Interview with Seth Ignatious II
Yet another fabulous writing exercise where I "interview" one of the characters from Symphony of the Universe
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This time I am interviewing Professor Seth Igantious.
Seth is sitting at an old wooden desk. I'm sitting across from him, mini tape recorder in my trembling hand. I've had three too many diet cokes again, so I can't help myself. His desk has a nice looking copy of HG Wells The Time Machine on it. I'm trying to avoid the urge to pick it up and flip through it.
Me: Good afternoon Professor Ignatious.
Seth: Good afternoon Molly.
Me: I'm sorry the last interview didn't go very well.
Seth: Don't worry about it, and don't call me professor. We aren't in class. Just Seth is fine.
Me: Well this is a good day, I don't want to ask you about things that make you uncomfortable.
Seth picks up the copy of The Time Machine and flips through it in an absent minded way.
Me: My father gave me this video, it's a collection of home movies from the late 1960's to 1978, the year I was born.
Seth keeps flipping through his book.
Me: You remind me of my father sometimes. I thought I would tell you about it. My dad said that when he was watching it he --- how to put this -- he said that I look just like my grandmother when she was young. But she was so beautiful! I mean, not in a sin and Hollywood kind of way, but a graceful, ladylike beautiful. She wore pillbox hats and little white gloves and grinned from ear to ear.
Seth: Yes? I'm listening.
Me: I can't see myself in her.
Seth: Fashion changes. Often.
Me: My grandmother looks like she just arrived from some Kennedy-style Camelot.
Seth: Well maybe your father believes in Camelot, and can see you as a princess and his mother as a queen.
Me: That is a beautiful thing to say but-
Seth: Most daughters are royalty in their father's eyes.
Me: A royal pain maybe.
Seth puts the book down.
Me: Okay, guess this isn't much of an interview yet. I'd better ask you some questions.
Seth: Ask away.
Me: I need a thesis for my next class paper.
Seth: What?
Me: I need a thesis for my next class paper. You're a professor. Help me out.
Seth: I'm not doing your homework for you.
Me: Just a hint, maybe? Let me know if you think my idea is a good thesis!
Seth: I don't know your teacher's criteria so I couldn't possibly evaluate. Furthermore, I consider it a bit dishonest to make this request under the pretense of an interview.
Me: (grumble)
Seth: Just talk to your professor. You'll be fine.