Philip and Elliot - Chapter 11 Excerpt

Here is the Chapter 11 Excerpt from my 2008 Nanowrimo winning novel, "Philip and Elliot". Currently I am in a mass editing mode (Penoedmo - Personal Novel Editing Month - which has extended to 2 months). I have 170 pages edited thus far out of 269.

This is still from the unedited text. It is loosely based on a surprise party my Mom through for my Dad on his 40th. However, in this excerpt, the birthday is actually a 38th birthday. It was the only way I can make it work with the timeline.

Remember this is unedited and uncooked.

Note: Next L.A. Scene will reveal the long awaited "Album of the Year" winner for 2008!!

Phil and Julie Cotter were walking outside of the parking lot at a Medical Complex located at the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Beach Avenue. It was a quiet cool evening. Phil was dressed in a gray suit while Julie was in a white knee-length dress with black hose.

“Julie, I don’t understand you are receiving an award at your office on a Saturday night,” said Phil.

“Phil, I told you. In Medical Lab Research, we have limited funding. They decided to cater this event here,” said Julie.

“Well, you know they are installing the pool and the deck at the house. I think we need to be there,” said Phil.

“At night?” said Julie.

Phil was at a loss of words. He was still getting used to the idea of Julie working at a Medical Lab as a technologist. He liked the fact she was earning money, but he still had some envy that she had a college degree and he didn’t.

“All right,” said Phil.

The Medical Complex was three stories. Julie’s office at “Hylan Medical Research” was located in the lower floor. It required walking down a short flight of steps.

“You could be a little more happy for me,” said Julie.

“I am,” said Phil in a reluctant matter.

Julie opened the door into the reception area. Phil grabbed the door to let Julie go in first.

“It’s awful fuckin quiet,” said Phil.

Julie was biting her tongue. She knew that Phil was complaining, but she did not want to have an argument with Phil.

“Oh come on! It’s in our community room we have in the office,” said Julie.

Julie then opened the door to the community room. The moment she opened the door to the room a bit “SURPRISE!” was yelled by everyone in the room. Julie then looked at Phil who was unsure what was meant by “Surprise!”

“What the?” said Phil as he saw his brother Elliot with his girlfriend Sandy, his children Wesley and Melissa, Julie’s sister Nadine, Julie’s Aunts – Florence and Teresa, Don and Annie Dunphy, and many of their mutual friends.

“Your birthday dummy!” said Julie.

“Happy Birthday Phil!” yelled everyone.

Phil was in a complete state of shock. The room had about 50 people in it. Phil could not believe it.

“For me?” asked Phil.

“Yeah. Happy 38th birthday!” shouted Julie.

Phil immediately went and hugged and kissed Julie. Surprisingly, Julie’s Aunt Florence – whom Phil always had a fragile relationship was the first to come up to him.

“Happy Birthday Phil!” said Florence.

“Thanks Aunt Florence,” said Phil.

“We’re so proud of you! You’ve really done a great job. We’ve be talking to Don about how great a job you have done with your company!” said Florence.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Phil.

“Happy Birthday Daddy!” shouted Melissa as she went and kissed her father. Wesley was next to Elliot and then came over to Phil to hug him.

“Surprised?” asked Sandy who was wearing a blue minidress.

“Very,” said Phil.

Don and Annie then came up to Phil.

“Happy birthday Phil,” said Annie as she went and hugged Phil.

“Happy birthday my friend,” said Don as he shook Phil’s hand and hugged him.

“It means the world to me,” said Phil. Phil then noticed lots of food and a catering staff to boot. “Julie, how in the world did you pull this off?”

“Not easy,” said Julie who knew now that she was earning a paycheck, it was easy to put the money aside.

“Your wife really loves you,” said Teresa.

“She sure does,” said Nadine.

“Thank you,” said Phil as he went and hugged Teresa first, and then Nadine.

“I have no idea what to say,” said Phil.

“Phil, Don Dunphy is one of the nicest men I ever met – and so is his wife,” said Teresa.

“He sure is,” said Phil who then whispered into Don’s ear and said, “Did she throw me to the wolves?” Phil had confided to many times the problems he had getting along with Julie’s aunts.

“She was in a good mood,” joked Don back into his ear.

Phil felt truly humbled. He knew he wasn’t always the nicest person. He thought back to his affair with Cheryl several years ago and how much he hurt Julie. He thought back to the times when he was gambling away the rent money. He knew that he had come far. He felt that Julie really pulled through for him.

“I love this woman!” shouted Phil to everyone as he went and kissed Julie. He then added, “Sorry I was a pain in the ass tonight.”

“No worse than you normally are,” added Nadine.

“Gee, thanks Nadine,” said Phil.

Wesley went back over to go talk to Elliot. Since he had the fight with Elliot almost two years ago, there was tension in their relationship. While Elliot didn’t stop seeing Wesley didn’t stop talking, they did not hang out as much as they used to. He still didn’t like the fact that Wesley was hanging with Elliot – given that he knew Elliot was still doing drugs. However, he also knew this wasn’t the time to make a scene – not in front of Julie’s family, but most of all, not in front of Don and Annie Dunphy. Phil had confided many times in Don about how upset he was that Elliot was doing drugs and gambling. Don had always advised him not to turn his back on family – which is why he never banished Elliot completely from their lives. He also felt, he wanted to protect Wesley and not have him know what Elliot was up to. Phil made a decision not to air any bad laundry about Elliot tonight.

“Elliot,” said Phil.

“Happy 38th birthday brother,” said Elliot.

“Thanks El,” said Phil as he went and hugged his brother.

“You look well,” said Elliot.

“Thanks,” said Phil.

“Reeves would be mighty proud of you,” said Elliot.

“I’d like think so,” said Phil.