Notes for story
I'm thinking of making Sequoia a "football slut." I'm sure many such persons exist, but I haven't met one yet. In high school and college, she only dated football players. As an adult, she doesn't have this option, but she still is a big fan of the game and of the players. Perhaps she is a long-time season ticket holder who goes to special events and meets the players. Maybe she knows where they hang out and frequents the same places. I need to do a little more research into this. Maybe there are people with a football fetish - that would be entertaining!
I need to develop Sequoia's character more - I don't feel like I know her yet. What is her typical day like? How does she react/respond to people? I see her as a tad prickly - defensive, sarcastic - but not a bad or mean person. Just protected. She teaches history at a private, progressive school. She likes kids, better than adults, perhaps. She feels she can be herself with the kids because they are more accepting and not trying to fit her into a category. She dates but is not in a committed relationship. She loves Lennon and feels protective of him, even though she is the younger sister. She thinks he is flighty, impulsive, unrealistic. In fact, he is timid and insecure and therefore probably doesn't need watching over. But she sees herself as the sensible, logical member of the family.
And where are the parents? Are they dead or just incommunicado? If they are alive, they can resolve the mystery at the end. I would rather have them dead, but is that too trite and melodramatic? A plane or car crash? Maybe they didn't die at the same time. Is it too odd for two people in their early 50's to both be dead already? It must have been the flesh-eater!! ;-p
More later...