filling with life and sound suddenly, he felt more alive and energetic that he had in months. He just didn’t know what the next few days would hold, much less the results of the upcoming MRI he had to take. He knew the tasks at work were going to pile up and started to plan on how he would catch up. He would go Friday night to work and pick up his laptop and try to get some quiet time Friday and Saturday night or Sunday morning an get his work back on track. He was excited to see his world changing, but he needed to make sure that he would be able to provide for the addition or the possible additions that were coming into his world.

                Cheryl knocked on the door and Carl instinctively got up and looked through the peep hole. He opened it once he saw Cheryl and led her to his bedroom. Once she had put down her bag, she motioned for him to leave the room. Embarrassed he sheepishly left for the kitchen once again. Drinking his coffee, he could feel his third wind coming and knew that he was not going to get a good night of sleep. 

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 17 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

17 Nov 2020 1867 daily count 28193 cumulative count

                Carl went to the sink and Nate sat down at the kitchen table.

                “Can I get you a drink or something to eat,” asked Carl?

                “No, I grabbed some food before I came over, when are you looking at the diary,” asked Nate?

                “Tonight, I promise, I know you and Angela need that information and I need it as well. This is really happening, I never knew how exciting it would be, but wow we had a good time at the park and watching cartoons and eating dinner,” said Carl.

                “Are you going to have Cheryl move in,” asked Nate?

                “We haven’t broached that topic, I haven’t even thought about asking her,” said Carl.

                “Just some friendly advice, she may want to get hitched and do the marriage thing. In terms of adopting Myra, that might be a good move, I don’t know your relationship with her but she is already bonding with Myra and you need to be clear about your intentions toward her and your medical condition,” said Nate. “Also, I am here to help you not Cheryl, it is a family thing because I know you, I don’t know Cheryl. I am sure she is a great person, but she is also considerably younger than you and not as established as you are. I do not want her coming back later and trying to take Myra away from you. These are things that you need to know about her intentions. Like I have said this is a full-time job on many levels. My loyalty is to you, Angela’s loyalty is to Myra, the missing piece is Cheryl. I’d like to have the two of you to meet with her early next week, maybe Monday or this weekend because Angela is prepping papers, by the way simple question, what is Myra’s last name,” asked Nate?

                “We haven’t asked her yet, I am not sure how much to poke about her father and what she has gone through, tonight I will get you some answers okay,” said Carl.

                “Listen, I can be the bad guy, I am a lawyer so I am usually the bad guy. Let me talk with her after she is done with Cheryl. I promise to be as gentle as I can, but we do need answers as we move forward,” said Nate.

                “Okay, that is fine, uhm do you need to speak with Myra alone or can we hover around,” asked Carl?

                “So, I am hearing the word we, I think hear an adoption and wedding bells in your future. Just be upfront with both about your condition, Myra’s father abandoned her, and Cheryl is not asking to be a single mother,” said Nate.

                “Myra is aware of my condition, mostly, she knows that I have an inoperable tumor in my brain and I sometimes space out, she is not aware that it is terminal. I will be open about that with her, as far as Myra is concerned, I will try to explain it to her as much as I can that is age appropriate,” replied Carl.

                “Age appropriate, I can tell you are going to binge on parenting books like crazy. I’ll bring some over this weekend for you, my little brother being a dad, to cute,” laughed Nate.

                “Excuse me I prefer the term Papa, its more intimate,” said Carl.

                “So, what do you want Myra to call you,” asked Nate?

                “I am going to let her decide, but I would prefer to be called Papa,” said Carl softly.

                “Okay Papa Carl it is, why don’t you make a pot of coffee, I feel like we will al be up for awhile tonight. Let me call Becca and tell her I will be late coming back,” said Nate.

                “How much does she know,” asked Carl?

                “Everything I do. That is the way I like to keep my household. You will figure out how you like things, but I prefer upfront and sometimes brutal honesty. It is not always easy, but I am not left wondering what people think,” said Nate.

                Carl started to put together a pot for Nate, Cheryl, and himself. He knew that it would not match what Cheryl could make, but this way he would not have to pay for it. Once the water started to warm up, he set to work on doing the dishes. Nate had stepped into the living room and sat on the couch to call his wife. Carl could not overhear what they were saying, but he could hear the warmth in Nate’s voice as he talked. He wanted aspects of what Nate had in terms of family, not the entire package as there had been rough spots, but the overall feeling of warmth sounded nice to him. Carl got the dishes done and in the drying rack as the coffee percolated and finished brewing. The familiar smell brought Cheryl out to the kitchen.

                “So, I take it you guys will be up for awhile,” asked Cheryl?

                “Yeah, Nate has some questions he wants to ask Myra and you before he leaves tonight, but yeah it could be a long one for us. Do you need to leave anytime soon, or would you like to crash out here tonight, I can couch it and you can have my room,” Carl asked?

                “I am glad you asked, yeah I would like to spend the night tonight if possible, I am off tomorrow and I can take back what doesn’t fit, we are just about done with the clothes. Nate has some fancy tastes for his kids huh, did that rub off on you,” Chery asked?

                “I am a jeans and t-shirt guy unless I am in the office, when have you seen me dress up at the coffee shop,” replied Carl.

                “It’s obvious you two are brothers, trying to be so different, give us five minutes and put some cream and sugar in my coffee, not too much,” laughed Cheryl.

                She went back into the bedroom to help Myra finish up. Carl grabbed three cups and made up Cheryl’s coffee as requested. For Nate, he just put in unrefined sugar he did not have any nondairy creamer. He set all the cups on the kitchen table and waved at Nate who was finishing up his call with his wife. Carl sat down and enjoyed the hum of activity in his apartment. Most nights it was not like this, he would come home, read, watch TV, make dinner, occasionally phone a friend, and then go to bed. Since the divorce, this had been the greatest number of people in his apartment at one time. He welcomed the change. Carl melted into his seat and closed his eyes for a moment to relax, it had been one of the most stressful days of his life, one of the most life changing.

