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Desperate

Nic Bernstein

"A desperate act was to be done tonight - the only question was by whom and to whom."

Steve had ensconced himself at the bar early tonight, and was proud to already be adding a prime line like that to his journal. He had long ago learned that by putting himself in the right place, and waiting patiently, he could get more like this.

If he waited long enough, he just might come up with a story. Or, at least a lyric, a poem - hell, a headline would be good.

"A desperate act was to be done tonight - the only question is who shall do it, and to whom."

"A desperate man will act tonight - the only question is upon whom."

"Desperation shall come tonight - the only question is upon whom." No, that won't do at all, he thought.

"What would Italo Calvino do?" he thought, "He'd get an entire book out of this line. Think! Think!!"

Where do you go with this line, is it a beginning, or an end? Or should it be snuck in between the exposition and the meat.

He ordered another drink, and thought. And listened. And waited.