The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin

BIGGER NEWS

2008-09-03T11:57:00.000-04:00

The baby, a 7 pound 15 ounce boy, was born on Monday. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Big Announcement!

2008-08-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

No, the baby hasn't arrived yet."The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin" is moving to a new site. Here's the link: http://gavinwilliams.digitalnovelists.comAll new chapters will be posted there. In collaboration with MeiLin Miranda of "The Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom" fame, I've opened my own website, so that I can run ads and control the layout much more than I can on

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Cops on our Tail

2008-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

I composed myself and walked casually into triage.“Everything okay?” Calla asked.“Yeah, that was just Matt, letting me know that he survived, like all cockroaches.”“He’s your friend?” Bianca asked.“Yeah, why?”“Well, a) you called him a cockroach, and b) he hit on me after I saw him hitting on a waitress at the gallery last week. He’s kind of slimy.”“Well, I’m glad you think so. He wants me to

Chapter Thirty-Six: Alive on Arrival

2008-08-15T15:05:00.001-04:00

We were still waiting in triage when Calla came into the ER. I was getting a water bottle from a vending machine, so she saw Bianca first. She rushed over to give her roomie a hug.“Are you okay? What the hell happened?” Calla said.Simultaneously, Bianca cringed in pain as her friend shifted her sore collarbone, “Ouch!”“I’m so sorry! Oh no!”“It’s her clavicle. I think I broke it,” I offered

Chapter Thirty-Five: This is the Best Day Ever

2008-08-13T22:13:00.001-04:00

I sat with Bianca in the emergency room while she waited for x-rays. It seemed that I may have sprained or even broken her collarbone when I tackled her into the cab earlier. I felt bad about that, and apologized at every opportunity.“Seriously, Diggory, don’t worry about it. You probably saved my life,” she would say each time, and give me another pat on the arm.“I know. I just feel bad.”“

Chapter Thirty-Four: Crash! Bang! Boom!

2008-08-10T20:46:00.001-04:00

I sat in awkward silence with Bianca, Calla Wiley’s artsy roommate, while our cab weaved through traffic. It only had to go a few blocks to reach my work, but it seemed like everyone was out on the streets for lunch. We hit three red lights with bumper-to-bumper traffic.As a result, our taxicab pulled up to my building just as lunch hour was finishing. People scurried along the street to

Note from the Author: Anticipate Technical Difficulties

2008-08-08T21:33:00.000-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,As you may or may not know, my wife is expecting our third child. Literally any day now. This is a cause for celebration, in general.In the specific, it means that my update schedule is about to become extremely erratic. I promise you three updates a week, I will keep track. They might all end up on the same day. They will not be the usual Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday

Chapter Thirty-Three: She's My Best Friend

2008-08-06T12:47:00.001-04:00

I was in deep shit.I had come to Calla Wiley’s apartment in order to get some answers after her incomprehensible behaviour of the past week. I had found her roommate Bianca instead, and within moments she had changed from a friendly acquaintance to a pissed-off adversary. Her smiling face had transmuted into a disgusted snarl. Bianca truly believed I was crazy.

Chapter Thirty-Two: She Drives Me Crazy

2008-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

“Listen, Bianca,” I said, after an incredibly awkward silence, “I don’t know what Calla’s said about me, but we’re just friends…”“Calla doesn’t have friends. Or boyfriends. She has me, and that’s it. So where did you come from?”I furrowed my brow. “I met her last week, at the coffee shop near my work. We flirted a little, sort of. She seems nice. I don’t know how I’ve offended you…”“You

Chapter Thirty-One: Do This

2008-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

I decided not to wait.I got up from my desk and left the office, calling out to Lorraine as I went past.“Clear my schedule, Lorraine. I’ll be back when I’m back.”Not giving her time to answer, I marched to the elevators and headed down to the lobby. I exited swiftly and hailed a taxi, getting in and giving the driver Calla’s address.I wanted answers, and I wanted them yesterday.The cabbie

Chapter Thirty: Always on my Mind

2008-07-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

“Dwayne Austin.”Dwayne Austin was a big, broad-shouldered young man. He came into the room with a solid step, a small smile, and a very firm handshake. He reminded me of the linebackers from my school team: solid, dependable, and slow.Vanessa’s interaction with him proved that first impression entirely correct. “So, Dwayne, you’re interested in accompanying us to Denver?”“Yes, ma’am.”“Care to

From the Author

2008-07-28T17:47:00.000-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, for those of you with any interest, HERE is a link to my first interview, with the good people of Wibbly Press, some of my online peers.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: In This Town (Boredom eats me like Cancer)

