Production Day - Revising
I’ll be off line during the next few days, because I’ve got revisions to finish on ‘Lost Along the Way’. I won’t be logging on until the evening hours, so if I don’t get back your emails until later than usual—never fear. I need to work on fleshing out my characters a bit more; they’re not quite up to snuff in the first draft, so I need give them more flavor. My main character, Andrew, now has a face–thanks to cover artist Caroline Monaco.
He’s featured in the initial sketches, with Nikola [Niko], a man he becomes involved with shortly after arriving in New York. Niko is from the Ukraine, but he’s a citizen—and the first time he and Andrew meet is when Niko is released from Ryker’s Island prison.
“Andrew, this is Radek. Radek, this is Andrew.” Samil said.
“Nice to meet you,” Andrew said, still staring ahead.
“Yeah, me too.” he said, and then shifted his voice to Samil, “What are you two doing today? Cause, you know, my brother gets out in an hour, and I’ve been waiting for the bus to meet him, but-”
“You want us to pick him up? What do we look like a taksowa?” Andrew asked, and Samil burst out laughing.
“Yeah, do we have yellow painted on this thing?” Samil asked.
“Ah!” Radek said, “Come on, I’ll pay you.”
“What do you think?” Samil asked.
Andrew liked being part of this little adventure. Perhaps he needed this. He saw no problem with picking up this man’s brother.
“What the hell.” Andrew said, and told Radek to drive. He was tired and sensed that Samil wanted to be up front with Radek near him.
Once behind the wheel Radek turned to Andrew and said, “How old are you?”
“Dwadziescia,” Andrew said in his best Polish.
“Don’t speak Polish to him, he’s from the Ukraine.” Samil said. “Just speak to him like he’s a child, it’ll be easier for him.”
“Shut up you.” Radek said with a smile.
“Where’re we going?” asked Andrew.
“Rykers, but I don’t know if we can get there in an hour, but we’ll definitely be there before the bus.” Samil said.
“Rykers?” Andrew asked.
Radek looked quickly at Samil as he said, “It’s an island in Queens.”
