So, the formatting didn’t come through from the word processor, but here’s a little scene I wrote from a writing prompt I gave my Creative Writing students for dialogue practice. Then they put it into screenplay format. Not sure if it will make it into Book III, but it captures some of the essence of Mannie and Saj!

NO MAN’S LAND

EXT: A SMALL HOUSE IN PROVO, UTAH. NEAR FUTURE/POST PANDEMIC.

FADE IN:

INT: MANNIE’S DINING ROOM

Saj is putting his green beans in the toy truck.

MANNIE
Saj, what are you doing?

SAJ
Not doing.

MANNIE
Why are you putting the beans in the Tonka truck? You’re supposed to eat the beans.

SAJ
Not beans. Logs.

MANNIE
Okay, Saj. Why are you putting the logs in the truck?

SAJ
Take home. Put in fire.

MANNIE
Those are your dinner.

SAJ
They green. Not like green.

MANNIE
(Sigh.) I understand.

SAJ
(Hopeful.) You eat?

MANNIE
I’ll eat mine later.

SAJ
Put you logs in my truck. Don’t eat.

MANNIE
(Trying to be patient.) Eat. Your. Beans.

SAJ
Don’t eat logs.

MANNIE
We don’t waste food in my house. (Stern.) You need to eat your beans.

SAJ
You eat yours.

MANNIE
I will.

SAJ
Show me.

MANNIE
There.

He eats one.

I ate one. Now you.

SAJ
There.

He eats one.

I ate one. Now you.

MANNIE
Two.

SAJ
Two.

MANNIE
Three.

SAJ
Free.

The doorbell rings.

MANNIE
I’ll be back. You eat more beans. Four.

Mannie goes to the door. Saj puts two beans on Mannie’s plate.

SAJ
(Quiet.) Two. (Loud.) Four.

END SCENE

Who is at the door? I don’t know… Lizzie? Zach? Jess?