I feel like this chapter’s missing something, hopefully I'll figure it out when I do edits.
The fluffy book Booker reads is Ilona Andrews’ Clean Sweep, and Quỳnh N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Nile’s shirt from Harriett’s Bookshop (https://conversationswithharriett.bigcartel.com/)
*
6. Booker
“A gift of God / May sear unready fingers” “Drowning people / Sometimes die / Fighting their rescuers” --Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower
“She left a sticky note pointing at two quotes,” Booker says, baffled. A package had arrived in today’s mail, with a sticker saying Black Girls Read that could only be from Nile.
He flips back and forth between the two bookmarked pages. Quỳnh taps her finger against the quote about drowning. “It could be for me,” she notes.
“I don’t think so.”
“Me, too.” He shoots her a dirty look, and she chuckles. “The gift of God one is you though. It’s like that conversation you had with Andy.”
“Maybe it’s for both of us.”
“Can we read it together then?”
“That sounds good to me.” Booker feels a soft fondness in his heart when she smiles at his reply.
“We could read it out loud to each other. Oh, should we send her something in return?”
“Are you going to send her a book now?”
“No. The book club’s your thing. She and I will travel.” A devilish smile graces her face. “Although I could send her a collar for you, as a gift from her Auntie Quỳnh.”
Booker really can’t tell if Quỳnh is fucking with him or not. To be on the safe side, when he texts his thanks to Nile, he also asks her to ignore any strange gifts she may receive from any of his friends.
To which she replies, Oh, I know about asshole friends lol. You love them anyway right?
Booker looks over at Quỳnh, napping in the sun.
yeah, he says. I’m glad the two of you finally met.
Me, too. Then, Just tell me when, and I’ll make plans to come by. Or you can come visit me.
*
Quỳnh reads out loud while Booker does the household chores, Booker when Quỳnh’s in the bathtub, and they alternate when cooking. He can’t remember the last time he read a book aloud, and there’s something intimate about it – sometimes, it’s even frightening given the near future the book describes. They each take to having a lighter book to read; Booker a book with magical inns, alien despots, and werewolves;, and Quỳnh another N.K. Jemisin book. “This one’s from a much less bleak series,” she says, “plus the reviews says it has cosmic sex. I could use some pointers on that.”
“Go with God,” he replies straight-faced.
*
The meaning of the quotes Nile chose becomes clear as he reads. He texts her, I think Lauren calls Earthseed the books of the “Living” for a reason. Andy was right, I’ve been doing a shit job of living. I’m trying to do better.
He sees her typing for a long time. Then nothing. He tells himself she’s busy doing something else that’s important. I’m proud of you Book.
Quỳnh peaks at the texts over his shoulder. “Awww, she thinks you’re a good boy.” She pats his head.
He playfully swats her hand away, but doesn’t stop her when she tries practicing braiding it.
*
He texts Andy next, Nile has me reading this book. It made me think of our conversation about the Fifth Season and living. Have you read it?
Late at night, Andy replies, I have a copy on my phone. Sounds like she’s planning a group book club. ?
Do you think everyone would come?
🤷🏻♂️ Only way to find out is to ask.
You’re no help.
Maybe a vid call if you’re worried a brawl will break out.
*
“If I did a video call with everyone, would you like to be in it?” Booker asks.
Quỳnh continues practicing walking in high heels across the living room, touching the sofa every now and then for balance. “Thank you, but not yet. Can I be off screen though, listening?”
“If you promise not to make me laugh too much. They’ll ask who’s with me.”
“Why your pet cat of course.”
“I don’t have a cat.”
“Yet.”
She carefully walks to him. “You can use me as support you know,” he murmurs, offering his arm.
She places her hand on top of his forearm. “I know. Do you?” He makes a quizzical noise. “These books, these conversations, are all a lifeline to you Sébastien. You can hold on, and let them pull you to shore.”
Ah, the other quote Nile had highlighted about drowning people. “What if it’s all different though?”
Quỳnh huffs. “That’s also in the book too: the only lasting truth is Change. I’ve learned that too. No matter how slow, time wears away every structure men have tried to cage me in. You can break free of your cage too; we can let them pull us to shore.”
