Chapter 1: You've Got Mail

I stare blankly at the screen of my laptop for the fifth straight day. Every couple of minutes I will write down a couple of sentences, maybe even a page or two. But it's, guaranteed that within ten minutes it will be completely erased. I can't understand why it is so hard to write this time. My last novel just seemed to flow out of my fingers and onto a page. God, it's so frustrating. I turn my focus back to the blank computer screen hoping that inspiration would suddenly hit me. But nothing... always nothing. I scan the contents of my office in hopes of finding something to spark a little creativity.

But I don't get a chance because my computer beeps and a video conference screen comes up. I click the acceptance button, immediately wishing that I hadn't. Staring back at me is Lindsay, my book editor.

"Tell me you're writing the best pages of your life." Lindsay inquired right off the back.

"Well hi, to you too." I responded, avoiding her question.

"If not the best pages then, at least a bunch of okay pages." She pried further.

"I wrote a couple of lines…"

"Yeah."

"And then I erased them because they sucked."

"Luke, I can't be your editor if I don't have anything to edit."

"I know I'll try."

"You better. Okay on to new business." She said. I sensed a little uneasiness in her voice.

"New business. Is something wrong?"

"Depends, really. I received a letter on my desk this morning. Just a plain white envelope, no return address just my name. I opened the letter and there I found a single typed sheet."

"Enough with the suspense, Linds-. Tell me what was on the letter."

"It said that at 2:35 pm on Tuesday, January 15th, I would receive an email that would be password protected and only Lucas would be able to open it."

"Well, its 2:40 so did you get an email?"

"Yeah, and I forwarded it to you. I tried opening the email but it has a question and it was one I clearly didn't know the answer to."

"You tried opening my email. That's a little sneaky."

"Luke, I just don't want you to open this email and it be some psycho who hates your book and tells you that they want to kill you or something."

"Lindsay, you read the book. If it had anything to do with the book then you would know the answer to it. If it's something personal then it must be from someone who knows me personally. I'm gonna go and read the email and see if I can get it open."

"Alright, Luke. Let me know. And write something for goodness sake." She urged.

I clicked the video off and opened up my web browser. I quickly typed my screen name and password into their respective spots and entered into my email. I quickly spotted the forwarded email and opened it with vigor. The minute I opened it a pop up box came up and read a simple question.

The owner of a purple monkey…

It has a fill-in box for me to type my answer in. I pondered and pondered but nothing came to mind. Jeez, more frustration. I looked around the room and saw a picture of Haley on my desk. I grabbed the keys from my drawer and headed to Haley's classroom. I was pretty sure it had been Haley but I didn't want to waste time and become even more frustrated than I already was. And the excitement was slowly inspiring me. I could see ideas flash into my head. They weren't complete thoughts yet but I was sure that by the time everything was over I would have a head full of ideas.

My feet took me to her classroom effortlessly, as it had taken the route many times everyday. My mind however, scrambled furiously through memories trying to recollect a time when I had seen Haley with a purple monkey. I stood in the doorway, glancing at my nephew sitting in a chair made for high school students. He looked so small in those big chairs. Haley was focused on her laptop, probably going over her lesson plans for what must be the fiftieth time today.

"Hey, Hales."

"Hey, Luke." She said as I walked in.

"Uncle Lucas." Jamie called, leaping from the previously occupied seat and jumping into my chest.

"J.Luke, are you in high school already?" I said lifting him in my arms.

"I'm only four." He responded sounding wise beyond his years.

"I know, buddy. Go finish coloring." Placing him back on the floor.

"Hey Hales, gotta minute."

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"Did you ever have a purple monkey?"

She laughed at the question, but soon realized that I was serious and composed herself. "No why do you ask?"

"Well, I received an email this morning from, well I don't know who. I can't open said email because its password protected with some code that I am supposed to know."

"Very interesting. Well if this person knows you. Then I would check with the rest of the gang. Brooke, Peyton, Mouth."

"Mouth, Hales do you really believe that Mouth would have had a purple monkey."

"This coming from the guy who had a yellow hippo till he was four."

"You promised to never mention, Mr. Tiggle ever."

"That's right up there with Eugene, I know."

I walked to the doorway, scoffing the entire way. "I will get you back for this Haley James-Scott. You have been warned."

"Oh I'm scared. Go write something why don't ya."

"Ouch, Hales. Ouch. Bye J.Luke." I waved leaving the classroom, glancing down at my watch. My day was over, at least the coaching part. Now I was free to scour this town in search of a purple monkey.

I figured that I would visit Brooke, while she finished the renovations of my mom's café. She would probably be there for another hour or so and I didn't want to miss her. So I walked out of the double doors and cantered to my car. Pep in every step. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Just hoping to get what I asked for.