Okay, it's March 17th and 4.23 pm. Just pulled out of the shed run. Pulling out now. And about to drive home. I want to take some notes about Omar and Amina. So nice. And how they first meet. Well, the first thing I want to get down, what I do know, is that they're going to have a series of nonverbal conversations back and forth. It's going to be the girl stuck in her apartment not allowed to play outside with the boys. And he's going to be the boy who doesn't want to play with the boys because he's, you know, he doesn't feel like he's one of them. So I know I have a series of notes on how they first meet. I can get into that, but let's start with perhaps the first icebreaker. Yeah, because let's just say it's not like Amina's. It's not like she likes him, but she has this, you know, there's this tension because she knows who she thinks she is. And he has no idea who she is. He's going to be the one to break the icebreaker because to be honest, he likes her. I mean, he likes her. He doesn't know who she is. And they have this little world together where they can, he thinks they can communicate. It's one evening and basically everybody's in the lower apartment. And again, Omar doesn't want to go down there. And they're all having dinner and all that kind of stuff. Omar's bored sitting in the room, listening to his headphones, and reading a comic. And he hears a song that he likes and he starts dancing. And the very first thing, you know, what song is it? I don't know, I got to remember. But he, what dance does he start doing? I don't know. We get to figure that. Maybe he's doing the moonwalk. Maybe he's doing some other dance. Who knows? And what song is it? And she catches him. I mean, she sees him dancing. She sees kind of this funny movement out of the corner of her eye. And then she realizes Omar doesn't see her for the longest time, but she sees him. And maybe at first she's annoyed. And then he starts to do some funny moves and it just makes her laugh. And when he catches her, when she catches him, he's totally embarrassed. And... But, you know, she realizes he's in this awkward moment and she kind of feels sorry for him. She feels bad that maybe she laughed enough that it's hard for him. And so she starts bellied into it. And... And so he describes it, but he's not going to get too into it. But yeah, the thing just blows him away. And then maybe that's what starts. Maybe he writes another note to her. Who knows, but yeah, that's how it starts. I got to get into a much better description for bellied dancing, but... Yeah, that... I was going to describe it as what she does. And he watches, but then another light comes on in her house and she immediately stops dancing and closes. Her curtains maybe, I don't know, or her shades. Yeah, and so the whole scene is like done. Now... And he waits there for the rest, you know, until she can come back later and tell him, you know, like give him goodbyes. I'm like that, you know. That's how that scene ends. And then they realize maybe they can communicate through... See, that's another way the scene could start. It was like... Maybe she's asking him what music was going to... And then he just starts to use dance as a way of charades to explain. So yeah, charades is another one. But... So... I guess ultimately... Well, he doesn't have to have a conversation with his mom. He doesn't have to, but he's got to discover the letters. And I've got to get on that. So let me finish this because this was about the dance. And the next one will be about something else.
So another moment is when the boys... the boys... You see, every now and then he's secretly watching the guys play in soccer. He knows how to play soccer from his dad, his dad coached him. But, you know, he's vowed never to play again ever since his dad died. The boys on the street are always begging him to come play. And... You know, you know, you know. It's more like Omar, Omar, I mean, we want you. You know, I mean, I mean, I mean... Omar has a soccer ball that is my brother. She didn't tell it, but she secretly bought it and brought it. And he said, no way, not doing it, no way. But, you know, she didn't insist. She just left it in his room. So... Maybe even one day he taunts them with it. But... So, you know, that's kind of another... You know, they're inviting him to be one of them. And... It's hard, you know. He keeps telling them football, you know. And... They keep... He even has a football, shows them. And I think this will be funny because there will be a scene... At the end... Now, is it better to say basketball... We got a scene, because, you know, one or the other. Maybe I like basketball better because then I'm not supporting them. Sporting like... Violence is something that... So, yeah. But anyway, almost, you know, farewell gift to the boys is the two-part one. The balls, both the football and the basketball. I mean, maybe the basketball and the football. There's no real basket, so it's kind of hard. And... Is soccer ball. So, he gives him both. And maybe... Yeah, the World Cup is another... A good way to keep all the men distracted. Keep everyone distracted while he's talking to Amina. Yeah, that's good. So... But... Yeah, that's what was I getting at. And I forgot already. Man. Oh, yeah, so... Does he discover that Amina is down there? Or does he hear them all watching and he knows he can talk to her? I got to figure that out. Does he go down there? And he starts watching with the boys. And does he... See her? That's a possibility. And maybe that's when... I don't know when the World Cup starts in this case, but she could give him back one of his notes answered. Yeah, that's possible. So anyway, I've got to develop that. But, okay, from the moment, you know, that they arrive, I've got that done. I've got to write it. But, like, after the next day on their arrival, what happens? Do they... You see, from arrival to this Amina or him discovery of Amina, I've got to figure that out. When is that going to come? Maybe a big picture, but... You've got to figure it out. Yeah. So anyway, I'm going to begin for now and... I'll leave this to you. That would work.
Okay so a couple other side notes. More background on the paper notes that they pass back and forth and how they are will end up being the illustrated parts of the novel and more background on what makes him go to the store and the headphones. So yeah and the year I don't know I think the music in 1983 was better than the music in 1982 but that's obviously my age too. I gotta use that so I'm thinking on a I haven't found any reason to stay in 1982. Yeah sure it's the only year that my dad could get off. I mean my dad died in 1980 right after his death. He was assassinated and he couldn't get out of school until 1982. But do I want to make it political and sound like I'm not. I mean why is that so important? Is that more important than being able to call it the summer of 1983 and still use and be able to use so much better music and possibly a better walkman and possibly the swatch. I'm not sure. But I don't know why I need this one anyway. So anyway his batteries die in his walk. My batteries are dead. Can I go to the store and get some or can you go to the store and get some? No not doing that. You are. How about you go to the store and you know speak to the folks in the neighborhood. Okay I'm sure they would love to know who you are and talk to you. That's what this place is all about. You know fitting in. So he you know moans and groans and he goes over to his cousin and asks how to say maybe he just goes where is it again? Can I have some Egyptian money? How much do batteries cost? All that kind of stuff. And so yeah and he goes to the store and that's when he discovers the chocolate cigarettes. And They, you know, he asked them what they are or he's like, can I buy these? And they're like, of course you can, they're candy. And I think he'll talk about seeing the kids face on the box and freak him out. And he asks if they have any comics, although maybe he'll go and find some European comics. But yeah, that's essentially what will happen. Trying to think if anything else could happen in the store. Maybe they ask him who he is and all that kind of stuff. But yeah, another thing. So done.