The Old Man and the Manuscript

Josh put down The Old Man and the Sea on the coffee table, reliving the shark and The Old Man’s big catch. Josh’s boat rose with another wave. The sounds and sights were idyllic. The white wisps of clouds were high in the sky and the horizon was sea in all directions. He didn’t actually use his fishing boat to fish. Instead, he trekked far away from the coast and heavy boat traffic to find peace.

Retirement was treating him well. He finished a new book every three or four days and reread some of his favorites in there too. Looking out to the port side, he saw a familiar pod of dolphins. Realizing he was in the territorial animals’ area, he decided to head back to the shore.

His mind was occupied with thoughts of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and other writers gone too soon. He thought of friends gone too soon while he languished in retirement. The unfairness of life was ever present, but what would Fitzgerald have written after The Last Tycoon? What would Hemingway have come up with next?

Josh made it back to shore easily. He walked into the bookshop on the hill. Independent sellers seemed to be coming back well, and he was glad to support his favorite bookstore. There was a new sign on the counter announcing a writing contest for the bookstore patrons. Incidentally, the challenge was to write a story incorporating characters from Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or any of The Lost Generation writers into an original story.

Josh had spent many years writing in advertising but had never tried his own stories. He realized he loved Alan Bradley’s works, and he hadn’t started writing until his retirement. Perhaps he could start writing on his boat instead of reading. He was immediately drawn back to The Old Man and the Sea, that famous groan, and the shark of course, but he also loved Jake and the bulls from The Sun Also Rises. And who could forget Gatsby. Suddenly he was writing a combined book, envisioning what Hemingway and Fitzgerald could have said next.

The days flew past. His new found hobby occupied him fully. He often didn’t even get the boat out to save more time for writing. The day of the contest came and went, but Josh’s work was now more than the word requirements of the local contest. His work would probably never be read and would be a complex issue of copyright laws, but he had rarely felt so alive.

The true gift of Josh’s manuscript was when his kids found it years later and read the dedication. It read: This book started as a way to enter a local writing contest. Then it morphed into a hobby. Taking time to write helps with introspection, and this book taught me so much about myself. I am a lifelong reader and have read a wide range of books and plays. I love bookstores and libraries. Writing also became a complete joy. About finished with this book I realized the best days were reading to my children and writing small books about them for them to read and remember how I felt about them. Years have passed now, and my children live far away. We are able to talk constantly, but they are no longer curled up on my lap listening to words and phrases and growing our relationship. This book may never get published, but it has served the purpose of reminding me of my life and loves. To my children, I love you always. PS: I will love you more if you get this published.

Six months after their discovery, Josh’s kids were able to get his book published. It peaked at ninety-six on the bestseller lists. More importantly, they met a father’s goal after he had always worked so hard for their goals.