This weekend I will give you another episode of the Three Ingredients serial. However, as a mid-week post, I’m giving you another character interview from my novel, Atonement, Tennessee. It should give you some insight into everyday life in that fictional town. So here goes!
Chip from Italian 2 Go
A young man walks into my office with his hair sticking out every which way. He can’t be older than 16. I recognize him — Chip, a resident of Atonement, Tennessee. He has a bit part in the story, but as the local pizza delivery boy, he knows the town inside and out. I get up to shake his hand. He looks just a little bit shaken.
Teagan: Hi Chip. Thanks for coming by. How are you? Oh… Was traffic bad?
Chip: You’re welcome Miss Teagan. I guess it was sort of more traffic than I expected. It’s about as bad as Atlanta — I’ve been there a time or two, you know “Hot-lanta.” (I chuckle with him. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that term.) I can tell you, it’s a lot worse than Nashville traffic. And Atonement, Tennessee doesn’t have any!
Teagan: Wow, really? No traffic? That sounds great to me.
Chip: Well, I guess so, ma’am. It’s kind of boring that way though. But I do get to get out and drive. I just got my license. I’m not sure how much fun that would be around here.
That’s the best part of my job at I-talian 2 Go. I get to drive as much as I want. That and free Co-colas.
(He used a rural pronunciation for Italian and Coke-a-Cola that is seldom heard today. I admit I was as charmed by it as Ralda was.)
Teagan: That’s right; you work at Italian 2 Go, the local pizzeria. You probably know the area better than anyone.
Chip: Well, maybe. I guess that’s something else I like about my job — getting out and seeing a lot of people. You know, seeing what’s going on. There aren’t many jobs to choose from in Atonement. So I’m okay with working at Italian 2 Go for now.
Teagan: What did you think when you got a call to deliver to the old Sunhold estate? I got the impression that not all your coworkers were willing to go.
Chip: They didn’t think I’d do it, but I showed ‘em. Like they said in that old movie, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost!”
Teagan: Oh? Is Sunhold haunted?
Chip: Ha-ha. No ma’am, of course not. But there’s some as believes it is. I know the place is sort of rundown and spooky lookin’… There are a lot of people who might have refused to go there. But the only thing that bothers me about the place is that long driveway. You gotta admit it’s “too far and snaky,” as my grandma would say.
Teagan: Are there other places in Atonement that have that kind of reputation? Haunted? Or maybe just weird and strange?
Chip: Other than Sunhold and its cemetery, I haven’t heard the other kids talk about any. But my grandma used to tell a bunch of scary stories about the old house and the whole town for that matter. She swore on the Bible they were true too, even though most of them happened before her grandma’s time.
Teagan: What kind of scary stories? (He shrugs.) Just generic weird and spooky stuff? (Chip nods.) Did your grandma, or anyone, ever say what was behind all the weird stuff?
Chip: Grandma said something about it being part of the land. Ha… (Chip grins conspiratorially) Grandma doesn’t know it, but she’s kinda new agey. Once the science teacher had a special speaker come to class — a geologist. He was talking about ley lines, and it reminded me of how Grandma said all the weird stuff from olden days was part of the land.
Teagan: Humm… that’s really interesting. So Atonement, Tennessee has a long mysterious history then… I expect the place is more interesting than most of the residents realize.
Chip: Maybe so, ma’am. The other day I met this Professor Heart, from Nashville. He was way into birds, if you can believe that. He sure seemed to think Atonement was interesting. But I don’t know why. I think big cities are more interesting.
(He glances at the clock.) If you’ll excuse me, I’m in town with an American Government class trip from my school. The teacher said I’d better get back on time.
Teagan: Oh, of course Chip. Don’t let me make you late. Be sure to check out the memorials and museums. Say hello to everyone in Atonement for me when you get home.
(Chip waves politely to the readers, takes a quick look at a text message on his phone, chuckles at it, and leaves.)
Directions to Atonement, Tennessee:
Take Imagination Route Amazon or Route Nook. Enjoy the ride.
Not many people would have thought to interview the pizza boy. Make sense, he grew up there and knows the place. This week Hot lanta was Artic lanta just to make things more interesting.
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Thanks RC. Yes, I want book-2 to show more of how the town itself is supernatural. But to avoid being overly complex, I could only lay the groundwork and drop a couple of hints in book-1.
No kidding re the artic stuff! A friend in Atlanta has told me in great detail. 🙂
I should have checked the weather forecast in “Atonement, TN” — LOL. I’m sure they would have had snow and ice.
I’d say Atonement has weather similar to Knoxville, TN: http://www.wunderground.com/US/tn/knoxville.html
Have an “enchanting” weekend!
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Ha! Well Patricia, about the weird… I’m not sure how much of the strange things from “Atonement, Tennessee” I can share without giving spoilers. I will put some thought into the next character interview and see if I can weird it up without ruining the novel for anyone. 🙂
PS: I don’t usually have to wait for “weird” — it comes to me regardless. Tee-hee!
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Intriguing interview. I want to know more about the weird happenings that Grandma talks
about.
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Hi Patricia — thanks so much for visiting. I’m cooking up more weird happenings for a book-2. So stay tuned. 🙂
I hope everyone will take a look at your delightful blog.
Hugs,
teagan
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Thank you for your comment about my recent blog. Yes, Lucy could be Pip’s voice. I’m waiting for weird! Have a great weekend.
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Just a note to everyone — thanks so very much to all of you for dropping by and commenting on this mid-week post.
Mega-hugs,
teagan
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Pizza .Looks Good:)
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Unfortunately that’s just Microsoft clip art, Judith. I expect you could fix up a much nicer pizza! So glad you stopped to comment!
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I must be hungry:) I like making pizzas .My husband does a better job:)Thanks for the nice words. No problem about the comment:) Take care
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He sounds a chipper little lad. Just how far out of Atonement does the I-talian deliver?
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Good question, David! I’m not sure if there would be much in the way of customers if you went too far outside Atonement. They’re pretty much “out in the sticks.” The closest neighbor might be a pig farm. 🙂
Hummm this I-talian and Co-cola might be taking on a life of its own. LOL.
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Creative interview. I was about to ask Chip to bring me a pizza. Atonement sounds very interesting.
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Ha! The pizza seems to be a hit today. I had my doubts about “Italian 2 Go” but the food looks good in the picture. LOL.
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I especially love the PIZZA image (hehe…as you know, I am juicing all day…)…sounds great, excellent interview!
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Oops! Didn’t mean to tempt you when you were trying so hard to be good! 🙂
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