                Nate tapped Carl on the shoulder lightly, “Hey Papa Carl, the ladies are done.” Carl woke up to seeing Myra in a new outfit standing at the head of the kitchen table with Cheryl behind her smiling ear to ear.

                “Just needed to rest my eyelids, wow that looks great Myra, was that one of Cheryl’s picks,: asked Carl?

                “It was one of Uncle Nate’s clothes, “said Myra. “Is that okay if I call you Uncle Nate?”

                “Yes you can, and that looks wonderful Myra, thank you Cheryl for helping her out and for sorting all the clothes. Myra, can I borrow you for a few minutes, I did have some questions I needed to ask if you don’t mind,” Nate asked?

                “Cheryl lets grab our coffee and head to the deck, Myra we will be right outside, you will be able to see us okay,” said Carl.

                “Okay,” replied Myra.

                Cheryl picked up her coffee and tested it, she went to the fridge and poured more milk into her coffee, sipped it again and put the milk back into the fridge. “One day you are going to learn how to make a proper evening coffee,” said Cheryl.

                “I already do, just like my morning coffee, black as my soul,” joked Carl. They headed to the porch with their coffees and sat n the chairs facing the parking lot as the sun was dipping below the roofline of the complex across the lot. It was still light enough not to turn on the porch lights. Carl melted back into his chair and put his feet up on the railing.

                “So, she told me you had another episode at the park,” said Cheryl.

                “Wait what, she doesn’t know about my tumor stuff,” said Carl.

                “No, but she is very observant, most nine-year-old girls are, especially her. She knows something is up with you and she is not buying the excuse of you haven’t gotten out in a long time and where just winded,” said Cheryl.

                “I’m not going to tackle that today, she has been through enough. I do want to be fully transparent with you though on my health. I have an inoperable tumor in my brain. My doctor is recommending chemo therapy at the beginning of the year to extend my life and I have ot bought into that idea yet until today,” said Carl.

                “Oh my god I had no idea, how bad is it,” asked Cheryl?

                “Well the chemo treatment may give me more time, but the cost will be I will be physically weak for a month or two and they are not sure how much time that gets me. Maybe a year, maybe six months or maybe nothing at all. The tumor is slowly growing and has been for the past three years. It’s one of the reasons my marriage ended because I didn’t want to be aggressive with it, my ex wanted me to try everything to extend my life but the options to do that were not attractive to me. There will be loss of hair, nausea and vomiting and I will be basically useless while in chemo. I just am not ready to do that, but with this new responsibility,” replied Carl.

                “I am so sorry I dragged you into this, if I had known I would have said nothing,” said Cheryl with tears forming in her eyes.

                “Well I didn’t share that with you and what would have happened to Myra if you knew. Her dad may not have dumped her off at this coffee shop, she could have ended up in a worse situation. I had a slight episode today with her, but it was manageable. I think it was due from the stress of today, but this is all conjecture, I do not have a PhD in this stuff and before you ask, yes I am getting an MRI in a few weeks. I can do most of my work from home so I can be here for Myra. I just wanted you to know what my situation is so you are fully informed on any decision you are thinking about making, I am not usually this open with most people as I am sure you can guess why. I just don’t want a repeat of my failed marriage,” said Carl. 

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 16 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

16 Nov 2020   1621 daily count  26326 cumulative count

                Carl and Myra had been watching TV for an hour and had finished their sandwiches when they both began to become sleepy. Carl looked over at Myra who was struggling to keep her eyes open.

                “Do you want to take a break and sleep in your room right now and later on we can go to the park and play around there,” asked Carl?

                “No, I’d like to go to the park right now and see what is there if you don’t mind,” replied Myra. She was catching her second wind.

                “Lets clean up here and head on over to the park then. If you get tired just let me know and we can head back here. The park is in the complex here so it is not that long of a walk,” said Carl.

                They both picked up the wrapping that surrounded their sandwiches and took their glasses to the sink. Carl wrote a quick note and as they left he put it up on the door, ‘gone to the park be back soon’. They walked down the carpeted stairs and out the entrance door. Once outside Myra grabbed Carl’s hand and held it tightly.

                “I’m not going anywhere, and Nate is working on finding a way for you to stay here right now. You are not alone okay, lets go have some fun,” said Carl reassuringly.

                “I know, I just wanted to hold your hand. Thank you,” said Myra softly. Carl chocked back a few gallons of tears when she said that and led them to the park. Once they got there, a few smaller kids and their parents were playing in the park. Myra headed straight for the swings and sat down o the first available one. Carl began to push her as she swung higher and higher into the air. E could hear her giggling and wondered how long it had been since she had been to a park. He deduced it had been probably at least a month. He got higher he stopped pushing to avoid getting kicked in the face. It felt good for Carl to ear her laughter and to see her at ease after the ordeal she had been through today. They stayed in the park for a few hours and when the sun started to head down the other children and their parents began to head to their apartments. Carl was out of breath after they had played a game of tag. He sat down on one of the benches catch his breath.

                “Are you feeling okay,” asked Myra?

                “I just haven’t been out here and played around this much in a long time, I’ll be fine,” Carl replied. He could feel the familiar woozy feeling coming on but didn’t want to worry Myra. “Tell you what let’s head back to the apartment and we can get dinner ready and I can show you how to operate a turntable, how does that sound,” asked Carl?

                “Alright, but you don’t look to good. Is there something wrong,” asked Myra?

