Piecing Together

Unlike Bob, who got to meet Alex firsthand, Robert had only been left to piece things that he gathered to form his impression.

From what he has pre-gathered so far, Alex was a creative talent whose works seem attuned to helping out directors.

The boy has made his picture books that contain an engaging story and incorporated sketches. For a filmmaker, a film script was better than a narrated story. What truly gained Robert's appreciation from the picture book was the sketches.

Everything that the boy drew seems targeted on how to aid the eye to how the story should be viewed.

Forcing perspectives and sifting through a panoramic point of views could be considered a filmographer's work but the boy seems to have done that through sketches alone.

He remembered Bob telling him that aside from the Back to the Future storybooks, the boy still has a picture book at hand and was even giving it finishing touches while they talked.

Bob only saw the title Top Gun but it only fueled Robert to be curious about what it is and the kid who made it.

He had experienced himself how helpful the picture books could be and the fact that there was another movie-viable story only rose Robert's curiosity towards the boy he had never met.

If he and the boy could collaborate further, then perhaps they could do a lot of great things.

Through his continuous urgings and request, the meet was finally arranged and Robert finally got his own firsthand impression of Alex.

Just from the boy's ease at giving out his perspective and drive for making the time-travel story, Robert could not help but feel a bit indignant.

The boy could clearly be a helpful addition to the crew and yet Mr. Creed always makes excuses to explain why the boy couldn't be present.

-----

"Mr. Creed, like I told you, having your grandson's suggestion would be a big help to the making of our film." Robert could only voice out his dissatisfaction once again. "It's great that you want to surprise the boy and all but he is clearly a vital asset that could prove integral in our progress and how we approach these films moving forward."

Of course, old Creed knew the benefits of having Alex on set and had long wanted to cancel his 'surprise plan' but the unexpected development of things held him back.

Creed Comics had a frightening growth trend that Sullivan feared disrupting the rhythm that his grandson is rowing things into.

"You know, it's not just about keeping it a surprise." Sullivan could only sigh and explain to the indignant director. "Alex is too busy and preoccupied with other things that you should be thankful that I finally freed up his schedule for the next couple of days."

"I know that the boy has school matters but it has already been months since the school break, what could a kid even be busy about during the summer fun time?" Robert was confused and needed clarification.

"It is quite complicated to explain but..." Sullivan could only come clean since there was no point denying it now. Still, he wanted to do it euphemistically. "... don't you remember how you and Bob were discussing about a comic book during one of our breaks?"

"Yes." Bob answered this time as he was the comic book enthusiast between the two. "It's those Volume Books that has been raging for a couple of days now... wait... you don't mean...?"

"I'm afraid it is." Sullivan could only nod while inwardly amused at Bob's belated realization.

"What do those comic books have to do about it?" Robert still hasn't caught on though.

"The publisher is called Creed Comics and the creator of those stories is Alex, Alexander Creed." Sullivan wasn't even hiding his amusement now as he saw realization dawn on the duo. "Oh! To save us all the trouble. The reason why I didn't tell you earlier is because you didn't ask."

"Alex... Alexander Creed... Creed... Creed Comics." Robert was slow to the realization so he was still defending some things. "...but the name inputted in the screenwriter list and script is Alex Creed."

"Well, I always mention him as Alex to you guys and Bob might have assumed it to be only that which led to that situation." Sullivan was now chuckling at these unfortunate scenarios leading in on each other. It was a good thing that he didn't bother to correct that typo yet.

"No wonder." Bob was much quicker to cope but he was anywhere near calm. "I even joked in my head that Creed Comics might be yours, Mr. Creed. But you were always busy with pre-production that I consider the possibility to be ridiculous."

Curious Bob only knew that their producer had transformed his adult film company into Creed Pictures. He didn't think to check that he had other industries.

"Yeah, I was busy with film stuff that's why I left it for Alex... uhm..." Sullivan decided to interchange lest they misunderstand again. "...Alexander to manage. He was busy because has to go through editorial work, survey plannings, title expansions, and the recent Volume Book release. He is relatively free now so I manage to pull him along."

"I'm afraid that he'll make too much money that he'll paint the fingers of our accountants green from all the counting." The old grandpa didn't forget to share his grandson's glory and exaggerate the already staggering success.

Rob and Bob collectively felt a blow to their psyches. What had they done to deserve such a boastful smacking? It wasn't their fault that they weren't that scarily successful when they were kids.

"Gosh! Everyone in the crew was already wowed that a 9-year-old wrote Back to the Future, would they be as shocked as us when they found out more about what that 9-year-old can do?" Bob wiped his non-existent sweat that formed from the collapse of his worldview towards children. He was much more informed of Creed Comics' status in the industry and his respect for little Alexander grew.

As for Robert, he realized his pieced-out impression on Alex seems to only be a few pieces from a puzzle of 10,000 pieces.

"Sure enough, if picture books were just the start then he could surely move to picture-filled comic books." Poor Rob muttered to try and make sense of things. "To think that it would move on from that and even involve running a business."

Seeing the Rob and Bob duo trying hard to stabilize themselves, Sullivan's mischief seems to have been awakened and pieced some things together as well.

He was just considering whether to use the Alexander lethal weapon or not earlier. It would seem that his inadvertent guinea pigs proved his conjecture and were looking forward to who he would use it on next.

Since he couldn't prank his indifferent but handsome-faced grandson anymore, old Creed felt that he should find targets to channel that habit into.