Scene 1. Lilly 'Gets My Goat'!
So, I turn to my capricious muse,
“Lilly, come over here and help me with this.”
Lilly looks up from her TV movie, munching popcorn,
“What is ‘this’ that you are working on? Baa?”
I hold up a pile of blue scribbles on a yellow ruled pad.
“It’s my new book, Lilly’s Shorts.”
Lilly broadly smiles.
“Another book? About me? Baa?”
I nod.
“Yes. It’s an anthology. It's all the story ‘bits’ that didn’t ‘fit’ in the other novels.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
As your 'bits' didn’t ‘fit’ in your ‘shorts’ from last summer, this summer.”
Lilly scowls at me.
“Don’t be rude! Or I won’t help you.
Those shorts were my favorite old and worn out Capri pants.
The seam was already split. Baa.”
I ignore Lilly’s scowl.
“This book will be a collection of short stories and funny vignettes.
I’m doing the dust jacket and book cover artwork for it now.”
Lilly face brightens into a smile as she thinks.
“A book needs a ‘sexy’ cover showing a ‘cute lady’ to ‘sell’.”
Lilly stretches up, smiles, bats her long eyelashes and suggestively poses, while dropping articles of clothing.
“So, I’m going to be on the cover, au naturel. Right? Baa?”
I ignore Lilly's display as I look down at the pile of papers on the desk.
I am depressed as I reflect on all the writing and transcription work ahead of me.
“A misleading book cover image is too easy, and too obvious.
So, I thought I would go with a ‘geometric design’,
And sell the book on its ‘quality content’.”
Lilly immediately laughs out loud at my statement.
“'Quality content'? From you?
Baa. Haw. Haw. Haw.”
I scowl at Lilly's statement of the cruel truth.
“Who’s being rude now.
Okay, I get it, Lilly, put your clothes back on.
Since I can’t get a ‘cute lady’, we’ll go with your image. Clothed.”
Lilly gives me' the raspberry', with her large pink tongue projected towards me.
“Baa.”
Lilly shuts off the TV and rises from the couch.
“Okay, I'll help you. I know you can’t do anything without me.”