                “Naw, just haven’t had this much activity in awhile. It will go way soon, lets get back to the apartment okay,” said Carl. The feeling was getting worse and he didn’t want to scare Myra. She grabbed his hand again as they went back to the apartment and up the carpeted staircase. Once inside, Carl felt himself getting back to normal. His heartbeat slowed down and he didn’t feel nauseated or dizzy. He sat down at the kitchen table and began to breathe deeply.

                “Is it your heart,” Myra asked?

                “No, I just haven’t run around like that in some time. It gets better I promise. Okay so we have Cheryl coming over in a few minutes and my brother Nate will have some clothes and toys for you. Do you want to help me set the table or would you rather watch cartoons some more,” asked Carl?

                “I’d rather help set the table. Where are the dishes and silverware,” asked Myra.

                Carl kept a full set of dinnerware in the upper cabinets and as Myra was not tall enough yet to grab them, he pulled out four plates and showed her where the silverware was. She took the plates and the silverware and set the table. Carl went into the fridge and pulled out the containers of Mac and Cheese. He scooped the contents of the containers into one large container and put it in the microwave to cook. Myra found some napkins and glasses in the cabinets that she could reach and set them out. When the buzzer went off for the microwave, Carl left the container in to stay warm until Cheryl showed up. Looking at the clock it was about five thirty, so he was expecting Cheryl to be there at any moment. He turned around and saw that Myra had set the table with all the plates, silverware and glasses perfectly set and placed a centerpiece that Carl had forgotten about in the center of the table.

                “I think we make a good team, how about you Myra,” asked Carl?

                “I like helping out, “said Myra. They both heard a knock at the door.

                “Must be Cheryl, I’ll let her in,” said Carl.

                 Went to the door and looked through the peep hole. Cheryl was waiting outside with a few bags in her hands. He opened the door and Cheryl headed straight for the living room coffee table and put the bags there.

                “Okay, so I am sure you don’t have many clothes or toys here Carl, so I thought I would do a little shopping spree for Myra and get you a few things. We have everyday clothes and socks and underwear. I wasn’t sure about your size so I saved the receipt in case we need to return a few things. Grabbed a few stuffed animals and a couple of pajama sets for you. I wasn’t sure what you were into, so I didn’t get you anything with cartoon characters, but these should do fine for now. What is that delicious smell,” asked Cheryl?

                “My specialty, Oh My God Mac and Cheese. Myra set the table and we were just waiting on you to dig in,” said Carl.

                “Myra, do you want to eat first or try on clothes, your pick,” asked Cheryl?

                “Lets eat first, Carl took me to the park and I am really hungry. Thank you for the sandwiches we had for lunch they were great,” said Myra.

                “So Carl took you to the park, what else did you two do today,” asked Cheryl?

                “We watched cartoons mostly, but we had a great time at the park, do you want to go,” asked Myra?

                “Not tonight dear, we have a ton to do. Lets get some food in us and then we can see what we have to exchange. Has Nate dropped by yet,” asked Cheryl?

                “He should be by later, he lives out in the country and was going to bring some stuff over for Myra. Lets dig in,” said Carl. They all stood around the table, not knowing where to sit.

                “Carl, its your house take the head spot and Myra and I will sit beside you,” said Cheryl breaking the silence. Carl grabbed the mac and cheese from the microwave and set it down on the table and began spooning out the meal to Myra and Cheryl first. When he was had dished out the food to everyone he sat down and they all began to eat.

                “So what was the best part of the park,” asked Cheryl?

                “I loved the swings the best, Carl pushed me for a long time and then we played tag,” said Myra.

                They continued their meal and small talk until everyone had seconds. When everyone had finished, Carl began to take the dishes to the sink when Myra stopped him and placed them in the sink.

                “Okay Myra, can you show me where your room is and we can try on these clothes, Carl, you don’t mind if we have some girl time together do you,” asked Cheryl?

                “You two ladies go ahead, Myra has had the grand tour, I’ll knock out these dishes while you two do that, “Carl replied. With that Cheryl went to grab the bags and Myra grabbed her free hand and took her to her new bedroom. As they closed the door another knock on the front door. Carl looked through the peep hole to see Nate with more bags of clothes and toys.

                “Wow this girl is getting Christmas and her birthday all rolled up in one day, what happens next month when it is actually Christmas,” said Carl.

                “Sorry I was running late, I talked with Angela, she is going to help up no seat, where is Myra” asked Nate?

                “Cheryl came by and we had dinner already, I was getting ready to do the dishes. They are in Myra’s room right now trying on clothes. Thank you for getting her stuff, obviously I don’t have anything here for her,” said Carl.

                “No worries, like I said, this is your full time job now. I’ll leave these right outside the door for them, “ Nate replied. Carl knocked on the bedroom door.

                “Ladies we have more clothes for you to try on, the bag is right outside the door,” said Carl. Cheryl opened the door and grabbed the bags.

                “Thanks Nate, some of the stuff I bought doesn’t fit. Carl, I’ll put away the stuff that fits and make a pile of stuff that doesn’t fit to exchange and I’ll do the same for your stuff Nate,” said Cheryl before she took the bag and shut the door. 

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 15 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

15 Nov 2020   1700   daily count 24705 cumulative count

                Cheryl went into the back kitchen area to make sandwiches for everyone. She made Carl’s favorite Reuben, for Nate she made a vegan wrap and for Myra she made a classic peanut butter and cheese and made an extra grilled cheese for later. Once she had all the sandwiched done she put them in a to go box and brought them out to the counter where Nate picked them up and Carl and Myra were getting ready to leave.

                “Thanks again Cheryl, I really appreciate the help, and could you stop by the apartment after work,” asked Carl? “I think Myra would like to see you again later this afternoon. I already have dinner made up, the Oh my god Mac and Cheese.”

                “Of course I’ll stop by, Myra you take good care of Carl okay,” replied Cheryl.

