little ghost, little ghost, you're the one i love the most
Six years and six days later, more or less, Andy and Tamineh will be sitting on the top of a building, each sipping at a cup of tea. In Tamineh’s cup will be Tibetan Tiger; a rich dark mélange tea with subtle echoes of vanilla, caramel, chocolate and butterscotch. In Andy’s cup will be Jenny Wade Jewels; a tea with a rich bouquet with notes of tangerine, freesia, roses and hibiscus. At least that’s how the waiter will describe their respective beverages.
“What’d you say this place was called?”
Tamineh points to the huge, inviting sign behind him. “Teavana.”
“I like it.”
“I do, too. It’s very relaxing to just come up here and think for a while. There’s nothing like hot liquid pouring down your throat on a sunny, breezy afternoon. It’s just me and my thoughts. And sometimes a friend.”
“My thoughts tend to be intimidating. And rude, too.” They’ll both sip loudly. Somewhere, a bird will chirp excitedly- a victim of a stray exclamation point. “But I like the tea.”
Tamineh will lower her cup onto the glass table, the dregs almost visible beneath the thin layer of liquid that remains. She’ll lean in, cueing Andy to do so as well. “Look, I heard something.”
“I hear things all the time.”
“No, this is important. It seems like the Woody-haters are developing some kind of massive weapon. Big. Bigger than Digression®.”
Andy will look into his cup, as if there were nothing more important in the world.
If this were Tamineh’s movie, we’d peek inside and see there’s nothing left. Not even the forgotten herbs that are usually forsaken by the average tea drinker. One would hardly believe there was anything in there to begin with.
“What’s your source?”
“I spoke to Chloe.”
“Chloe? We haven’t seen that one in years.” They both will be quiet, recalling what is going on today. “What is she up to, anyway?”
“Well, Ned spoke to Chloe. He says she’s pretty high up in the DWA.”
“No shit. I always knew something like that would happen.” Andy will shake his head. “The way that woman drank was…” He’ll finish the thought off in his head. “How come she opened up?”
“I don’t know. Ned didn’t mention it. He seemed pretty edgy.”
“Ned, edgy? This must be bad.” Thirsty and dazed, Andy will absent-mindedly reach for Tamineh’s cup of tea and chug the remains. “Do you know what this supposed weapon does?”
“No idea. Ned doesn’t know. And I’m starting to think that not even Chloe knows. All I have is a name.”
Andy will look up to the sky and think about how peculiar it is the way the clouds seem to be lurking over the horizon. He’ll wonder if this will be the last time he’ll think of the words peculiar and lurking. “What is it?”
“It’s called Writer’s Block.”
“What’d you say this place was called?”
Tamineh points to the huge, inviting sign behind him. “Teavana.”
“I like it.”
“I do, too. It’s very relaxing to just come up here and think for a while. There’s nothing like hot liquid pouring down your throat on a sunny, breezy afternoon. It’s just me and my thoughts. And sometimes a friend.”
“My thoughts tend to be intimidating. And rude, too.” They’ll both sip loudly. Somewhere, a bird will chirp excitedly- a victim of a stray exclamation point. “But I like the tea.”
Tamineh will lower her cup onto the glass table, the dregs almost visible beneath the thin layer of liquid that remains. She’ll lean in, cueing Andy to do so as well. “Look, I heard something.”
“I hear things all the time.”
“No, this is important. It seems like the Woody-haters are developing some kind of massive weapon. Big. Bigger than Digression®.”
Andy will look into his cup, as if there were nothing more important in the world.
If this were Tamineh’s movie, we’d peek inside and see there’s nothing left. Not even the forgotten herbs that are usually forsaken by the average tea drinker. One would hardly believe there was anything in there to begin with.
“What’s your source?”
“I spoke to Chloe.”
“Chloe? We haven’t seen that one in years.” They both will be quiet, recalling what is going on today. “What is she up to, anyway?”
“Well, Ned spoke to Chloe. He says she’s pretty high up in the DWA.”
“No shit. I always knew something like that would happen.” Andy will shake his head. “The way that woman drank was…” He’ll finish the thought off in his head. “How come she opened up?”
“I don’t know. Ned didn’t mention it. He seemed pretty edgy.”
“Ned, edgy? This must be bad.” Thirsty and dazed, Andy will absent-mindedly reach for Tamineh’s cup of tea and chug the remains. “Do you know what this supposed weapon does?”
“No idea. Ned doesn’t know. And I’m starting to think that not even Chloe knows. All I have is a name.”
Andy will look up to the sky and think about how peculiar it is the way the clouds seem to be lurking over the horizon. He’ll wonder if this will be the last time he’ll think of the words peculiar and lurking. “What is it?”
“It’s called Writer’s Block.”