The Chipmunk Tour Saga Closing Ceremony Special
Chapter 8:
"William's Memories"
This chapter contains references to actual historical events and real-life events in the life of William Raymer. Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of those referenced.
The day had finally arrived: the wedding of Gordo and Lizzie. In the holographic Kitchen Stadium on Max's Simudeck, friends, family and other guests sat in chairs where the Stadium's cooking stations normally sat.
In a room just off of the Stadium proper, William sat, looking over his remarks for the ceremony which was about to begin.
"William, may I have a word with you before the ceremony begins?" Max said. "Oh, sure, Max." William said. "Ask away."
"Well, you've asked some of us questions about ourselves, so I figure it's about time someone on this ship asks some of you," Max said. "May I?"
"Like I said, Max, ask away," William said as he put the PADD down. "Well, what are some of the experiences that have influenced your writings?" Max asked.
"Well, three incidents helped me more than others," William said. "When I discuss my writing career, I must discuss Joanna."
"Joanna?" Max said. "Joanna Pacitti, the girl who was fired from Annie back in '97," William said. "Oh, Kylie Styles," Max said.
"Exactly," William said. "In fact, Kylie was originally a fictionalized version of Joanna Pacitti. But, when Joanna was disqualified from American Idol a couple of years back, I had decided to sever ties with Joanna."
"But, why? It seems you were a big fan of Ms. Pacitti's," Max said. "I was…and am again," William said. "But, when the reasons behind her ouster were revealed, I decided 'to hell with her.'"
"But?" Max said. "I had a problem with the final level of the Nintendo DS game Pokémon Ranger, so I pulled Joanna's picture out of my closet and put it back on my wall."
"And you beat the game," Max said. "Exactly," William said. "I couldn't stay mad at her forever. 'Cause, after all, Joanna inspired me to begin my writings."
"The second memory?" Max asked. "Well, we'd have to go back to before Joanna was fired from Annie. On November 22, 1996, I went to see the opening night screening of Star Trek: First Contact. However, an usher came out and announced that the opening screening was all sold out. I went over to a nearby pay phone to call my mom to come and pick me up."
"But?" Max said. "A lady who was there to see the Mel Gibson movie Ransom walked up to me and said that just one ticket remained for the First Contact screening. I ran to the booth and snapped it up. It gave me something I've cherished ever since," William said.
"And that is?" Max said. "My belief in the kindness of strangers and my faith in my fellow man," William said.
"Ah," Max said. "And the third?" "The experience of getting to see a movie by the greatest animator of all time on the big screen, at last," William said.
"A few months ago, I got to go see Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the big screen, which was an awakening for me," he continued.
"I saw many things in that movie that made me reconsider my writing style, so I decided to take a break from writing for a while. This was so I could ponder the things I had seen. Since then, I've proudly referred to Ponyo as my favorite movie," William finished.
"Ponyo is a pretty name," Max said. "What does it mean?" "From what I understand, 'Ponyo' is Japanese onomatopoeia for something squishy, such as a jellyfish," William said.
"Well, I like the name, no matter what it means," Max said. "May I use it?" "Do it, if you wish," William said.
"William, this is Ahsoka," Ahsoka Tano said. "We're ready in Kitchen Stadium." "I'm on my way, Snips," William said. "Raymer, out."
William picked the PADD up from the desk and stood up. "William, do you mind if I continue the questioning en route to the ceremony?" Max asked.
"Sure," William said. "Why are you so obsessed with weddings? I scanned your portfolio when I landed in your backyard, and I noted that 80% of them have a wedding—or at the very least, a marriage proposal," Max said. "Why is that?"
"Well, it all began when I attended my brother's wedding to his first wife," William said. "I was so struck by the pageantry and the emotions contained in that simple ceremony that I was totally changed. That is why."
"I see," Max said. "One last question. If you had romantic feelings for any C.T.S. character, who would it be, and why?"
"Now that is none of your business, Max," William said. "There are still some things in a person's life that should remain private."
"I see," Max said. William smiled. "Max, I hope you're not offended by that," he said. "I am not," Max said. "However, I asked the question, not to embarrass you, but to get to know you."
"That is a story for another day," William said. "Now, we have a wedding to perform." William walked into the Simudeck.
::TBC::