A cartoonist in the Balkans, about whom I have written, proposed a swap of an electronically transmitted copy of his new comic, “The Nineties,” for an electronically transmitted “Bob on Bob.” Once this miracle had occurred, he e-mailed: “Long live technology!”
After initiating a conversation with a fellow in the café who seemed to be writing dialogue on his computer, I learned he had been a “career” public defender, who now wrote fiction based on his experiences. I also learned he was a director of a theater group where ex-prison inmates perform their own work. I gave him a copy of “The Schiz,” my “lawyer” novel, and he invited me to a performance – but did not comp me. (We wouldn’t’ve gone anyway. It’s at night and we’re not big theater fans. “Too theatrical,” I like to say.)
I’d been prepared to give an IWKYA to a woman I’ve known for about 40 years who irregularly stops by the café. The last time I’d seen her, she’d been upset because her heart was misbehaving, and she was looking at a pacemaker. I hoped the book might re-assure her, and I was giving, not selling, it because I had previously sent it, personally inscribed, to a fellow I’ve known for over 70 years. But he has dementia and, for reasons known only to him, had sent it back leaving me with a book whose dedication suited no one else. But she hasn’t been back.
A couple other transactions didn’t achieve completion. One involved the father of a little girl in the ballet class which meets every Saturday across the street. He looked at my books, took my card, and said he would be back. Then two fellows from my old pick-up basketball game, which held a reunion at the café, both said they wanted a “Bob” and asked when I would be there next. (One even said he got a kick out of reading about the people who say they will buy a book and are never heard from again.) None of these people have been seen or heard from again.
In other news…
1.) No new word about “Messiahs…” I will give it a couple weeks.
2.) Finished a piece about the novels of Han Kang. When the FOM editor suggested the topic, I thought it well beyond me. But I have written something whole and true, which no one else could have, which is what I aim for. Once Adele finishes her twice-over, I will submit it.
So many Bob Levins on the Internet; I'm the Bob Levin who writes.