Minor Characters Read online

  Minor Characters

  By Don Fern

  Copyright 2017

  Richard, in his fifties, born and raised in the United States, was the best-selling mystery writer. After his first best-selling book, he purchased woods with a home in northwest Michigan. His house was reached by driving one-half mile on a twisted lane through woods. The house, itself, stood in an opening at the top of the 100 foot slope above Lake Michigan's shore line.

  He was known for having special invited guest weekends for fellow writers. It was Thursday evening and all guests, except Miss Liz Brown, were in the parlor. Each writer, including Richard, was in the parlor personally becoming acquainted with their counterparts. The caterers earlier filled the self-serve food tables, beside the large dining table, with the evening meal and left for the evening.

  Ellen Jomer, who lived in Britain, only knew that Miss Liz Brown grew up in the northeast of the United States and was in her thirties. Still Miss Brown had several best-selling books.

  Ellen asked Richard, "Did Miss Liz Brown accept her invitation."

  Richard told the group, "She did. I don't mine telling everyone. She is one of my favor mystery writers. Miss Brown will be arriving shortly."

  Mr. Chambers, the oldest writer, now in his sixties. With his southern accent said, "I hope she does. The food looks good. I like the idea of having it out. So you can get what you want. Been to too many formal dinners. Where you eat what they bring to you. Whether you like it or not."

  Ms. Camry Ander stood by herself; since, being in her twenties, everything was unfamiliar for her. She had, only recently, sold enough copies of a mystery story to be considered a known mystery writer. So, she was surprised by Richard's invitation. She lived nearby, in Canada, and was happy to spend the weekend with the better writers.

  She recognized this was a place to speak to the other writer by saying, "Waiting for Miss Brown to arrive reminds me of waiting for her next book to come out. I always enjoy reading them. I think it's the way she makes her characters come to life."

  Richard replied, "That's certainly true. That's one of the things I like about her writing myself."

  Mr. Chambers said to Richard, "You have a nice place. Right on Lake Michigan. Michigan is a pretty cold state. Must get cold here during winter."

  Richard, "It does at times. When this house was built. It was built to take the cold."

  Mr. Chamber, "Try building a house like that now. You wouldn't be able to."

  Richard, speaking to everybody, "Excuse me. I have a few things to take care of in the study. Miss Brown should arrive by the time I'm finish. Then we can all begin dinner."

  Richard left the parlor, passed through the front foyer, and entered the open door to his study.

  Francis crossed the parlor to be with Ellen. Francis also lived in Britain, and Richard's invitation brought both of then to the United States for the weekend. They were both in their thirties with individual stories that have reached best sellers list. Their first co-authored mystery was selling worldwide.

  After entering the study, Richard sat in his chair in front of his computer and waited for Miss Brown to arrive. Behind him, on the bottom shelf , was a published mystery book. The title on the cover was "Sinister: The Cult of Evil". A large drawing of the main character, Downer, was on the cover.

  This was Richard's study. This was where he created stories. This was where he created Greta. He used the computer on his desk. Greta had noticed, there were times it was like the computer used Richard.

  On the wall behind the desk there were the shelves. The top one, now empty, was waiting to place the best mystery story ever on. The middle shelf had Richard's two best-selling mystery books on. The bottom had three other mysteries Richard had published.

  The book is on the right of the bottom shelf. This was the book Greta's been stuck in since its printing. Lang and Sally were in this book.

  Greta recalled the days and months of watching as Richard created characters and setting and objects when they appeared as words on the computer screen. Greta been watching as Richard gave Miss Liz Brown all his attention. While she and Lang and Sally were left stuck in a burnt out house in the book forgotten by their creator. This wasn't right. Now Greta as Miss Liz Brown will get the attention she deserved.

  The car carrying Miss Liz Brown turned from the main road and entered the lane through the gate. Just inside the gate, a sharp boom was heard by the driver and Miss Liz Brown. The driver stopped the car, got out, and found a flat tire. He explained to Miss Brown that he needed to change the tire. Miss Brown left the car and strolled into the trees of the woods.

