A few days after i had returned from Miami i was in the middle of my boxing class. I was sparring with one of the other students and was holding my own fairly well. I was moving my feet, keeping my hands up and basically doing all of the things they teach you on the first day so you don't kill yourself. My partner was a lot bigger and faster than me, and his punches hurt like hell. I stood my ground and waited patiently. He threw a left hook and i was able to deflect it. A right jab and i blocked it again. He was beginning to get irritated. I simply continued to dodge and move. The angrier he got the less control were in his strikes which gave me a few openings to get some good shots in. He threw a haymaker at me and i was able to dodge it and follow through with a hard right hook to his jaw. He stumbled a little and took a few steps back.
"TIme!" Yelled the instructor. "Good job Duncan. Tim you have got to calm down in there." He threw to my partner. He answered with a low whatever and left the ring. I really enjoyed the class. It was a great workout and i was able to get out some of my aggression. My instructor helped me remove my gloves and i headed over to my bag. My phone had a couple of missed calls from Jennette which i was pleasantly surprised with. We had texted a few times and had some really good phone conversations. She was shopping her show around and we were both hoping someone would pick it up. I called her back on my way to my car.
"Hey Jennette! How are you?"
"I'm good. Thanks for calling me back." She said sounding pleased to hear from me.
"Of course! Everything okay?"
"Everything is great. I have a meeting with CBS tomorrow, they want to talk to me about my script."
"That's wonderful. You really do deserve it. Your script is great." I told her for what felt like the thousandth time. This was her first real writing project and she was understandably very nervous about it.
"You think we could meet up and work on it a little tonight?"
"Sure no trouble. Why don't you just come over to my place. I can make us dinner and we can go over the whole thing page by page." I suggested.
"That sounds great! Around what time?"
"Well i'm heading back to my apartment now from my boxing class. Why don't you come by around 7?"
"Alright i'll be there. Thanks so much Duncan."
I gave her my address and hung up. I was really proud of her. Writing and putting yourself out there is hard enough as it is. Even harder when it's something as personal as Jennette's script. I got back to my building and saw that James was already at his desk.
"Hey James. How are you?"
"I'm good Mr Bryant! You were missed on Sunday."
"I'm sorry about that. Was in Miami for the weekend. I went right after the wedding."
"Did you have a good time?"
"I did. Very good and relaxing trip."
"I'm glad to hear. I've never seen such a high strung young man as you. You don't even have kids yet!" He chided. I laughed.
"Not yet. Probably not for a little while." I admitted.
"If you did, you probably couldn't make your 2 o clock in the morning gym runs."
"Oh and what would i do without those? You know they're the highlight of my day?"
"They would have to be. The way you run out of here like a bat out of hell, you would think you were meeting some fine young thing!"
"Nope just an old punching bag." He shook his head.
"To each their own. If i were you, doing as well as you are; I'd enjoy it more. These young ladies wouldn't stand a chance i tell you."
"I enjoy myself plenty James. Speaking of which i have a guest coming by in a little bit. Try not to give her too much of a hard time." I joked.
"No chance Mr Bryant. Few pleasures come with this job. The ones i have i will enjoy thoroughly. " I laughed as i made my way to the elevator. I got to my apartment and took a quick shower. I started messing around in the kitchen to get the ball rolling on dinner. Right on time i got a call on the intercom letting me know Jennette had arrived. A couple of minutes later she was standing at my door looking remarkably cute in a short pleated black skirt and grey top. She gave me a hug on her way in and i gave her a tour of the place. We were standing on my balcony enjoying the amazing view.
"This place is great Duncan."
"Thanks! I'm glad you think so. Shall we begin?" I asked her as i sat down on the table i had set up for us to work. She pulled out her script and sat next to me as we began running through it. We didn't have much to change since she had gone through it with a fine tooth comb so many times already. I knew this was more of a confidence booster than anything else.
"They would be stupid to turn this down. I really think you've got a hit show here." I told her as i walked to the kitchen to check on dinner. She followed close behind me.
"I saw yours the other night. The first episode was really really good." She complimented me.
"Thanks. I hope you keep watching! Get those ratings up!" i joked.
"Of course i will. You're really talented. What's the hardest thing for you writing these shows?" She asked me as i pulled the chicken out of the oven.
"Honestly it's the thinking ten steps ahead and still focusing on each individual episode. You want to set things up going forward but you want everything to be able to stand on it's own."
"You have the hang of it yet?"
"Nope not even close." We laughed. I put the food on plates and motioned Jennette to follow me outside so we could eat out on the balcony.
