It was a spring day in Paris. I was sitting at an outdoor
café, sipping a café latte. A slight breeze rustled through the
trees. French pigeons scuttled about, looking for crumbs. Schoolchildren passed
by on the sidewalk, speaking perfect French. Id been drafted after
graduating college, during the Korean War, but had been stationed in Germany. I
had no desire to return to the States so I took my discharge there, then
traveled through Europe, ending up inevitably in Paris, as I wanted to be a
writer. In my mind, I was emulating Ernest Hemingway.
I looked up from my latte and gazed hopefully at the young very
attractive French girl seated two tables over. She met my gaze, turned down her
mouth and looked away. I should have known. Now, if I was Hemingway
The
man sitting in the far corner lowered his newspaper, was it? It had to be him:
the black hair in a widows peak, the swarthy angular features, the
pointed ears---it had to be.
I approached his table. Excuse me, sir, I began.
Are you the
?
Sit down, Martin, he said, and dont ask
foolish questions.
I sat. I thought I detected a hint of sulfur in the air.
How did you know my name? Oh, a foolish question.
Yes. How is the writing going?
Not good. Im having a devil of a time
Oh,
Im sorry.
He shook his head. Ive heard it before.
If only I can write like Hemingway.
Ah, yes. Ernest. An interesting young man.
You knew him? Did he
I mean, is that how he became so
successful?
He shook his head again. Millions of words have been
written about Ernest. Do you really want to add to the speculation?
No, I suppose not. But Id give anything to write
like Hemingway. Id sell my
He held up his hand. That may be, but you must have at
least a modicum of talent to begin with. Starting a story with It was a
spring day in Paris. How pedestrian can you get?
But Id be happy to even write like Steinbeck,
Sinclair Lewis
Wait. Ah, yes, thats the man I was waiting for. Do
you see that young Asian across the street? When he finishes his studies in
Paris, hell return to his native country, become a dictator and slaughter
millions in the name of a more perfect society.
The hell you say! Damnit, Im sorry. I mean
.
Martin, youre hopeless. Go home and get a job.
Practice your writing. Perhaps well meet again. Now, youll excuse
me, I must catch up with that young man..
He was gone. I practiced my writing, but I never saw him again.
So thats why this story is appearing in Winamop instead of the New
Yorker.