                “I will, see you after you are done with work,” said Myra.

                Nate, Carl, and Myra went to the parking lot. Nate had parked on the street about a block away. Once all three got to Carl’s car, there was an awkward silence. They all knew that there was no turning back from this point.  Carl opened the back door for Myra and she got in on the passenger side so she would be able to see Carl while he drove. She put on her seatbelt and looked over at Carl. He smiled at her and closed the door. As he did that, Nate gave Carl a hug suddenly.

                “Alright little bro, I will meet you at your place. I am going to grab some toys and clothes for her and I will get on the phone to my new partner. I’ll let her know what you want to try and do and we will need to move quick to get this done. I just have a bad feeling that this guy is going to show back up and have one of those ah ha moments and want her back. I don’t want to think what that is going to do to you. Here are the sandwiches that Cheryl made, get that girl something to eat and make it an easy day for the both of you. We wil get this figured out,” Nate told Carl.

                “I couldn’t have gotten this far without you man, thank you. I will pay whatever for the lawyer to get started on this right away, just tell me what I need to do,” replied Carl.

                “Shut it, basically it will be pro bono for Myra as she has no means of support. Angela, my partner will start by making herself in charge of Myra, like a guardian ad lightum and get the paperwork rolling either today or tomorrow and then name you in the court documents as the sole caregiver. It is not going to be easy, I just want you to know that this now is your full time job,” warned Nate.

                “I’ve never been more ready for that. Thank you. Should I make more mac and cheese for you or Angela,” asked Carl?

                “Not tonight, I will drop by and drop off the stuff for you guys. I’d say go to the park or something for a few hours and get to know each other, tomorrow I want you to go through that diary and find out what information you can. That might be our best piece of evidence,” said Nate.

                “Well I can’t go into it too much because there are some instructions in that book. You heard Myra, she’s not even allowed to touch the book,” said Carl.

                “Who is going to know, the guy who abandoned his daughter, ware going to get a bit dirty on this so that way you can help her out. Its not going to be easy and you may need a little unsavory to your own moral code when this whole thing goes down. Now get her inside and set up and get some lunch. I’ll see you in a few hours,” said Nate.

                Carl got into the drivers seat as Nate headed toward his car. He turned on the car and NPR was playing on the radio. He turned it down and looked back at Myra, relieved and smiling.

                “Okay so my brother Nate is heading to his house to grab you some clothes and some toys. He has a girl that is about twelve and he will be by my apartment later tonight. Cheryl will stop over for dinner. We are having my specialty Oh my god Mac and Cheese, is that okay by you,” asked Carl?

                “Wow that is one of my favorites. Do I need to call your brother uncle,” asked Myra?

                “Naw, you can call him Nate, he won’t mind. He may be my older brother, but that would sound weird to him since I am his only brother and I don’t have any kids. How are you holding up right now, would you like to go to my apartment and eat these sandwiches that Cheryl made or would you want to go to a park,” asked Carl?

                “Do I get my own room,” asked Myra?

                “Of course, a Myra, feel free to ask any question you want to, this is a little strange I know, it’s strange for me as well so I will ask you questions. If I have and answer I promise to give it to you and if I don’t know I promise to tell that to you as well. Get out of here and head to my apartment and maybe watch some TV. Do you have any favorite shows,” asked Carl?

                “I didn’t really watch too much TV with my dad, he usually just told me to read while he did work or did something with his phone,” replied Myra?

                “Well I am a big fan of cartoons, would you like to watch some while we eat lunch,” asked Carl?

                “You mean eat and watch TV at the same time,” asked Myra?

                “Oh yeah, we can do that if you like, we will just eat at the coffee table and watch cartoons. We can get your room set up when Nate comes back with some stuff. How does that sound,” asked Carl.

                “Great,” replied Myra.

                Carl drove back to his apartment, the traffic seemed pretty light. The lunch rush was just starting. Carl noticed he drove even more cautiously now that Myra was in the back seat. She looked out the window and Carl put on some classical music because he thought that Myra would rather hear music versus heading an interview show. Once they got to Carl’s apartment, he shut off the car and got out, he went straight to her door and opened it.

                “Here we are, home sweet home. My apartment is on the second floor there, do you see the patio there, it’s ours. I think we have a park here and there is a community pool that we all share. Do you swim at all, “asked Carl?

                “I haven’t been swimming in a long time, but I like it. Can we do that soon,” asked Myra.

                “I am sure we can, winter won’t be here for a few months and the pool will probably close down right before thanksgiving, so we have time,” replied Carl.

                They walked up the sidewalk to the apartment entrance and then walked up one flight of carpeted stairs. Carl got out his keys and unlocked the door. Myra walked in first and began looking around.

                “Wow this place is big,” said Myra astonished.

                “Three bedrooms, although one of them is my office for when I work from home. We will get the other bedroom set up for you tonight when Nate gets back here. Let me give you the grand tour,” said Carl proudly.

                He walked her through each room and showed here were important things were, the bathroom, and towel closet, garbage, kitchen and finally her bedroom. Myra just looked at everything with wide eyes.

                “Wow, you must be really rich,” said Myra.

                “I do okay, its just been me for a few years. I had a wife but we got divorced.  Wouldn’t say I am rich, just comfortable,” replied Carl. “Now my brother Nate, he is rich. He has two kids and a huge house with a big back yard that backs up against the woods. We will go over there soon and you can meet his family and play around there. Are you hungry, lets get those sandwiches and watch some cartoons, “said Carl?

                He pulled out two plates and moved the coffee table closer to his sofa and turned on some classic cartoons. He also grabbed a couple of glasses and filed them with water because he didn’t have any milk or juice in the house. Myra sat on one end of the couch and cautiously started to eat her peanut butter and cheese sandwich. Carl began to tear into his Reuban and laughed at the TV. He looked over at Myra who was trying very hard to be neat which distracted her from the cartoons.

