Dotty and Della were best friends for a long time, ever since Dotty moved into the house next to Della's. They had a lot in common. When they met both were married with small children. Every day they visited each other for coffee and exchanged the latest gossip and recipes, complained about this and that and talked about the romantic novels they loved to read. One of their favorite writers was Samuel Richards. He gained fame with his Corrigan Saga, starting during the Irish Famine. The latest installment was placed in the present. Dotty and Della could have debated the interesting characters for hours. They loved how detailed everything was described. The story didn't simply finish with a typical ending, like the romantic couple got together after some hurdles and lived happily ever after. It followed their progress through live and that of their descendants. One or two old characters, who had already died in the books, returned as ghosts to warn family members. Somehow the idea was comforting.
Of course they also got their hands on every tid bit available about the writer.
One day Dotty arrived at Della's house - it was her turn to provide coffee and cake. "Look what I found!" she said excited, waving a magazine in her hand. "What is it?" "There is a writers convention going on at the MGM in Las Vegas. Bonnie Jack, Samuel Richards and Casper Otto are just a few of them!" Dotty nearly squealed in delight. Della was infected by Dotty's excitement. They didn't live too far away. Just a quick hop to Sacramento International Airport and a very short flight made Las Vegas easily reachable. They forged plans over banana chocolate cake, Della was famous for.
A few months later Della, Dotty and their husbands flew to Las Vegas. While their men gambled, they went to the convention. Bonnie Jack was a big disappointment in Della's and Dotty's opinion. As romantic as her thrillers and novels were, she behaved like a diva and wouldn't allow any photographs or that she was touched.
Casper Otto was great. He simply was very shy and had problems getting his mouth open.
Dotty was red faced, when she and Della approached Samuel Richards. Dotty's eyes popped open, because he was signing with a gold fountain pen, studded with diamonds. It was very feminine. There had been some rumors the writer had a sham marriage. Mr. Richards' wife was Brazilian and what easier way to get American citizenship than to marry an American? If Mr. Richards was gay and preferred it to stay a secret, he could perfectly well hide under the cloak of marriage.
Mr. Richards was open, discussed their favorite characters with Dotty and Della and signed all books, they had brought along. He didn't mind having a photograph taken and explained laughing, the pen didn't belong to him. "Mine stopped functioning and Marty - I mean Ms Erikson - was friendly enough to borrow me her spare." Martina Erikson - an author, famous for her novels being set in the Wild West - laughed. She was the whole opposite of him. She was blond and freckled, he was dark haired and had a slight tan. "You should have seen him swearing. I wouldn't have been surprised, if Sam had thrown the offending pen out of the window." "I'm well behaved and wouldn't have done it. The windows don't open anyway." Sam replied smiling. Marty teased him. "Well behaved? I heard all you said under your breath." "Did you understand everything?" "Nope, my Spanish isn't so good." "It was Portuguese." "Oh." Della was impressed. The friends found out he spoke it fluently. He admitted, that he generally picked up swear words quickest in any language he learned. After a successful weekend the biggest impression of all writers were made by Martina Erikson and Samuel Richards.
A few years later the couples were back in Las Vegas. Della's and Dotty's husbands had enjoyed the gambling and fine dining so much, they were returning regularly. While their husbands gambled Dotty and Della went shopping at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Passing Tiffany's and looking inside, Della thought, she had seen a famous person in the shop. They returned and peeked through the window. Really! Della hadn't been wrong. It was Samuel Richards, so in they went. Sam was paying some items he had bought. It seemed he wasn't alone. "Mr. Richards, is that you?" Della asked. Sam handed over the shopping bags to a young Asian lady. Then he replied: "Yes, how can I help you?" Della and Dotty were shy, but they asked friendly, if they could have another autograph. "We understand, if you don't want to give one, you are here on a private trip, so ..." Dotty said. "It's no problem. Do you have a pen?" Mr. Richards didn't hesitate. "Would you like that I take a photograph of you and Sam together?" Mr. Richards’s companion asked. She had seen Della's camera. The ladies were very excited about it and flushed deeply. Mr. Richards introduced his companion as his newly wed wife Hue. They were here on Honey Moon with Hue's children from her previous marriage and based on the articles Dotty and Della had read in celeb magazine thought, Sam was widowed, but in a new relationship, and Hue and Sam had a daughter together. The baby of the family was asleep in a buggy and looked highly interesting with red hair and almond shaped eyes. She was nine month old now. Dotty thought Alyssa was really cute. She had grandchildren herself and showed Hue and Sam pictures of them. Then she asked, if she could have as a memento a photograph of Hue and Sam. The couple communicated wordless. They were more careful about being in the public light, especially since they had one paparazzo following them. The decision was made silent and didn't take long to reach. Hue agreed. After that Dotty and Della left the family alone.
Even month after the encounter, the friends talked about how friendly both Mr. Richards and Mrs. Alexander Richards had been. They could have simply refused their requests. It didn't matter the writer hadn't recognized Della and Dotty immediately. The friends guessed, Samuel Richards was meeting so many people, he could impossibly remember them from way back.
©2011
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