*
The next time we meet, I want my hands to be ready, he writes Nile. He and Quỳnh are at the beach again, watching the waves roll in.
Speaking of hands, I don’t want the only thing in my hand to be a gun for a milennium. I’m trying to think of other ways I can make change, she replies. What’s a good hobby for an immortal n00b? He gives a couple of suggestions, ranging from knitting to moonshine. What if I learn to fly? I mean, I can’t die, so I can do wild shit like hangglide, parachute, base jump…
I haven’t tried base jumping. Let me know if you do, or if you want to learn to fly a plane.
You got it. 👍
*
After they finish reading the novel, Booker feels emotionally hungover. Meanwhile, Quỳnh immediately starts the sequel. As Booker knits a mermaid themed shawl for Quỳnh, he says, “You didn’t have to be as kind to me as you did. I did shoot Andy once she was mortal.”
“And you didn’t have to let me stay with you. We’re together in this, and I’ve found…” Her gaze goes distant, and she falls out of the handstand she was practicing against the wall. “When someone hands me my metro pass I dropped, or pays for my coffee, when someone meets my gaze and smiles. Those small things; those small, kind things; they help.”
“It’s hard to remember them,” Booker admits. “Maybe if I wrote them down I could look back at them when things are hard.”
“I like that idea.” She tries for another handstand, following along with the video on her phone.
Their kitchen fridge is unadorned, no photos or flyer clippings. Booker gets a small whiteboard for it, and he writes one good thing on it at the end of the week, a blessing of sort for the coming one. Quỳnh adds hers underneath. It’s a small touch, but it feels homey.
*
It takes three months to get everyone together, due to logistics and an impassioned request from Andy to include the sequel in the book club. But they’re all on the video call, and while it’s not the same as being physically together, but it’s so much better than being apart. Andy and Nile are together on one screen, Joe and Nicky on separate ones, Booker on the couch, and Quỳnh out of sight and listening in from the kitchen.
“Thanks for coming,” Booker says.
“Of course we were gonna come,” Joe retorts. Nicky nods.
“I did not expect a group book club when I sent Booker Parable of the Sower,” Nile says bemused. “So, had you guys read Octavia before?” She’s wearing a shirt reading ZORA OCTAVIA ALICE TONI.
It’s a good night. There is eye-rolling, long-standing jokes along with the occasional backstory for Nile, a debate about the usefulness of religion, and even new jokes (“I said cargo cults, not cargo pants!”).
“So, since this was Nile’s idea,” Andy declares, “can I pick a movie next? I’ve always wanted to watch The Fast and the Furious.”
“That dumb movie?” Booker says dumb-founded.
“It’s not dumb!” Nicky cuts in. “It’s a masterpiece!”
“The whole Rock and Vin Diesel thing is pretty funny…” Nile tells Andy.
“What about a documentary?” Joe offers.
In the end, Andy wins, as she always does.
*
The next morning, as Booker and Quỳnh make crêpes, he says, “After the movie night, I’m thinking I could invite everyone to lunch.” Dinner seems too big an ask right now.
“That sounds good.”
“Will you be there?”
She kisses his scruffy cheek. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. But I have one thing to do first; would you mind letting me have the house to myself for two days?”
“Of course, just let me know.” He’s curious what she wants it for, but he’ll find out eventually. Time is on his side.
“I will.”
He sends Nile his copy of Parable of the Talents, scribbled through with his notes. On a lime green sticky note, he writes, this one is my favorite, and places it beside the one about kindness and love.
Andy, Joe, and Nicky; and now Quỳnh and Nile too; theirs is a love worth fighting for. There are still days he wonders if this long life of his a curse, but it would be even more of one if he had no one to share it with. One day soon, he will invite them all to dinner, and together they will eat and laugh, and tell stories. They will do this in other places he can’t even imagine yet, maybe even in outer space and under new suns one day, but they will do it together until they can no more. And even then – outliving them all, still keeping them together – there will still be the stories.
