Helena went to the publisher that she had a meeting with. As she entered the tall building, and went up exactly sixteen stories on the elevator, Helena entered the Simon Pulse publisher building.
With her story that she spent so many hours typing on her computer and then on her typewriter tucked under her arm, Helena walked straight up the receptionist. "I'm here for my appointment."
"With who?" The receptionist asked in a board tone.
"Um," Helena looked at the scrap paper where the scratched on the info for her meeting. "Claire Brian."
The receptionist sighed as she got up, making it look like this was the biggest chore in the world. Helena followed the lazy receptionist to Claire Brian's office.
"Uh, thanks." Said Helena as the receptionist left. Helena looked at the door and knocked.
"Come in." A voice said. Helena rolled her eyes. Nobody was able to open doors in this place. But Helena turned the knob and walked into the office.
Claire had blonde hair like Helena, but their similarities ended there. Helena had a strong nose that was sprinkled with freckles from living in Southern California. Claire had a teensy button nose with no freckles. In fact, she was very pale. Claire was short and skinny and Helena was tall and athletic.
"Sit down." Clair said in a soft voice.
Helena sat.
"You have a story to show me?" Claire asked.
Helena nodded. "Yeah, here-"
"I take it you don't have an agent?" Clair asked, cutting Helena off.
"No, but-"
"Do you have a proposal?"
Helena nodded again. "Here ma'am." She stuck the sheet where she had written the summary for her story.
Claire looked at it, and a faint look of amazement went over her face. "Wow." She said, changing her tone. "This sounds like a great story."
"Thanks." Helena said, the first time she hadn't gotten cut off since she had been there.
"Would you leave your book here?" Claire asked. "And I will show it to my boss. But I have a feeling he'll like it."
"Sure." Helena said. It was okay, she had another copy at her new house, but somehow it didn't feel right as she handed it over.
Claire frowned when she saw the cover. Helena had run out of ink, so she wrote the title, named Donor No. 2781.
"It's typed." Helena said quickly.
Claire gave a false smile. "Of course it is."
………………………
"Are you gonna do it?" Mark asked, when Mimi was getting ready in the bathroom.
"Do what?" said Roger tiredly.
Mark looked around. "You know. Propose." He hissed.
"I don't know." Roger said.
"What happened to No Day But Today?" Mark asked.
"I threw it down the garbage disposal." Roger told him. "Come on. What if she says no?"
"You come on." Mark told him. "She's not gonna say no."
Mimi walked in the room. Mark and Roger stopped talking. That was always a sign they were talking about you. She sighed. "What?"
"Nothing." They both said quickly.
Yet another sign they were talking about you. "Well, its time to go." Mimi said. She pulled at Roger's arm. "Come on." She told him.
Roger slipped his arm around Mimi's waist and led her out the door. He turned around and shook his head at Mark.
Mark mouthed, Do it! To Roger's back. Roger looked mad, and Mark laughed as they were leaving.
…………………………..
Roger and Mimi sat at a table by themselves in a corner at the Life Café. It was strange there, nobody to say 'Lets put the tables together'. Nobody to dance with and or to sing with. But they had to move on.
"Mimi," Roger started.
Mimi looked up. "Mmmm?"
"Okay." Roger said. "Well, I've been thinking."
"About what?" Mimi asked.
Roger took a deep breath. He took out the box. Roger got down on one knee, and asked, "Mimi, will you marry me?"
Mimi's eyes flooded with tears. She nodded. "Of course." Roger slid the silver ring with the small diamond set in the middle. "Where did you get this?" Mimi asked.
"My grandparents." Roger said. "They also said they'd donate a couple grand towards out wedding."
Mimi was flooded with happiness. "Wow." She said. "Can we go home?"
Roger understood why. But no questions needed to be asked. "Okay."
When they were walking home, Mimi asked, "Do you think Mark likes that Helena girl?"
"Maybe." Roger said.
"When should we get married?" said Mimi.
"February 14th." Roger said.
"May 4th." Mimi said.
"What's on May 4th?" Roger asked.
"Dunno." Mimi said.
……………………………
The next day, Helena went back to the Simon Pulse office. She found Claire's office, and let herself in. Another man was sitting on the chair that Helena sat on the other day.
"Can I have my book back?" Helena asked.
"What book?" The man asked.
"Mr. Burke, I have no idea what she is talking about." Claire said.
"Yeah you do, and-" Helena said, and then lost the ability to speak. She saw the stack of papers that she poured her heart and soul into sitting on Claire's desk. But the front page had by Claire Brian not by Helena Erickson. Helena pointed to her papers. "Those are mine!" She said.
"Miss, I think you need to leave-" Mr. Burke started.
Helena was louder. "YOU STOLE MY BOOK BITCH!"
Claire looked alarmed. "Okay this is getting way out of hand-"
Helena looked at Claire with her green eyes. She bore the eyes into Claire's skull. "If you do not give me my book back, you'll see what out of hand really is."
"Security!" Mr. Burke shouted as he stuck his head out the door.
"GIVE ME MY BOOK BACK!" Helena shouted.
………………………….
"And stay out!" Security yelled.
"I'm calling my lawyer!" Helena shouted as she was flung out of the door, not mentioning that her lawyer lived across the country.
Helena was fuming as she made her way home. She stomped up the stairs and went pounded on Marks door.
He opened it. "Are we always going to meet this way?"
Helena burst into tears.
"What did I say?" Mark asked, he widened the door and let Helena in.
"My story got stolen." Helena said. "And then I threw something heavy, I think it was a paperweight, and then I got kicked out, and they still have my story and my lawyer is living across the country."
"I know somebody." Mark said. "A lawyer."
"I don't have any money." Helena said.
"She won't care about that." Mark said.