2008-07-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

I reached my office at about five to nine, which was extremely late for my usual routine. Lorraine glared at me.“Thought maybe you were calling in,” she said. “Ms. Brown has left a message.”“I’ll call her myself. Good morning, Lorraine.” I tried a smile.“Good morning, sir.” She didn’t.“Lorraine, do you want to come to Colorado? Or would you prefer to stay here and run the office, be my eyes

Chapter Twenty-Eight: That's Where it is

2008-07-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

My route towards work took me back past the coffee house. I sped through the pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk, weaving through bodies. This was why I usually took cabs, I thought. I was already late, and totally distracted. People in my way didn’t make it any better.“Frank!” Someone yelled as I passed. “HEY FRANK!”I pressed on through the crowed, wishing “Frank” would just answer, so the

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Good Morning

2008-07-23T00:00:00.002-04:00

Calla held my wrist in her hand, leaning across the table. I could smell her; warm and fragrant. I stared into her eyes. For a moment, the world was a blur, and there was only the grey of her bright gaze.“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, smiling. Calla slid out of her chair and was through the door, leaving me to stare after her.“Hey, wait up!” I chased after her, not willing to just let

Chapter Twenty-Six: Scenes from a Coffee House

2008-07-21T20:17:00.002-04:00

I cut myself shaving. Then, I popped a button on the shirt I wanted to wear. I changed quickly and grabbed another Pop-Tart from the fridge as I dashed out the front door.It seemed everyone was leaving at the same time, so the elevator kept stopping and starting, until it was very crowded. We eventually made it to the lobby, where I had a hell of a time finding a cab.I shrugged it off and took

Chapter Twenty-Five: How Do You Sleep at Night?

2008-07-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

I almost choked on the deliciously creamy linguine noodles in my mouth. I coughed a few times and grabbed a napkin to prevent sauce from flying out my mouth.“Excuse me!” I sipped some water. “Are you okay?” Vanessa asked.“I’m fine. (cough) Just give me a sec.” I pushed back a little from the table.I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. Was she flirting with me? Or just being really nice?

Chapter Twenty-Four: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

2008-07-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

“What’s wrong with young Miss Bailey?” I asked. She was the pretty intern who had been flirting with me at the party in the conference room, but Vanessa didn’t know that.“Well, to be honest, I’m the good-looking one on this team. I don’t need the competition.” Vanessa winked.I looked at her. “Trust me, Ms. Brown, you still wouldn’t have any competition.”“Diggory Franklin!” She playfully

Chapter Twenty-Three: Two Girls in One

2008-07-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

I took a deep breath. Then, I picked up the receiver.“Diggory Franklin’s office.”“Hello, Mr. Franklin. It’s Calla Wiley. How are you?”“I’m fine, thank you. What can I do for you, Calla?”“Well, I’m actually returning your phone call from this weekend. I hope you can forgive me for not calling you back sooner. I haven’t checked my messages at all, I’ve been so busy in the lab. I wanted to

Chapter Twenty-Two: Foxy Lady

2008-07-13T00:00:00.002-04:00

I spent the afternoon on the computer, looking at the files of my colleagues. Chris provided me with access, wanting me to choose the best team possible. I could see what kind of hours people put in, the files they were working on, contracts they’d handled. It would have been overwhelming, so I limited myself to just the past three months. I wanted a picture of what their work habits were

Chapter Twenty-One: That's What Friends Are For (the vulture song)

2008-07-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Chris Geertz pulled me aside after a bit.“Nice touch on the surprise party, I totally didn’t see that coming,” I said.“Hey, you’re welcome, buddy!” Chris clapped me on the back. “I’m really excited for you. But it’s not all fun and games. I want you to mingle, get a feel for who you want on your team in Colorado. I figure two more associates, maybe one of the interns, and three secretaries.

Chapter Twenty: We Couldn't Get Along Without You

2008-07-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

Matt and I sat on his couch with a couple of cold beers. I sipped mine slowly, thinking.“I’m screwed,” I said abruptly.“Oh?”“Thanks to you, Mr. Big Mouth, I can’t just tell my father that I broke it off with Calla. He and my mother expect this impressive young lady. She’s a sign that I’m maturing. That I’m ‘boss material.’ I can’t show weakness or a lack of commitment. My father will

Chapter Nineteen: Revenge

2008-07-06T00:00:00.002-04:00

I waited in the dark. Revenge would be mine. I had been plotting for days. They came in late, past eleven. She was giggling, he talked smooth. Then there was the unmistakable sound of two people passionately kissing. The ruffle of clothes being removed. I could hear them moving around the apartment, probably undressing on their way to the bedroom. I tensed in my hiding place, ready to