  A figure can through the undergrowth as if an apparition. Upon seeing the other, Miss Liz Brown stood unmoved and silent. For Miss Brown-a writer of mystery stories- this was her doppelganger. Greta walked to her, stopped, and spoke, "Miss Liz Brown."

  Greta slowly vanished with the woods. To be replaced by a materializing room. Miss Brown sat on a metal chair in the burnt out room. The two minor characters Sally and Lang sat, on the floor, against the wall.

  Lang sarcastically spoke, "Well. You're here. Miss Liz Brown. You look just like Greta. Richard made Greta to look just like you. Richard gives you his attention. Now Greta is getting Richard's attention. Now you're in a burnt out room in a burnt house getting no attention. It's your turn to be a minor character."

  Lang sat and stared at the burnt out couch, "Greta got out of the book and came to life. She will return and we will leave this book and we will come to life."

  After the tire was changed, the driver said loudly to the woods, "Miss Brown. The tire is replaced. We can continue to the house now."

  The driver saw the shape of Greta coming out of the woods. When the shape came into full view, the driver recognized Miss Liz Brown. He opened the back door for Miss Liz Brown. Greta, the minor character from Richard's book "Sinister: The Cult of Evil", entered the car.

  Greta. Lang, and Sally only thought off what Richard wrote in the book as what they knew. Now they used what they knew to get all of them out of the book and come to life. Greta used the evil traits Richard gave to his minor characters to place Miss Brown in the book.

  The driver drove down the one-half mile of curved lane through the woods and got to the front door of Richard's house. Behind the remodeled old two story house was an excellent view of Lake Michigan below a sandy sloping hillside. The guest had just watched the sun set into Lake Michigan. Richard was in his study. Greta knocked on the front door.

  Richard, after hearing the knock, immediately went through the foyer and opened the front door. He greeted Miss Liz Brown with a gentle hug. The guests, in the parlor watched the greeting. They recognized the attraction Richard had for Miss Brown. But they could not tell if Miss Brown had the same attraction for Richard.

  After Greta relaxed a bit in her upstairs room, she came down the stairs to the parlor.

  Richard introduced Greta to the other writers, as Miss Liz Brown. Greta was very impressed. It was the most attention she had ever gotten from Richard.

  All the writers gathered their food from the small food tables and sat at the large dining table. Richard sat at the head of the table and formally welcomed them all for the weekend. Then each guest formally introduced themselves.

  Richard announced he had chartered a boat for tomorrow afternoon and they were all invited to join him for a cruise on Lake Michigan.

  Richard then told the writers, after completing his current work in progress, he expected to retire from writing.

  Mr. Chamber replied, "That can't be true, Richard, a writer never retires. They just disappear."

  Richard spoke to the entire table, "Of course. Mr. Chambers is correct. I wouldn't really be retiring. I'll b
e doing many of the things I have put off for many years. Somehow the desire to do the other things wasn't as important as writing."

  Miss Liz Brown, "Are you telling us what the last mystery story is about?"

  Richard, "It's about the return of major character, Downer, in "Sinister: The Cult of Evil."

  Miss Liz Brown asked, "Do the minor characters return also?"

  Richard replied, "No. They're minor characters. Once you create and use them, you have no need for them."

  After listening to her creator, Richard, Greta was confused. Greta thought she didn't like being a minor character. But just maybe this was not true. Maybe she didn't like Richard. Greta decided she didn't like Richard. Richard had to go someplace else. She will see that this will be done.

  So for her response, Miss Liz Brown, suggested, "Who knows about any story? It might cause you to become the greatest mystery writer."

  Greta went into her feelings remembering that night-the night she came to life. Herself, Lang, and Sally were; in the book, in the burnt down house, in the burnt out room, sitting against the wall.

  They watched Richard as words appeared on the computer screen.

  Miss Liz Brown entered study and sat in front of the desk.

  Greta said to Lang and Sally, "Richard wrote me to look exactly like her."

  Sally, "You could be her