what I mean is, yes, that’s why I called, but I haven’t read it. I haven’t gotten a copy.” “Wow. Well…um-m-m. How can I help you?” “I just wanted…” What did she want? “I suppose I just want to know how you got my name. Why you chose me.” “Oh, yah, sure. That’s easy.” The author remembered it clearly. “Your name came up a couple years ago when I was talking with a friend about names—” “Names?” Tennessee interrupted. “What about names?” “Yah, names, you know? How some names just suit a person, and some don’t. Whether people grow into their names, whether our names shape our lives in some way. Anyway, Colette mentioned your name. She said she had a massage client named Tennessee Blix, and the name totally suited her—I mean, you.” “So you just decided to write a story about me?” The author laughed, obviously
not realizing how serious this was. “Yah. When I heard your name, I thought, wow, what a totally fantastic name! Like the name of a character in a play or a novel. Then I started imagining writing a story using the name Tennessee Blix. What it would be about, and what would happen if I did. So I did. And here you are.” “So you just…stole my name?” “Well, I guess so.” Tennessee was silent. She had gotten the confession she wanted, but it was not at all what she wanted. “Well, listen, I’m totally indebted to you for your name. [That’s right; she was.] Can I send you a signed copy of the book? I’ve got some extras.” “Yes. I’d love that.” Tennessee hoped she would love it. A signed copy, by the award-winningauthor of a story named after her. That’s certainly something to take to a high school reunion. “As soon as you can, I’d love to see it.”
The later.
book arrived three days The
first
page
was
inscribed: Tennessee Blix, Thanks for the inspiration, ~ Chiara Tennessee flipped impatiently to page 39. To her great gratification, Tennessee read the words she had been longing to hear, the confirmation of what she always knew: “Tennessee Blix was destined for greatness.” She knew it, her Momma knew it, and her eleventh-grade English Lit teacher, Mr. Lee, knew it.