Chapter Eighteen: Old Man

2008-07-05T00:00:00.002-04:00

I hadn’t been here in years, and immediately felt like a kid. The big bookcases, the leather chairs, the dark mahogany… It was exactly the same. It seemed slightly smaller, but I had grown. And I do mean “slightly,” because the office took up most of the floor. I knew that the corridor I had come from had a public bathroom, and that there was a private one off my father’s office. Otherwise,

Chapter Seventeen: Da Bo$$ Would Like to See You

2008-07-02T00:00:00.002-04:00

The alarm clock announced it was Tuesday with its usual enthusiasm. I rolled out of bed and stumbled like a zombie for the bathroom, letting the shower bring me back to life. Fifteen minutes later, shaven and showered, I dressed for work and then ran to the kitchen. I grabbed a Pop Tart from the fridge and went out the door. I was at the office

Chapter Sixteen: Sweet Smell of Success

2008-06-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

I went to work early on Monday morning. I skipped grabbing my usual coffee, and headed straight to the office. I locked myself in and buried myself in the Colorado file, getting up to date on everything, exploring every nuance of the briefs, memos and contracts. I was going to dominate this file, and stick it to my father in the process. I spent a good chunk of time on the phone that

Chapter Fifteen: Cat's Cradle

2008-06-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

We drove back to the city in silence. I rarely even glanced in his direction. However, Matt had a smug little smile every time I did. He obviously didn’t feel the least bit sorry.No matter. I’d find a way to make him pay. I remembered a summer at camp, when we were maybe eleven years old. Matt had soaked me in my bed with a bucket of lake water. Later, I had pulled down his pants on stage during

Bonus Chapter: Calla Wiley

2008-06-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Journal Entry: September 11, 2008The world is a very strange place.My friend Bianca says that I am a very orderly, precise person. Too much so, perhaps. I like mathematics, and science. There is an order to the universe, and underlying patterns. For all its seeming chaos, it has to follow certain rules.Bianca is an artist. She thinks I should embrace the chaos and stop worrying about the

Chapter Fourteen: They Sold Me Out

2008-06-26T09:33:00.001-04:00

Matt drove his Porsche like he did everything else. Recklessly and fast, with a smile on his face. I envied him. He didn’t care about consequences, or rules, he just found life enjoyable. I wondered what it was like to feel so unconstrained.“You’re a sociopath,” I told him with a grin.“What, like Silence of the Lambs?”“No, I think that’s a psychopath. Sociopaths don’t necessarily kill people.

Chapter Thirteen: Jerk

2008-06-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

“What the hell are you talking about?”“Frank, just listen. Stay away. Please. I love you too much…” Calla’s voice went soft, fading out. She hung up. I stared at the phone, trying to figure her out.What the hell was the matter with her? Dead in a year? Was she on drugs?I took my file and left the office, heading down the elevator and out through the lobby. I didn’t have time for this kind of

Chapter Twelve: Welcome to the Life

2008-06-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

“Hello? Are you there? Pick up if you’re there. Pick up, pick up, pick up… You’re not there. Where are you? Come on, pick up. Okay, I’ll call back.”It was Calla’s voice. She called my office on Friday, apparently. But why? She had reached me at home earlier, and invited me to the gallery.The next message started. “Where are you? Are you avoiding me? I hope you’re avoiding me. I hope you’re

Pages Unbound

2008-06-21T10:38:00.001-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen:I have submitted "The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin" to Pages Unbound. Once it is online, and five reviews are posted, I will publish the bonus chapter you are all furiously voting for. Thanks for your support, I love you guys!Gavin

Chapter Eleven: Thinking about Things (I Think too Much)

2008-06-21T00:00:00.002-04:00

“Well, what else could it be? You’re young, storming about. I know what it’s like when a young lady turns a man’s blood to boiling. I was your age once.” Hank smiled.“It’s not that. I mean, it is. But it’s not.”“Young love,” Hank chortled, making a move on the chessboard.“I’m not in love!” I almost yelled. “Sorry. Well, I’m not. I just met her two days ago. I hardly know her. That’s what I’m

Author Announcement!

