Interpretations And Adulations

“O-kay…”  Writer Lady says.
“I couldn't stop thinking about what happened.  The Ninja Zombie War.  It's a good story.   I would like to produce it.  I wrote down everything that I can remember about that day and have been trying to complete a script but something is missing.   What I have isn't enough.”
Tinkletoes looks at Monitor Man.
Monitor Man continues, “Last week I realized there are blanks that I can’t fill in.  A key element seems to be missing...You.”  He says looking at Writer Lady.  “I was writing this like it was my story.  I have since realized that it wasn’t just my story.  It was our story.”  Finishing he smiles at Writer Lady.
The room grows silent.   Writer Lady contemplates what she is hearing as she looks into the distance.  Diomedes coughs, nudging her.   “What?”  Writer Lady asks looking at the dragon and then at Monitor Man.
“I said that I realized that the problem with my story was that you were missing from it.  It needs more of your narrative.   The Ninja Zombie War was an adventure that could not have taken place without you.   It was our adventure and to tell the story accurately I need to hear it from your point of view.”
“My version isn’t all that different than yours.”
“I think it is.”
“You’re wrong.”
“No, you’re wrong.”   Tinkletoes says looking at Writer Lady.  “He’s right.”  The self-proclaimed mercenary continues, looking at Monitor Man.   “You were the middle of the story.”
“Great.   That's what I need to hear about.”  Monitor Man says.  “The before and the after.”
“No.”  Writer Lady says.  She looks at Tinkletoes.  “I can't believe that you're siding with him.  You're supposed to be enemies.”
“Yeah, well...we're running mates and running mates stick together.   'Sides, he's the Halo guy.”   Tinkletoes answers.
Writer Lady rolls her eyes.
Monitor Man studies her expression.  “I’ve seen this before.”  He says.  “Were there feelings?”  He asks.
“Yes.”   Carp volunteers.
“No!”  Writer Lady exclaims.
“Don't listen to her.”  Carp says looking at Monitor man.   “I know that there were because I encouraged them.   You can thank me later.”
Monitor Man looks at Writer Lady.
“There might have been a feeling or two.”  She admits.  “There was a war.  War is hell.”
Monitor Man smiles.
Writer Lady looks at him suspiciously.
“Now I know.”  He says.
“Now you know.   Now you know why I'm not sharing my point of view with you. You have my permission to tell any story you want to.  Take your project and go, have fun, and leave me out of it.”  Writer Lady says.   Unceremoniously sitting her favorite mug on the floor.  She stands up.
“Where are you going?”   Tinkletoes demands.
“Back to bed.”
“This meeting isn’t over soldier.”  He says sternly.
Writer Lady turns and glares at the self-proclaimed mercenary, daring him to say another word.
“Okay.   I’ve got it from here.”   He says.  “Dismissed.”
“You're damn right I'm dismissed.”  Writer Lady mutters as she leaves the room.
Minutes later, Writer Lady is doing the “Why Can't I Find A Comfortable Position?” roll in bed.  She lays on one side, rolls onto her back then tries the other side to no avail, she's wide awake.  There's a gentle knock on the bedroom door.  “I have nothing more to say about it Halo man.”  She calls out.
“That's not why I'm here.”  Monitor Man whispers as he enters the room.
“You came to my room for something else?”  Writer Lady asks.
“Something else.”  He responds.
“Since you're already in my room I guess it doesn't hurt to hear what you have to say.”
“Good.”   Monitor Man says as he sits down on the edge of her bed.  “About the whole Ninja Zombie War thing...”
“You lied?”  Writer Lady asks.
Monitor Man holds up two fingers slightly spread apart indicating “a little bit.”  “I just wanted to tell you that I found someone else to give me their interpretation of the events that took place during the Ninja Zombie War.”
Writer Lady waits for the punch line.
“Carp.”
“Carp?  You're using Carp as a source of information?”
“He was inside your head for part of the war.”  Monitor Man points out.
“Not because I wanted him there.”
“He was there.”
“So were Dobby and Tinkletoes. They weren't in my head.  They saw action.   How about Bob?  Have you thought of asking Bob?”  Writer Lady asks.
“Bob is dead.”  Monitor Man reminds her.  “Our worst fatality.  Remember?  The Ninja Zombies started eating his brains before he lost consciousness?”
“That was Bob?  Well crap.”
“Carp is my second best option.  Unless, you would care to...share?”
“I would not care to share.”
“Then Carp it is.”
“Scrapped this project is.”  Writer Lady says.  “You are not going to get anything useful out of Carp except some epic poetry about your glistening pecs and stunning hair.   Oh and heavy breathing.  You might get some heavy breathing.”
Monitor Man leans in and kisses her.  “Sometimes heavy breathing is good.”
Writer Lady looks at him suspiciously.
“You're not sharing is not a problem.”  He says.  “I have Carp and a good interpreter.  Everything is going work out just fine.   You get some sleep and I'll see you tomorrow.”
“There's more to this.”   Writer Lady says, looking at Monitor Man and studying him.  “Who's your interpreter?”
“It doesn't matter.  He's going to cut through all of Carp's pectoral adulations and give me the information I'm looking for.”
“He must be a really smart guy.”
“He...”  Monitor Man coughs.  “is very good at getting to the truth.”


“No way man.”  Ray says looking at Carp.  “I'm not saying that to another dude.”
“It's important to the story.”   Carp says.
Dylan looks at Carp and then looks at Ray and shakes his head.
“Even the lil' guy doesn't think it's right.”  Ray counters, pausing to eat a cheese puff.
“I was inside her head.   I know what she was thinking.”
Ray looks at Dylan offering him a cheese puff.  Dylan shakes his head,sticks his hand into the bag, retrieves a handful of cheese puffs, and shoves them into his mouth.
Carp says, “I may have added a little color to her language but the thoughts were still hers.”
Ray looks at Carp suspiciously.
“You like Writer Lady don't you?”   Carp asks.
“Yeah.  She's nice.  She doesn't complain about my cheese puffs and makes some mean cupcakes too.”
“You want her to be happy, don't you?”
“Ye-ah.”  Ray agrees.
“Then you have to say it.”
“I'm not saying that to another dude.”  Ray looks at Dylan.   “Carp wants me to tell Monitor Man that he has pretty hair.”
Dylan shakes his head.
“How about telling Monitor Man that the sight of his strong pectoral muscles flexing as he worked to free himself of his restraints made her weak with...”  Carp stops when he realizes that he's talking to a child, “...made her feel woozy.”
Dylan shakes his head.  The tow headed boy looks at Ray and says,  “I hope you have another bag of cheese puffs. This is gonna take a while.”