“Kindness eases Change Love quiets fear.” --Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Talents
*
This concludes Booker's story! The epilogue will tie up some loose ends with Quynh. :)
Books for Booker 7/8
The fluffy book Booker reads is Ilona Andrews’ Clean Sweep, and Quỳnh N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Nile’s shirt from Harriett’s Bookshop (https://conversationswithharriett.bigcartel.com/)
*
6. Booker
“She left a sticky note pointing at two quotes,” Booker says, baffled. A package had arrived in today’s mail, with a sticker saying Black Girls Read that could only be from Nile.
He flips back and forth between the two bookmarked pages. Quỳnh taps her finger against the quote about drowning. “It could be for me,” she notes.
“I don’t think so.”
“Me, too.” He shoots her a dirty look, and she chuckles. “The gift of God one is you though. It’s like that conversation you had with Andy.”
“Maybe it’s for both of us.”
“Can we read it together then?”
“That sounds good to me.” Booker feels a soft fondness in his heart when she smiles at his reply.
“We could read it out loud to each other. Oh, should we send her something in return?”
“Are you going to send her a book now?”
“No. The book club’s your thing. She and I will travel.” A devilish smile graces her face. “Although I could send her a collar for you, as a gift from her Auntie Quỳnh.”
Booker really can’t tell if Quỳnh is fucking with him or not. To be on the safe side, when he texts his thanks to Nile, he also asks her to ignore any strange gifts she may receive from any of his friends.
To which she replies, Oh, I know about asshole friends lol. You love them anyway right?
Booker looks over at Quỳnh, napping in the sun.
yeah, he says. I’m glad the two of you finally met.
Me, too. Then, Just tell me when, and I’ll make plans to come by. Or you can come visit me.
*
Quỳnh reads out loud while Booker does the household chores, Booker when Quỳnh’s in the bathtub, and they alternate when cooking. He can’t remember the last time he read a book aloud, and there’s something intimate about it – sometimes, it’s even frightening given the near future the book describes. They each take to having a lighter book to read; Booker a book with magical inns, alien despots, and werewolves;, and Quỳnh another N.K. Jemisin book. “This one’s from a much less bleak series,” she says, “plus the reviews says it has cosmic sex. I could use some pointers on that.”
“Go with God,” he replies straight-faced.
*
The meaning of the quotes Nile chose becomes clear as he reads. He texts her, I think Lauren calls Earthseed the books of the “Living” for a reason. Andy was right, I’ve been doing a shit job of living. I’m trying to do better.
He sees her typing for a long time. Then nothing. He tells himself she’s busy doing something else that’s important. I’m proud of you Book.
Quỳnh peaks at the texts over his shoulder. “Awww, she thinks you’re a good boy.” She pats his head.
He playfully swats her hand away, but doesn’t stop her when she tries practicing braiding it.
*
He texts Andy next, Nile has me reading this book. It made me think of our conversation about the Fifth Season and living. Have you read it?
Late at night, Andy replies, I have a copy on my phone. Sounds like she’s planning a group book club. ?
Do you think everyone would come?
🤷🏻♂️ Only way to find out is to ask.
You’re no help.
Maybe a vid call if you’re worried a brawl will break out.
*
“If I did a video call with everyone, would you like to be in it?” Booker asks.
Quỳnh continues practicing walking in high heels across the living room, touching the sofa every now and then for balance. “Thank you, but not yet. Can I be off screen though, listening?”
“If you promise not to make me laugh too much. They’ll ask who’s with me.”
“Why your pet cat of course.”
“I don’t have a cat.”
“Yet.”
She carefully walks to him. “You can use me as support you know,” he murmurs, offering his arm.
She places her hand on top of his forearm. “I know. Do you?” He makes a quizzical noise. “These books, these conversations, are all a lifeline to you Sébastien. You can hold on, and let them pull you to shore.”
Ah, the other quote Nile had highlighted about drowning people. “What if it’s all different though?”
Quỳnh huffs. “That’s also in the book too: the only lasting truth is Change. I’ve learned that too. No matter how slow, time wears away every structure men have tried to cage me in. You can break free of your cage too; we can let them pull us to shore.”
