My sister’s visit -1

 

As some of you guys know, my sister, Savannah, showed up for a surprise visit last week. 

And, as most of you guys know, there is never a dull moment when she is around. 

When I tell people she is my full-blooded sister, with the same mother and same father, they can’t believe it.  Mostly because we look nothing alike.  She is long and lean like mom and pale and blond like dad and his family.  My dad’s family is from Northern England and Scotland and Ireland, so that accounts for their light skin tone.  I am neither pale nor blond, instead I got my mom’s coloring.  Mom’s ancestors are mostly from Southern England and Germany, and she also has some Native Simerican blood thrown in too.

Growing up I was in awe of her.  I thought she was superwoman.  I guess to a certain extent I still am and still do.  I keep wondering if I cut her open if I’d find wires and bolts.

She’s survived having bolts of electricity shot through her, been burnt by fire, and been pierced by poison darts.  I keep trying to check myself to see if I’m made of the same stuff, and so far I don’t see it. 

“You wanna get there on time right?”

“Um, yeah,” I told her, “but in one piece.”

We walked into Waylon’s at about 6:45.  The sun was just about to go down. 

I decided to liven the atmosphere up by getting on the drums. 

Pretty soon a few people started watching and then I called her up. 

To my surprise she took a turn on the guitar. 

I was kind of surprised that Bianca knew who my sister was.  I didn’t know she read Interview with a Mummy.  But then again who didn’t read that book (besides me, of course, and I didn’t really need to, lol.  And then again, she shares living quarters with a vampire, so she has to know something about the paranormal.

Meanwhile, I had my hands full with Lilly-Bo Chique, who asked again for an autograph. 

Lola again

 

This is my workplace, the Plumbob Pictures Backlot.  This is the dream factory and the nightmare haven.  It actually doesn’t seem that big.  But it’s actually huge.

When I tell people my parents were musicians and I’m a lead actor, they’re a little surprised.  But when I tell them my parents compose music for movies and television, then they understand why I do what I do.  It begins to make sense for them. 

You all have to understand, we are a creative family, first and foremost. 

That’s my dad’s mom, Jamie Jolina.  Even though she was a doctor, I’ve heard she was a good enough guitar player to play professionally. 

That’s my dad’s half-sister, Margaret.  What did she do?  She was only the most accomplished writer in Sunset Valley history.  She wrote twenty-six novels, mostly of the science fiction variety.  She’s most famous for the Moon Colony series of books.  These are the same books my boss wants to write a screenplay based on.

 

This is mom’s dad, Sir Edward Bellingham.  From the stuff my sister found, he was a jack-of-all-trades sort.  He painted, he wrote, he traveled the globe.  He was a photojournalist who went missing when mom was a little girl. 

 

So I had a little get-together at my house to celebrate my promotion to lead actor.  Of course I had Kyra over…

…Devin and Jupiter too, although I have NO idea why Jupiter wore a tux…

…and of course there was Kaydee (Devin’s GF)…

I introduced Kyra to Silvah Spencer, and in no time they were exchanging digits and advice about the best places to shop in Bridgeport. 

And then… then there was Lola.  She showed up to the party late and would. not. leave. 

“Sebastian, I would like to ask something of you,” she began as I munched on my pb&j sandwich. 

She looked pretty distant as she finished her plate.  “I’d like to ask this in private, if you don’t mind.”

“Sebastian, I’ve heard that you play a mean guitar just like your father, and my band’s guitarist quit last week…so, I was wondering…”

She took out her drum set and started playing in the middle of my bedroom while I painted her picture.  If mom’s painting lessons have stuck, this picture should turn out pretty nice. 

“I was wondering,” she continued above the din of her drums, “if you could replace him.”

I sighed.  I told her I’d think about it. 

“So, did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yah, the sandwich was delish.  Is that gourmet peanut butter?”

 

She looked away for a moment.  “So, have you thought about it?”

“Thought about what?”

“My proposition – to have you join my band.”

She stared blankly at me as I explained, “Lola, I can’t do it.”

“What do you mean you can’t do it?”

