National Novel Writing Month – Snippet from “Reality & Richard’s Curry.”

This is a quick snippet from the NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) novel I’m working on, Reality & Richard’s Curry.

Keep in mind that NaNoWriMo is all about producing raw, unchecked wordage. You jump right in and grind away at telling a story, fast and crazy like.

Therefore, this snippet has not yet been polished, but thought I’d share a little dialogue-scene with you all. Especially since I missed Poetry Saturday this weekend.

(scene background: a small group of artists and artists’ friends sitting at a diner, evening).

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“I want to be a Zen monk, but I like beer too much. And pretzels.”
They were eating at Murphy’s Diner. Evening light pooled on the faux wood tabletops.
“What?” Michael Trent looked up.
“To be a Zen monk.” Pan added, “You can only eat rice and water.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“It is. Seriously. In the monasteries, they make you eat rice and water.”
“No bread?” Richard asked, becoming interested.
“None.”
“I seriously don’t think that’s true.” Michael Trent repeated, checking to be sure his reuben had enough sauerkraut.
“It is. You’ll never miss something you’ve never had. They say, if you’ve never tasted cheesecake, you won’t miss it. So, they cut it out.”
“They cut it out completely?” Michael Trent took a bite of his sandwich.
“Yeah.”
“Bullshit.” Kevin said, leaning forward with a curled grin. “I’ve never banged Marita and I miss it all the time.”
“Think about food. About cheesecake. Or curry.” Pan’s face brightened. “Think about curry. Would you miss it if you didn’t know curry was good?”
“I love curry.” Richard added.
“Would you? Miss it, that is?”
“I guess.”
“I hate curry.” Kevin said with a grunt, guzzling his coffee.
“In lieu of being a Zen monk… I’ll take cheesecake and curry.” Richard said triumphantly.
“Sometimes we have to make choices based on what we love.”
“I just want to make a living doing what I love. Enough to pay the bills. It’s not too much to ask, really.” Michael Trent announced as he chewed. It had always bothered his dad when he talked with his mouth full, but he did it anyway, definitely, insanely.
“I just want tomorrow,” Julian said.