                “Myra, if we make a mess it is okay, we can clean it up and everything will be fine. I want you to enjoy yourself. I know it is going to be hard because all of this is new for you right now, but its new for me as well. If you make a mess or break anything by accident I am not going to yell. I’ll just help you clean up and that will be that. There is nothing in here that is to precious to break. Sit back relax and try to enjoy your sandwich and cartoons. On Saturday mornings I put on really old cartoons and sit down here with a bowl of cereal and do laundry and watch cartoons all day unless I head over to the coffee shop. Do you want to do that on Saturday,” asked Carl?

                “Will Cheryl be there,” asked Myra?

                “That is her usual day to work, we can double-check when she comes over tonight for dinner,” replied Carl. With that he noticed Myra relaxing a little bit more and she began taking in the cartoon.  

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 13 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

13 Nov 2020   1920 daily count 23005 cumulative count

                “Okay Myra, I understand. We need to get a few things worked out here, do you know anything about this book that your dad left,” asked Carl?

                “That is a diary, he told me never to touch it. If he left it here then it must be for you because I can’t touch it,” Myra said.

                “Okay, just stay put. I need to talk with Cheryl and my brother Nate will be here in a few minutes. I am not going to leave your sight, I will be right there by the counter okay,” said Carl.

                “Okay, thank you for the chocolate milk, I drank it all when I saw you come from the bathroom like you told me to do, it was delicious,” said Myra.

                Carl headed over to the counter where Cheryl was making up a plate for Myra. He kept one eye on Myra and one eye on his path.

                “I have Nate coming here in a few minutes. I took ff the rest of the week. She is coming home with me,” said Carl as he got to the counter.

                “She and I talked a little bit, she is nine and was in school up until about a month ago. Her dad has taken her to a few coffee shops but she doesn’t know where they are or what their names are. She doesn’t know the name of her school but she does remember her teachers name. That gives us a start on getting her back home,” said Cheryl.

                “There is no mother in the picture or siblings according to the note, she has been through enough today and probably the last month. I am going to get custody of her somehow and brother is going to help me,” said Carl firmly.

                “There is a slight problem with that, birth certificate, school records, doctor records, you have none of that. Plus and I mean no disrespect, but how are you going to raise a child on your own in your condition, you told me the doctors didn’t give you long to live unless you went through the chemo treatments and even then you will be pretty messed up physically,” said Cheryl.

                “We cross those bridges when we need to, right now she needs a home, I have one, she needs a father, I can be one.  I cannot do all this alone, so I am going to need your help. Remember you told me to go into the bathroom and confront the guy, well, this is the confrontation no one expected but we have. I’ll live to be one hundred if I have to but there is no way I am putting this girl through hell that her father started by abandoning her,” said Carl.

                “Okay, I am in. Let’s go sit down with her while you go through that diary, might be something in there we can use,” said Cheryl.

                “Can’t touch the diary, well at least according to the note I can only read the instructions, so I start there and see where it takes me. This was not how I expected my Thursday to pan out,” said Carl.

                “At leas you got some rest in yesterday, lets get that girl her milk and muffin,” said Cheryl.

                 Cheryl brought out a glass of chocolate milk and the muffin on a plate. Myra slowly ate and drank the milk between bites. All three sat in silence for some time, the adults figuring out what their next move was and the girl enjoying her mid-morning meal.

                Nate came through the door in a rush looking all around for Carl and the girl.

                “Okay I am here, is she okay,” asked Nate?

                Carl stood up and pulled Nate to the side.

                “She is fine, no hysterics, just eating a muffin and drinking chocolate milk. I don’t want her to get agitated as she is doing fine for right now. She asked about her father and I said she would be staying with me for the time being. I think she understands that her father is not coming back for her. Here is the note I found and the diary. Do not open the diary please, I’ll do that later today. I am off work the rest of the week and I’ll get my spare bedroom set up for her today. Can we get some old clothes from your girls so we are not starting from zero,” said Carl softly but firmly to Nate.

                “You cannot take care of her Carl, in your condition, you would not pass muster in any custody hearing.  I will take the girl home with me and we will figure out what to do next,” said Nate.

                “That’s not an option, didn’t you say you had a new hot shot lawyer in your firm that loves custody cases, well here is her first one. I have enough money and I live pretty frugally, I can take her in and adopt her as my own,” said Carl.

                “That’s nice and all, but what happens when her father comes back to take her home with him. You could be looking at kidnapping charges and end up in jail. I can’t in good conscious let you do that in your state,” replied Nate.

                “Read the note first, I don’t think this guy is coming back, he may have a condition similar to mine and is facing his own death sentence. Just look at the note and we can go from there,” said Carl.

                Nate sat down and looked at Myra. She was still eating her muffin and drinking her milk and was lightly laughing with Cheryl.

                “Myra, I am Nate, Carl’s older brother. I am a lawyer as well. Sounds like you have had quite a morning, are you enjoying your milk and muffin,” asked Nate?

                “Yes I am thank you. You don’t look old like Carl,” said Myra.

                “Well I am his older brother, do you have any brothers or sisters,” asked Nate?

                “Uhm, I am not really allowed to talk with strangers,” said Myra.

                “It’s okay hon, he is my older brother, and he knows about the giraffes having tea with the flamingoes,” said Carl.

                “Giraffes and flamingoes,” asked Nate?

                “Just go with it, it is her code to know that you are okay,” whispered Carl.

                “Oh yeah, the giraffes are having tea with the flamingoes today,” said Nate.

                “No I don’t have any brothers or sisters, I don’t have a mommy either, she died a long time ago when I was little,” said Myra mournfully.

