Chp 5 : Fame?

The day goes by and Sunday comes. A family of three in Beverly Hills just having breakfast in a living room, the child of this family, a 9-year-old girl was reading a newspaper and see this, her parents treated this as normal occurrences as there is no entertainment like smartphones or video games this era.

Saw his daughter seemed fascinated by reading a newspaper, the father felt curious and asked his daughter. "What's on the news sweetheart? I've never seen you such having those interest reading newspaper."

The daughter heard her father saying that immediately feel irritated, "Dad, I'm concentrating on reading this story, you know it's really hard to read in the newspaper".

Hearing that, her father didn't feel angry at all and became more curious about his daughter's behavior, "Okay sweetheart, I will just wait for you finish the story and then you tell me what this story about" her father just smiled after saying that.

The mother saw the father-daughter interaction just smiled and also became interested in what her daughter read. A moment passed and the girl has read the story with a happy and frustrated expression on her face, she saw her father became curious, she began narrating the story to her parents

"This short story is the best that I have read mom, dad. It's exciting and funny. I wish I got those toys mom, dad. I like Woody, Buzz, and Bo Peep, too bad it has no illustration on it and this story still has a continuation and won't be released next week. But dad, newspaper story is usually different each week and I'm afraid I won't get the continuation next week."

"Yes sweetie, the story is really great and I really like those Buzz Lightyear characters, it reminds me of my favorite movie <Star Wars>. Don't worry honey, I will call L.A. Times and make sure they will release it next week. I got some friends in there and I'm sure with my reputation they will fulfill my request."

"Thanks, dad you are the best!!".

And this situation occurred at least in a thousand households in L.A. and a few parts of the States that subscribing the L.A. Times.

Monday, one of the meeting rooms, LA Times Headquarters

Board directors, chairman from each newspaper section, and shareholders were having a monthly meeting and after reaching the end of the meeting, some of the board directors were discussing some topics that recently occurred.

"I heard our sales from Sunday's post has increased at least 20% from before and one of the articles became a hot topic and got a good mouth to mouth reputation along with the readers. More so, many of the customers want this article to be present at next week column. Did anybody know about this?"

At this moment, William F. Thomas, the chief editor answered one of the board director's questions. "That would be a kid section Coolum Mr. Bill, there is a young boy who wrote the good story and I decided to publish it in the newspaper. And my judgment is correct, this boy's story not only good for children but also adults. And don't worry Mr. Bill, there will be this story on children column in the next 6 weeks."

"Did you ask this kid to write another story after the story finished?" He asked. "Yes, I make sure to get this newspaper priority if he wants to write another story, so if he wrote for another newspaper, we can sue them."

"How about book publisher? Did you also request this?"

"No sir, this is kids story, after all, few of them want to publish it and if they did, the popularity is incomparable than put it in our paper"

"Okay then, I believe your judgment is correct. It's just a children's fairy tale, after all, our newspapers are focused on bigger news."

Oh maybe soon they would find that they were wrong but they would be too late to taste the medicine called regret.

At the same time, our hero, Alphonse is saving a damsel in distress from a mighty dragon in the castle of Camelot.

"O evil dragon, I will banish thee from this face of the earth and free the beautiful princess and I will marry her and live happily ever after."

"None of you shall pass, the princess is mine."

"Let's go my fellow knight.... and knightess, we shall vanquish the dragon and and and, what is the line, I forgot....."

"It should be ' and I will free you, my beautiful princess'."

"Huft, why did we play this again Laura?"

At present time, Al and his fellow kids were playing knight and dragon in the backyard. Al, Jon, Annie, and Melissa play as knights, Toby as a dragon, and Laura as the princess.

"You promise us that we will choose what we will play today!" said Laura as she frowned.

"But I thought we were going to play hide and seek and are you a little bit too old to play this. And isn't supposed to be Annie or Melissa who plays princess?"

"It's all girls' dream to become a princess and saved by a handsome prince you know!!"

'Bring her to 2020 and maybe she will be declared as anti-feminist or even worse, male chauvinism supporter by feminazis' thought Al

At this time, Mary came and greeted every kid while smiling and brought him good news

"Congratulation Al, now you are famous."

"Did my story succeed?"

"More than succeed, now everybody knew that the one who wrote <Toy Story> was you and many publishing books are interested in making a book and picture book from your story. They ask to get authorization from you and they will design everything. We can get at least $50.000 for this authorization and I'll make sure they only got book and picture book authorization. Other things like toys and cartoons will be still held by you."

"Wow awesome, but Mary, make sure I'm the one who draws the characters and I will be the one who wrote the book and its sequel and if I did this, can I get a cash and dividend at least 20%?"

"You can also draw the characters? That is even better, but 20% is hard but I can make sure you get at least 10%. That's the dividend from the famous author and with me, I can make it happen. I know some of the publishing house and once it was my client."

"You want to make other stories Al?" Said little Annie

"Yes of course Annie, not only that, I can buy you many dolls and candies with my writing."

"Really?". Then he nodded. "Yippie, Al gonna buy us more dolls and candies with his stories, now go Al! Make more stories!", ' This girl, I think she was playing with Laura too much'

"How about the L.A Times Mary?"

"How about them?"

"I mean the story priority, I think we promise them the next story will be handed to them."

"Don't worry Al, we only promise them one story and we don't promise anything about publishing house. Well technically, they don't know how capable I am haha."

'Okay, increase vigilance output to 50% more when with Mary', "When will we negotiate with them? I need some time to make the storyboard and draw the picture."

"On early August Al, I have made an appointment with them, just relax, I'll make sure to get enough benefit, now go on continue to play, I'll help Mrs K to prepare a dinner."

"Thank you Mary."

From this time, most of the kids who grew up in 80s will know Alphonse Brandt, the famous author of the <Al's Collection of Short Stories> and other books and novel he will write.

To Be Continued.....