The European Assignment

Prowess in writing leads to travel

Phillip is a writer on assignment in Europe to cover the rise of right-wing nationalism. While he was writing in a Paris Cafe, suddenly there was an explosion outside, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the act of terrorism.

The explosion projectiles shattered the glass window of the cafe and did damage to the walls. A fire alarm sounded as the confused patrons of the restaurant, including Phillip, navigated the rubble as they focused on exiting.

In confusion, Phillip left his notebook behind. Once he exited the cafe and proceeded, the distance, defined by the authorities as safe. He was not allowed to return.

The French police were investigating the crime. After a while, the police allowed the janitors in to help in the cleanup. One of the janitors was an ex-patriot from England named Tom; while Tom was cleaning, he came across the notebook Philip had left. Later on, returning to his residence, the exhausted Tom stored his backpack in a closet, forgetting about the notebook he had found in the cafe.

A week back.

Phillip was sitting in the living room of his New York home when the phone rang; Phillips publisher was calling him.

Phillip: Hello.

Publisher: Hello, Phillip, this is your publisher; I have an assignment for a writer to go to Europe and cover a story about the rise of right-wing nationalism in Europe.

Phillip needing the money, jumped at the offer.

Phillip: Ah… Ok, I'll go.

Publisher: Good. Your plane leaves tomorrow out of LaGuardia. Airport. There will be a ticket waiting for you at the airport. We have booked you on the red-eye to Paris.

Phillip: Ah … Ok, I'll be there.

One month after the explosion blew up the cafe.

It was Saturday, and Tom had his weekly basketball game at the nearby park. As he went to put his basketball back in the closet, his backpack fell, causing its contents to be spewed out all over the floor. Phillip's notebook was among the contents of the pack that spewed out all over the floor.

Once again, Tom thumped through the notebook, but unlike the first time, Tom wasn't in a hurry and looked more closely at the notebook's contents.

Among other things, Tom noticed a name. a phone number, and the comments of a story.

Tom called the phone number listed in the notebook; it was an American phone number routed directly to Phillip's publisher in New York City.

Publisher: Hello.

Tom; Hello, I found a notebook in a Paris cafe that a terrorist suicide bomber had blown up. The contents of the notebook look important, so I am trying to return it to its owner. It had a name in it listed as Phillip Smith.

Publisher: Yes, the contents of the notebook are essential. We thought the information in it was lost forever. Getting the notebook back will speed up Phillips's story.

Soon, Tom contacted Phillip, located in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Phillip: Hello.

Tom: Hello… I'm looking for Phillip Smith. I found a notebook with his name inside a Paris cafe blown up by a suicide bomber.

Phillip: Yes, that is mine. I can't believe it's been found after all this time. The notebook contains essential information I collected for a story I'm writing. I thought I was going to have to re-create the information. It will save time once I get it back.

Yom made arrangements to return the notebook to Phillip; Phillip was so happy he gave Tom a substantial reward.

Phillip returned to New York, finished his story, his publisher published it. It was well received and made the bestseller list.

Another good fiction story by Lisa Gerard Braun