                “I am sorry to hear that Myra, about your mom I mean. I know things are confusing right now but Carl and I will get this all worked out okay, you just keep eating your muffin and drinking your milk. We are not going to leave your sight” said Nate reassuringly.

                Nate read through the letter that Carl handed him. Shaking his head, he read it multiple times. Nate stood up and headed to the bathroom. Carl patted Myra on the shoulder and looked at Cheryl, she nodded at him to follow his brother. They stood outside the bathroom in sight of Myra and Nate walked in. When Nate was in the bathroom he saw the open stall and the open window. He looked out to see if he could see foot prints or any sign of something dropped. When he couldn’t find anything he walked out of the bathroom and headed towards the door. Carl followed him. Nate walked out the door but held up his had to stop Carl. Nate pointed at Myra and Carl walked back to the table. Nate walked the parking lot and around the building to where the open window for the bathroom was and then he looked up to see if there was a camera only to find none. He walked back to the table and tapped Cheryl on the shoulder and pointed for her to come with him to the bathroom. Cheryl got up and squeezed Myra’s shoulder and went with Nate to the bathroom.

                “Okay so is there any tape of this guy walking in here with the girl,” asked Nate?

                “We only have a camera pointed at the back door form the inside, my boss is not a big fan of cameras and I couldn’t tell you the last time we got robbed here,” Cheryl answered.

                “How about policemen coming in here, do you have regulars,” asked Nate?

                “Not really, this is a bohemian place, not a donut shop. They come in once in a blue moon, but usually they don’t stay because we aren’t super welcoming to them. I mean we give them a free coffee and cookie if they want, but usually this is not really their hangout. What can we do with this girl, what is the next move,” asked Cheryl.

                “So Myra and her dad started coming in here four days ago, did you notice anything unusual about them, anything at all would help,” asked Nate.

                “Not really, except that the guy kept going to the bathroom for like thirty minutes at a time.  I asked Carl to have a talk with him and well this happened today,” said Cheryl.

                “Well the important thing is the girl is safe, the note has to many fingerprints on it now to be useful, I take it you read the letter as well. Did the guy pay with cash or credit card, “Nate asked?

                “Always with cash and today the only thing he left behind was Myra, the note and that diary,” said Cheryl.  

                “Okay, Myra seems pretty calm around you which is good and she is calm around Carl which is better. I just don’t see how he thinks he can just take this girl and raise her as his own, we will figure that out later. When is your lunch rush,” Nate asked?

                “We are going to get a lot of customers in about twenty minutes,” said Cheryl.

                “Okay, I am going to take the girl and Carl back to his place. I have some clothes that may fit her and some toys that my kids don’t play with anymore. Basically, we are all accomplices right now. Here is my card for my law firm. If anyone approaches you about this, you call me and only speak to me. If Carl goes to jail about this it will kill him, I mean it. I am not ready to lose my brother and it seems like you two are friendly and I am sure you don’t want to lose him either. I have seen him hell bent on stuff before and he will not let it go, so I am going to do what I can to help him out and more importantly to help out Myra. Can we get some food to go, because I am sure that Carl doesn’t have much for a nine-year-old girl at his apartment,” asked Nate?

                “Yeah I can make up a couple of sandwiches for you guys really quick and I can see what we have for our grab and go,” said Cheryl.

                “Here is fifty dollars, I am sure that will more than cover it and put the rest in your pocket. If Carl is going to pull this off, he is going to need your help. I hope you are as good a friend as he believes you to be,” said Nate.

                “I’d never let him down Nate, that is a threat not a promise,” sad Cheryl.

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]

WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 12 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

12 Nov 2020  1749   daily count 21085 cumulative count

                Carl took a few deep breaths before reading the note. He wasn’t sure what it would contain, and his tears were making everything blurry. His heart began to race but a bit of calmness interrupted him when he thought ‘at least we can spare the child from having to identify the body’. Carl grabbed the book and note and went into the stall for privacy in case another patron came in. The writing looked like it was done quickly and was difficult to read because it was written in cursive. Who uses cursive these days thought Carl. Someone abandoning their child that’s who, came the thought back at him. The note read as follows

                “Carl, I can no longer care for my daughter Myra. We live far from here and she does not know our address. Once you read this note I will have already moved all my things from the rented room and moved on. My heart is devastated that I can no longer care for her as she should be cared for. There is no mother in the picture and no siblings. I will not come back for her as I do not know how much longer I will live. Please raise her as your own, I will not suddenly pop out of nowhere and try to take her back. I have left you with a book that is for you alone. Do not show it to Myra under any circumstances. There are instructions in the book and you will understand once you read the instructions. Under no circumstances leaf through the book. Once you read the instructions you will understand why.

                I know you think of me as a detestable person, and that is the exact reason why I am entrusting Myra’s care unto you. No matter what you or Myra thinks of me, I think of myself in much worse terms. It was not my intention to abandon my daughter as she is my world, however, circumstances have forced my hand and I can no longer care for her in the way she needs to be cared for. I know I cannot ask anything of you, but I am requesting that you do not turn her over to the state. You seem to be a resourceful person that can get things done. I don’t know if you really are, but it is my hope that you are. Please care for my daughter as your own. She is not aware of what is transpiring. She is a very alert and obedient child, I gave her a secret phrase that means she is to follow what you say. Tell her the giraffes are drinking tea with the flamingos. I am not sure how to make life easier on her, if you should tell her I died or committed suicide or I just ran off, I leave that to you as I know I will never see the two of you again. Its not that I don’t care what you tell her, its that I have come to terms with what I am doing right now.

                Again, don’t try to find me, by the time you have read this letter I have already made it past state lines and you and she will never find me. Take care of my daisy.

