Jeffrey and Sebastian, ages seven and nine, are lunching on bagels and cream cheese and half a glass each of Nesquik. They wanted a whole glass each, but their dad said no. After this repast, Jeffrey and Sebastian are going to go see a movie and then to Chinatown for dumplings. Right now, though, their dad is in line for coffee and Jeffrey and Sebastian are watching me read COLONIA: ISLANDS AND ANOMALIES.
They want me to give them my book. Jeffrey and Sebastian want me to give them my book and to that end, they are giving me the puppy dog eyes. I am pretending that I cannot hear them and I am avoiding their puppy dog eyes because I want desperately to give Jeffrey and Sebastian my copy of COLONIA. I am thrilled that Jeffrey and Sebastian are as compelled by the fishman on the cover as I find myself. I like Jeffrey and Sebastian. I want to form a literary circle with Jeffrey and Sebastian and meet them here at BagelWorld next Sunday to discuss Jack and his uncles and Teela the Mermaid and Lucy the Talking Duck and Captains Cinnabar and Reed. I want us to exchange theories as to the practical applications of slip-sliding and discuss whether or not COLONIA could accurately be described as a kind of "history in a blender" romp. I want Jeffrey and Sebastian to like me.
Sadly, I cannot give Jeffrey and Sebastian my copy of COLONIA. I cannot, because it is not mine to give. I borrowed it from Peter. Besides, I've got three pages left and I need to know how ends. Jeffrey and Sebastian will have to buy their own damn books.
Kelly Sue DeConnick relocated from Brooklyn, New York to Kansas City, MO, where she lives with her husband and artbomb.net colleague, Matt Fraction. Kelly Sue writes the English adaptations of several manga titles published by Tokyopop and Viz. She can be found on the web at kellysue.com.