2008-06-18T12:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers:Ten chapters are up! So far, four people have volunteered to write reviews for Pages Unbound and get the ball rolling so this story starts strong in the ratings. One more volunteer, and I will post "The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin" on PU and give you a bonus story.Not only that, but I'm going to let YOU vote on what the bonus chapter is about!1. More Diggory2. A

2008-06-18T07:00:00.004-04:00

Chapter OneChapter Two: Cupid's ChokeholdChapter Three: Can't Help Falling in LoveChapter Four: There She Goes AgainChapter Five: 8 Bit Love SongChapter Six: Story of a GirlChapter Seven: Don't get Mad, get EvenChapter Eight: Girl on a SwingChapter Nine: When a Man's in LoveChapter Ten: ChessChapter Eleven: Thinking about Things (I Think Too Much)Chapter Twelve: Welcome to the LifeChapter

Chapter Ten: Chess

2008-06-18T00:00:00.003-04:00

“…have reached Bianca and Calla. Unless you’re an axe murderer, in which case, we won’t call you back, leave a message at the BEEP.”I checked the time on the clock on the stove. It was just past twelve. I looked at my phone display. Calla had called at half past eleven. She could have gone out to lunch, or she was in the shower, I might have just missed her.“Hi, yeah, uh, this is Diggory Franklin

Chapter Nine: When a Man's in Love

2008-06-17T15:55:00.001-04:00

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful. All was right with the world. I had successfully flirted with one Calla Wiley and obtained her telephone number without any new craziness cropping up. I stood before the wide windows of my skyscraper apartment, watching the sun come up with a smile.I wondered if I should call her for breakfast? No, we’d both had late nights. She deserved to sleep in.

Chapter Eight: Girl on a Swing

2008-06-15T00:00:00.002-04:00

“I’m not sure I follow.” I looked at Calla Wiley with some confusion.Calla smiled. “Well, I guess I mean that Mark Twain is a great writer, and can’t quite help reflecting the biases of his age. I’m certainly not going to hold it against him. Your friend seems to think being male constitutes being macho, which is quite out of date.”“Ohhhh,” I replied knowingly and brilliantly.“In other words, he’

Chapter Seven: Don't Get Mad, Get Even

2008-06-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

I smiled and shrugged.“I get the feeling I’m not anything like the guys you typically date. I figure it will take maybe a half a dozen ‘first meetings’ before I make any kind of good impression.”“I don’t ‘typically’ date anyone, so you needn’t be concerned with that. You’re not like the other physics majors I know, but I don’t see how that’s relevant.”I listened to Calla talk. I heard what she

Chapter Six: Story of a Girl

2008-06-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

We took a cab to the gallery. Matt led the way as we got out.“There’s just one thing bugging me. Didn’t this Calla chick tell you she didn’t want to see you yesterday? And not to call her back?”I kept walking. “Yeah, so?”“Well, aren’t you doing the exact opposite of what she said?”I opened the door to the gallery.“Yes, but she called me. If she didn’t want me around, she wouldn’t have called.”

Chapter Five: 8 bit Love Song

2008-06-08T00:00:00.002-04:00

Enraged, I ran up to the car at the intersection and bodily removed the driver from it, giving him a few kicks on the ground while I was at it. I got in, gunned the engine, and ran the red.I sped down busy city streets, rushing around vehicles, looping through holes in the traffic, and even going up on the sidewalk. I think I hit a pedestrian, but I didn’t stop.Tires screeching, I zoomed around a

Chapter Four: There She Goes Again

2008-06-07T00:00:00.002-04:00

I went through the glass revolving door as fast as I could, calling after Calla. There were a few people on the sidewalk, but nothing like the crowd I had been faced with that morning. I got through them easily, and saw Calla going down the subway stairs. I followed.One of them swore at me as I pushed past, but I ignored this and kept running.“Hey, wait up!” I shouted. “Calla, wait!”I reached the

Chapter Three: Can't Help Falling in Love

2008-06-04T00:00:00.003-04:00

Matt the Pimp was still laughing. He slapped his hands on the table, coughing. I waited for him to finish, staring at my plate. Eventually he caught his breath and sipped some water from his glass.“Wooo, that was funny. Dude, man, you are nuts.” He wiped his eyes.“It’s not that funny.”“Yes, it is. You can’t be in love with a total stranger. You don’t know anything about her. Plus, it makes no

Chapter Two: Cupid's Chokehold

2008-06-01T00:00:00.007-04:00

There was a meeting that morning for the law department, and, instead of listening, I was staring out the window. My chin rested on my hand, my elbow on the table. The tips of my fingers idly stroked my mouth softly, as I thought about Calla Wiley and that kiss earlier in the day.No matter that she didn’t remember it, I certainly did. I wondered what that was about? Was she crazy? Or was I? After

Chapter One: The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin

2008-05-07T12:57:00.003-04:00

I met a beautiful woman today. Twice. I’m still trying to figure that out.I was standing in line at the local café, Coffee of Doom. Most of the other customers were emo kids, Goth types, and your average coffee house inhabitant wearing plaid and jeans. I was the only one wearing a suit. Well, that wasn’t by choice. I’d much rather slack my way through the day like the kids hanging out here, but I