                Carl turned over the note in hopes that the father had written his name by accident or left some other clue as to who he was or where he was going. There was nothing, even the ink that the father used didn’t bleed onto the other side of the note. He looked at the book that the note referred to, it was hardbound, plain blue and had golden words in an old-style script that read diary. The edge of the papers in the book seemed ruffled and dog eared like he did with his books. He sat in the stall for some time knowing that he would have to face Cheryl, but more importantly Myra.

                Summoning his composure, he got up from the stall, placed the book and note on the sink and began to wash his face. The cool water brought him out of his fog from the recent events and the note. He called his boss as this obviously was not going to resolve itself quickly.

                “Hey Fred, this is Carl. I am going to have to take the rest of the week off, just not feeling good today, can you cover down for me at tomorrows meeting,” asked Carl with a mechanical voice that lacked any emotion?

                “Sure, not a problem, sorry you are not feeling well, going back to the doctor,” asked Fred?

                “Yeah, I think that would be best, calling him right after I get off the phone with you,” Carl replied almost whispering.

                “Okay get better and let me know what turns up. We can handle everything here,” said Fred.

                Carl clicked off, one task done, now he had to call his brother and tell him the news.

                “Nate, yeah we need to talk quickly. There is a situation at the coffee shop that I am going to need your expertise in,” Carl was whispering again.

                “What kind of situation are you talking about,” asked Nate on the other end of the call sounding worried?

                “A guy just abandoned his daughter here and left her for me to take care of. She doesn’t know and neither does Cheryl. I am in the bathroom now and I have the note the guy left. It explicitly states he wants me to take care of the kid. I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me. He had been coming here with the kid for the past few days and today he just went into the bathroom and left without her,” Carl said.

                “Okay, has anyone called the police,” asked Nate?

                “No this just happened. Cheryl asked me to talk with the guy when he went into the bathroom and the guy left before I could talk to him. Cheryl is with the girl in the shop and neither one knows,” said Carl.  

                “Did the guy sign the note,” asked Nate.

                “I already looked, no signature. I don’t know the guys name, the note says that he has left and we won’t be able to track him down, he rented a room and by the time I read the note his bags are already packed. Also left a diary, it looks really old and he left instructions not to let the girl see it and not to read anything but the instructions in the diary, this is not a good scene right now and I need your help,” Carl’s voice was getting faster to match his heart beats.

                ‘Okay, do nothing for right now. If he abandoned his child and split there isn’t much we can do about that. If he is leaving her to you, well that’s just weird. I don’t think you are capable of raising a child at this point in your life. I’ll come down there and we can all figure this out. Where is the child right now,” Nate asked trying to get Carl to calm down.

                “She is with Cheryl in the shop. I gotta get out there and let her know what is going on, get down here as soon as you can,” asked Carl.

                “Heading down there right now,” said Nate as Carl clicked off the phone.

                Carl washed his face again and looked at the note and the book. He talked to himself audibly. ‘Okay, pull it together, we are going out there and sit down and drink some coffee and talk with Myra and Cheryl. We can do this, its not that hard. Well maybe as hard as passing kidney stones, but you got through that, maybe as hard as a brain tumor, but we will get through that as well. Okay this is very hard, but we don’t fail. Now get out there and handle this situation.’ Carl grabbed the note and the book, took a deep breath and opened the door. He walked straight to the table where Cheryl and Myra sat. He kept standing above Cheryl and Myra and said,

                “Hey Myra, the giraffes and flamingos are having a tea party,” Carl said calmly.

                “That is not right, “said Myra.

                “You are correct, the giraffe’s are having tea with the flamingos, “said Carl correcting himself. He handed the note wordlessly to Cheryl. She sped through the note quickly.

                “Where,” Cheryl started to ask?

                “Hey Myra, would you like that chocolate chip muffin that Cheryl told you about, its okay to have it,” said Carl as he sat down at the table.

                “Sure, that sounds great. Now I know you are not a stranger. Where is my dad,” asked Myra?

                That was the question that Carl knew was coming and did not have an answer for. He had prepared for everything else as best he could, but preparing for that answer, he would have stayed in the bathroom for the rest of his life.

                “Cheryl can you go grab that muffin and another chocolate milk for Myra, thank you,” said Carl quickly. Carl thought it would be best not to make a scene as most people came to coffee shops to break up or share things where they didn’t want the recipient of the news to make a scene. Cheryl took the hint and went back to the counter to grab the muffin and milk. “Okay Myra, it looks like I will be taking care of your for awhile. Your dad told me the code so you would know to go ahead and trust me. I am not sure when you will be seeing him, but I have a very nice place for you to stay at and my older brother Nate is coming by here to help us out okay,” said Carl?

                “He’s not coming back to get me is he?,” asked Myra. There were no tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes just went downward to the table in front of her. There was no wavering in her voice that would betray her feelings.

                “I don’t know. What was his name, “asked Carl?

                “He said I can’t ever say his name to anyone. He said that there was no code that would allow me to do that. I was only allowed to call him dad, even at school, he didn’t let the teachers write his name, only mine,” said Myra. 

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

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WRITING AND PODCASTING A NOVEL 11 NOV 2020

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where we create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education helping you tame your inner critic and provide you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo. You will be able to listen to what I wrote for the day and read it at the same time. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. I hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at [email protected]

11 Nov 2020  1439   daily count  19336 cumulative

                Carl went back to his book and coffee. Looking at his watch it was getting close to nine, he would need to leave no later than nine thirty to make it to work. Looking over at Cheryl, he saw she had a mini rush going on and the drink orders had lined up. The pattern had been thirty to forty minutes in the bathroom for the father so if the pattern held, he would be late for work at best by ten or fifteen minutes. Not the worst news in the world, but he hated being late. The twin responsibilities pulling on him were minor, he was not in danger of losing his job if he were to be late, and if he had to bolt on out of the shop early Cheryl would totally understand. He could feel his anxiety begin to creep up a few notches. The patrons at the counter were giving Cheryl a hard time with their drinks and she was visibly frustrated. Carl could not make out the commotion due to the music and din of conversations in the shop, but he could tell she was feeling the pressure of the upcoming confrontation.

