Fantasy Patch
A media thriller by Stephen Geez
Snippet, conducting an interview
The skinny dark‑roots blonde who lost her daughter is nodding her support, reaching out to clasp Jody Pollikey’s hands. “These are good people,” she whispers.
Pollikey sighs, her eyes darting to a large framed photo atop the television. It’s young Gordie, maybe junior high, a chubby kid with a shy smile, a cowlick at the side of his longish wavy red hair. “Mr. Roenik,” she says, looking up at me again. It’s hard to imagine how she must hurt. “They’re saying bad things about Gordie on TV. He never hurt no one his entire life. The only time he ever so much as raised his voice at somebody was when he got off his schedule and messed up his dosage. If I let you put me on that TV camera, will you try to get people to listen, to know it weren’t my Gordie’s fault what happened?” She reaches out with one hand and takes mine, squeezing firmly, resolute.
“Your son will take a lot of blame in the media,” I tell her.
Her friend moves over by the detectives, so Kristen sets up. She shifts the couch slightly, turns off one lamp and lights another, then moves the photo of young Gordie over onto the end table so it’s in the shot, but at an angle where Jody can look over at it like she’s been doing since I arrived. It’s an effective image, the mother struggling to make sense of what’s become of her son, her eyes trying to reconcile the deranged madman we’ve all watched on TV with the shy boy she raised and loved.
Durbett’s at the door motioning to Cyn, so I follow. “Byron’s halfway through with his first interview,” he tells her. “We need to get you over there soon if you’re going to sign ’em up.”
“Before you go,” I interrupt, “Pollikey’s friend is the mother of that Parzilac girl who committed suicide. Shouldn’t you sign her, too?”
We lead the mom to a back bedroom, a boy’s bedroom with model battleships and sports paraphernalia and posters of comic‑book characters―Gordie’s room. Note: tell Kristen to get Jody back here to reminisce about what her son was like growing up.
~ ~ ~
Comment from Stephen Geez
Be sure to seize this chance to follow our wondrous host’s blog. Today is Day 5 of my 4 Wills Publishing blog tour to tout Fantasy Patch, my media thriller. Writerly friends know I had worked quite a bit on a non-fiction true-crime book. I conducted exclusive interviews with a man convicted of first-degree murder after a school shooting spree. He offered a compelling argument blaming one of the most popular psychotropic drugs, which he’d just been prescribed at full dose. Then the community turned against his wife at the very time she started fighting cancer, so he asked me not to write the book. Sometimes people with the most interesting things to say are too afraid to say them. Already well-versed in psychopharmacology and the politics of drug approval, I turned my curiosity into a novel. That means I don’t try to answer questions like I would in the non-fiction project. Or, well, I guess maybe I do. (What do you think?) Be sure comment about today’s post for a shot at winning. Thanks for the support.
~ ~ ~
A media thriller by Stephen Geez
Snippet, conducting an interview
The skinny dark‑roots blonde who lost her daughter is nodding her support, reaching out to clasp Jody Pollikey’s hands. “These are good people,” she whispers.
Pollikey sighs, her eyes darting to a large framed photo atop the television. It’s young Gordie, maybe junior high, a chubby kid with a shy smile, a cowlick at the side of his longish wavy red hair. “Mr. Roenik,” she says, looking up at me again. It’s hard to imagine how she must hurt. “They’re saying bad things about Gordie on TV. He never hurt no one his entire life. The only time he ever so much as raised his voice at somebody was when he got off his schedule and messed up his dosage. If I let you put me on that TV camera, will you try to get people to listen, to know it weren’t my Gordie’s fault what happened?” She reaches out with one hand and takes mine, squeezing firmly, resolute.
“Your son will take a lot of blame in the media,” I tell her.
Her friend moves over by the detectives, so Kristen sets up. She shifts the couch slightly, turns off one lamp and lights another, then moves the photo of young Gordie over onto the end table so it’s in the shot, but at an angle where Jody can look over at it like she’s been doing since I arrived. It’s an effective image, the mother struggling to make sense of what’s become of her son, her eyes trying to reconcile the deranged madman we’ve all watched on TV with the shy boy she raised and loved.
Durbett’s at the door motioning to Cyn, so I follow. “Byron’s halfway through with his first interview,” he tells her. “We need to get you over there soon if you’re going to sign ’em up.”
“Before you go,” I interrupt, “Pollikey’s friend is the mother of that Parzilac girl who committed suicide. Shouldn’t you sign her, too?”
We lead the mom to a back bedroom, a boy’s bedroom with model battleships and sports paraphernalia and posters of comic‑book characters―Gordie’s room. Note: tell Kristen to get Jody back here to reminisce about what her son was like growing up.
~ ~ ~
Comment from Stephen Geez
Be sure to seize this chance to follow our wondrous host’s blog. Today is Day 5 of my 4 Wills Publishing blog tour to tout Fantasy Patch, my media thriller. Writerly friends know I had worked quite a bit on a non-fiction true-crime book. I conducted exclusive interviews with a man convicted of first-degree murder after a school shooting spree. He offered a compelling argument blaming one of the most popular psychotropic drugs, which he’d just been prescribed at full dose. Then the community turned against his wife at the very time she started fighting cancer, so he asked me not to write the book. Sometimes people with the most interesting things to say are too afraid to say them. Already well-versed in psychopharmacology and the politics of drug approval, I turned my curiosity into a novel. That means I don’t try to answer questions like I would in the non-fiction project. Or, well, I guess maybe I do. (What do you think?) Be sure comment about today’s post for a shot at winning. Thanks for the support.
~ ~ ~
Stephen Geez is a retired businessman, television producer, and music composer/producer who writes novels, essay collections, all manner of shorts, and industrial scripts. With University of Michigan bachelors and masters degrees including English Language & Literature, he’s a maven of language mechanics and literary styles who argues that any message is more compelling if told like a story.
Fantasy Patch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO_BBFVKrgU
Website & readers’ blog: StephenGeez.com
Website & authors’ blog: GeezWriter.com
Website: GeezandWeeks.com
Twitter: @StephenGeez @GeezWriter @FreshInkGroup
Fantasy Patch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO_BBFVKrgU
Website & readers’ blog: StephenGeez.com
Website & authors’ blog: GeezWriter.com
Website: GeezandWeeks.com
Twitter: @StephenGeez @GeezWriter @FreshInkGroup
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