Richard the Writer

"Write what should not be forgotten." - Isabel Allende When I was in high school I carried around a three-ring notebook binder filled with lined notebook paper. It was standard procedure for most students. We took notes on the notebook paper in class and then inserted the pages into the notebook to review later.

Like most kids I carried my notebook binder and textbooks from class to class. Unlike most kids I had an extra book on top of the stack. Usually a science fiction or fantasy paperback. Sometimes a hardcover from the mail order Science Fiction Book Club. I was such a nerd. Still am.

One day I became friends with a guy named Richard. The exact reasons are lost to the fog of time, but probably because of my science fiction book carrying. He carried around a three-ringed notebook binder like all the other kids. I remember it being one of the denim blue ones, which was pretty common at the time. I think I had the same one.

When Richard and I first met he told me he was a writer. I thought that this was an unusual thing for a high school student to say. Then he opened his notebook. The first page was completely filled with his tiny handwriting in blue ink. Then he turned the page. The next two pages were also covered with lines of his handwriting. Then he flipped through more and more pages. They were all filled with his handwriting. I couldn’t disagree with him. He was a writer.

We talked about books and TV shows.  He told me about his stories. I don’t remember much of it. What I do remember is that he suggested we write. He had some cool ideas. 

We were both fans of lots of science fiction TV shows, including Space: 1999. He had an idea for a series based on one of the first season episodes, Another Time, Another Place. In this episode the characters enter a parallel universe in which some of the main characters have died and the rest  have settled on a new world. Richard even came up with Another Time, Another Place logo done in the style of the Space: 1999 logo. He suggested that we write episodes set in the parallel universe. I agreed but never did write anything. I just couldn’t think of any stories. The universe was nowhere near as interesting as Star Trek’s mirror universe. Another idea he had was for an original series about a psychic private eye. He came up with a story bible and said let’s write some stories. This time I actually wrote. I started a story but I didn’t get very far and never finished it. 

We never worked together on anything after that. Time moved on. He graduated the year before me and we lost touch. I’ve thought about him once in a while as the years have passed.

A  few years ago I found a website that listed all the students from my high school. Students are listed by graduation class. It was nostalgic seeing familiar names and pictures. It brought back a lot of memories. It also made me feel quite sad. In a section labeled “In Memory,” I discovered that Richard had passed away. The year that he passed away is listed as unknown. I tried looking him up online but haven’t been able to find any information. 

I have a couple of notebooks that I use as writing journals. One is a daily journal and the others are writing study journals. I usually use a blue pen. I’ve filled up quite a few pages. Sometimes when I look at my pages I think of Richard. 

Next: What I Get Out of Writing and What I Hope to Get