“I’m already signed on for a major movie project.  I’m sorry, Lola.”

Having to say no to her was not easy for me.  But it was the only thing I could tell her. 

Emmy’s Birthday

 

And now for what was sure to be the party of the year so far, Emmy Starr’s birthday.  In fact the pics from it made it to Celebrity magazine. 

My invite to this ultra-exclusive shindig came from my boss’s PA, Lise-Marie Granier, who basically commanded me to show up. 

The guests started arriving in Alan and Emmy’s basement speakeasy at 6:30.  Silvah Spencer was first. 

Even the bartender she hired joined in.  I have to say, Emmy looked radiant in her gown.  I noted also that I was standing next to Kaydee Jansing and Silvah Spencer, Matthew Hamming’s former and current girlfriends. 

Daniela Swan was the last to arrive.  She’s a newcomer to Plumbob Pictures. 

Their speakeasy didn’t have enough seats so some folks stood up and ate their German chocolate cake. 

I don’t know the history between Tiara and Emmy but they really do not like each other.  I’m guessing it’s because they’re in direct competition for film roles, with Emmy winning most of the juicy ones. 

While I was grabbing a slice of cake, I overheard Kristy and Matthew discussing Steve Glue … at the party!  “You know, Matthew, you have the physical part down, but you really should be putting more emphasis on some of your lines.  You’re delivering them like a robot.”

Meanwhile, I found myself eating cake next to Alan Stanley, head of the studio.  He is one person in whose presence I still get nervous.  “I’ve watched you grow during your time here, young man,” he said, “I’m really proud of you.  The Zombies movie should be fabulous, with you starring in it.”

“Well,” I told him, “I’ll do my best.”

A few hours later guests began to file out of the Stanley place. 

Meanwhile, Daniela Swan showed up at my house.  “Sebastian, is it?”

“Um, hi,” I said meekly.  She was very intriguing-looking with dark hair, pale skin, and gray eyes.  I quietly wondered if she was a vampire.

“We have a scene tomorrow,” she reminded me, “and I wanted to, you know, get acquainted.”

I tried to let her down easily.  When she asked for an autograph I gave it to her, and then I reminded her, “It’s pretty late and we have an early shoot in the morning … see you then?”

She sighed.  “I guess.”

The day after

 

I got to the studio at 11 and of course, I was late.  I grabbed myself a cup of coffee and took a seat in the office.

My boss arrived … on her motorcycle. 

So did Steve Glue, otherwise known as Matthew Hamming. 

And the latest “Glue Girl” – and no, it’s not Matthew’s real-life squeeze, Silvah Spencer, who turned the role down after she got pregnant, nor is it Stanley’s girl, Emmy Starr.  It’s this woman, Croatian-born model Nadia Maric.  Her accent is really thick, and I think she plays a Russian spy.  The latest rumor is that in real life she is the current romantic interest … of one Kristin Verhoeven.   I’m even told that she rewrote the role to fit Maric. 

So when I get there, my boss tells me that she wants to start filming on the “Zombies” movie.  So I asked her, did she finish the script?

“I had a backup on my computer at home,” she said. 

“How are you going to do two movies at once, you’re doing the Steve Glue project too?”

“I’m head writer for the latest Steve Glue movie.  I’m not the director, Stanley is.”

I nodded.  Stanley directing?  “I thought he was head of the studio.”

“He is.  But before he got promoted to studio head, he was a director.  He and Emmy Starr hooked up while they were doing the “Quantum Malefactor” movie together.” 

I shook my head.  “I can’t say I kept up with the movie business that much back at home.”

“Why’d you get into acting?”

I shook my head.  “Not sure, actually.  I think I caught the bug when I played Romeo in my school production of Romeo & Juliet.”

“I hear you play a mean guitar.”

“Well my dad was a guitar maestro.  Bought me my first one as soon as I turned teen.  When my sister and I were growing up, he used to play our lullabies with it.”

Oh and you HAVE to see Emmy Starr’s new outfit.

Not my taste but I guess the studio wants her to look a little older since she just had a baby.