*
The next time we meet, I want my hands to be ready, he writes Nile. He and Quỳnh are at the beach again, watching the waves roll in.
Speaking of hands, I don’t want the only thing in my hand to be a gun for a milennium. I’m trying to think of other ways I can make change, she replies. What’s a good hobby for an immortal n00b? He gives a couple of suggestions, ranging from knitting to moonshine. What if I learn to fly? I mean, I can’t die, so I can do wild shit like hangglide, parachute, base jump…
I haven’t tried base jumping. Let me know if you do, or if you want to learn to fly a plane.
You got it. 👍
*
After they finish reading the novel, Booker feels emotionally hungover. Meanwhile, Quỳnh immediately starts the sequel. As Booker knits a mermaid themed shawl for Quỳnh, he says, “You didn’t have to be as kind to me as you did. I did shoot Andy once she was mortal.”
“And you didn’t have to let me stay with you. We’re together in this, and I’ve found…” Her gaze goes distant, and she falls out of the handstand she was practicing against the wall. “When someone hands me my metro pass I dropped, or pays for my coffee, when someone meets my gaze and smiles. Those small things; those small, kind things; they help.”
“It’s hard to remember them,” Booker admits. “Maybe if I wrote them down I could look back at them when things are hard.”
“I like that idea.” She tries for another handstand, following along with the video on her phone.
Their kitchen fridge is unadorned, no photos or flyer clippings. Booker gets a small whiteboard for it, and he writes one good thing on it at the end of the week, a blessing of sort for the coming one. Quỳnh adds hers underneath. It’s a small touch, but it feels homey.
*
It takes three months to get everyone together, due to logistics and an impassioned request from Andy to include the sequel in the book club. But they’re all on the video call, and while it’s not the same as being physically together, but it’s so much better than being apart. Andy and Nile are together on one screen, Joe and Nicky on separate ones, Booker on the couch, and Quỳnh out of sight and listening in from the kitchen.
“Thanks for coming,” Booker says.
“Of course we were gonna come,” Joe retorts. Nicky nods.
“I did not expect a group book club when I sent Booker Parable of the Sower,” Nile says bemused. “So, had you guys read Octavia before?” She’s wearing a shirt reading ZORA OCTAVIA ALICE TONI.
It’s a good night. There is eye-rolling, long-standing jokes along with the occasional backstory for Nile, a debate about the usefulness of religion, and even new jokes (“I said cargo cults, not cargo pants!”).
“So, since this was Nile’s idea,” Andy declares, “can I pick a movie next? I’ve always wanted to watch The Fast and the Furious.”
“That dumb movie?” Booker says dumb-founded.
“It’s not dumb!” Nicky cuts in. “It’s a masterpiece!”
“The whole Rock and Vin Diesel thing is pretty funny…” Nile tells Andy.
“What about a documentary?” Joe offers.
In the end, Andy wins, as she always does.
*
The next morning, as Booker and Quỳnh make crêpes, he says, “After the movie night, I’m thinking I could invite everyone to lunch.” Dinner seems too big an ask right now.
“That sounds good.”
“Will you be there?”
She kisses his scruffy cheek. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. But I have one thing to do first; would you mind letting me have the house to myself for two days?”
“Of course, just let me know.” He’s curious what she wants it for, but he’ll find out eventually. Time is on his side.
“I will.”
He sends Nile his copy of Parable of the Talents, scribbled through with his notes. On a lime green sticky note, he writes, this one is my favorite, and places it beside the one about kindness and love.
Andy, Joe, and Nicky; and now Quỳnh and Nile too; theirs is a love worth fighting for. There are still days he wonders if this long life of his a curse, but it would be even more of one if he had no one to share it with. One day soon, he will invite them all to dinner, and together they will eat and laugh, and tell stories. They will do this in other places he can’t even imagine yet, maybe even in outer space and under new suns one day, but they will do it together until they can no more. And even then – outliving them all, still keeping them together – there will still be the stories.
*
This concludes Booker's story! The epilogue will tie up some loose ends with Quynh. :)