                It had been ten minutes and Cheryl had finally finished with the group that was giving her a hard time. She came to Carl’s table and slumped down in the open chair.

                “I think I know how to make drinks, I mean I did win the barista of the year in this town for three years running right, and I know my way around an espresso machine, god I hate customers some days,” she said to Carl. “How are you doing over there young lady,” she asked the quiet girl.

                “I’m doing fine, just waiting for my dad,” said the girl timidly raising her head out of her book just for a few moments to answer the question and then back to her book.

                “What are you reading,” Cheryl asked.

                “Just a book my dad gave me, m not really supposed to talk to anyone. Can you leave me alone please,” said the girl still quiet and trying to look like she was engrossed in her book?

                Cheryl looked back over to Carl and said in a low voice, “it’s been fifteen minutes.”

                “And I am giving it another fifteen minutes and then I will head into the bathroom. Can you look after her while I do that,” Carl matched Cheryl’s volume?

                “Yeah, the lunch crowd does not start for a few hours and I am already caught up on my daily checklist. How are you holding up, how was yesterday,” she asked?

                “Had a great day, after I left here I went back to the park and ate the food and read another fifty or so pages and went home turned on a movie and fell asleep. Had a stuff neck this morning but it was good to take the day off and just sit in the park,” Carl replied.      

                Cheryl was focused on the girl while Carl talked. She was trying to get a clue as to what was going on, looking at every movement the girl made, seeing how much of the cookie she ate or milk she drank.  Girl was as unaware of the examination as was Carl and he was just a table widths away.

                “Do you need a refill on your milk or another cookie, its on the house,” Cheryl asked the girl.

                “No I am find thank you,” she replied.

                “I’ve got a really good chocolate chip muffin in the display counter and it’s got your name on it if you want it, plus I can get you a juice if you prefer,” asked Cheryl.

                “Uhm, I think my dad will be back anytime now, he doesn’t want me to drink sugary drinks like juice. I usually just drink milk or water,” replied the girl.

                “Well you are just about out of milk, do you want a chocolate milk, we won’t tell your dad,” asked Cheryl.

                “Really, uhm yes please,” said the girl even mor meekly. She peer from behind her book and looked toward the mens bathroom. “What if my dad comes back, he would be mad.”

                “Not a problem, I’ll take the chocolate milk off your table and put it on mine and we will make sure you have a full glass of regular milk on your table,” said Carl conspiring with Cheryl.

                “Tell ya what, Carl is going to head to the bathroom and I’ll grab that chocolate milk for you okay, drink it down fast,” said Cheryl.

                “Okay,” whispered the girl. A smile started to form on her face and her eyes sparkled for the first time in the four days that Cheryl had seen her.

                Carl took the cue and got up. His heart was pumping to be part of this conspiracy. Slowly he walked toward the bathroom thinking how he could broach a conversation with this man, he had done nothing wrong. To say Car felt awkward was an understatement, the girl was naturally shy as most nine year old’s would be at that age. He didn’t know why he thought she was nine, but she looked like it or maybe he was succumbing to his exercise that he taught Cheryl the other day. He didn’t have any kids but yet he never felt awkward around other peoples kids. He wasn’t a pro like Nate was, he just went with what he thought kids liked and usually kids warmed up to him and liked him.

                When he reached the bathroom he took a deep breath and entered. It was go time for him, he would end this issue, if it was even an issue, and get to work and back to his life. There was no one at the urinals, so he thought the man was in a stall. A gentle breeze hit his face that seemed to cool him down. He looked at the sink and someone had left a book with some papers on it. The window had been opened and the day was looking a little cloudy like it may storm in a few hours. Carl cleared his throat.

                “Hey bud, I don’t mean to intrude here but I need to head off to work,” said Carl. He looked at the stall door and tried to listen for any sound. “Excuse me, this is Carl, the guy watching your daughter our there. I need to head off to work and I needed to talk to you a minute,” Carl said to the stall. He still didn’t hear anything. Then it hit him, he didn’t hear anything. There was no piss, no straining, no breathing, no wrestling of toilet paper. There was no sound except the breeze coming through the open window. He didn’t ant to look in the stall as it reminded him of a stall he had been in a few years ago when he first received his diagnosis. He didn’t want to see the dead man he had tried to become when he attempted to end his life through swallowing all of the pills in his medicine cabinet and his ex-wife sound him on the floor of their bathroom. His heart slowed down to a crawl and he began sweating. He stuck his head out the window to see if the man had fled through that opening. He didn’t see anyone running or hear any car pulling out. How would he explain this to Cheryl and the kid, what would happen to her. He pulled his head back in and began repeating no, no no, no dammit no. Tears started pouring out of his eyes and he began sobbing and saying no no no no, don’t you dare do this to her. Thing welled up in his chest as he sat on the floor still whimpering and crying. When he reached the floor his head laid there for a moment. He was the toilet base and the urinal, but no shoes, no hands, no fingers slouched over. He got up quickly and threw open the stall door to reveal nothing. The man must have left through the window. Relief flooded back into Carl. He stuck his head back out the window and still there was no one there. Looking back at the bathroom he saw the book and the papers on top of the book. He top paper had his name on it. A note, Carl thought, for me. He picked up the paper and the book and sat back down on the floor and began to read the words through his tears.

To reach out to me, email [email protected] I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.

• Email : [email protected]