Chapter Text
The Whale
Written by Gon Freecs
Pg. 1-6 draft
There once was a girl, they called her the whale.
Not because she was big, or without teeth. Not because she lived in water, or because she had flippers;
but because her curiosity was vast like the ocean!
While other kids slept, she explored caves and forests. While others would eat home cooked meals, she’d gather her own berries and roast her own fish.
She lived in a world unlike any other, one that is big, one that is full of culture!
From the animals to the people, the plants to the scenery, all is different, and all is exciting.
—------------------------------
Gon awaits eagerly for a reply. He sits in the middle of his bedroom, where moonlight shines through the window. He is too giddy to lay in bed, but he does not want to wake his poor aunt with senseless pacing. Her room is right beside his own, and her hearing is uncannily sensitive, she awakens to the slightest creek of the floor.
He refreshes the page over and over, hoping that something will change. He throws his head back in frustration, it has been hours and still nothing!
He spoke too soon. 3 dots phase in and out in a tiny message icon as the person on the other end writes a response. Gon has the urge to jump for joy, but he must refrain. He stares intensely at his screen, becoming more and more eager to see what this mystery person says
…
“Hi, May I help you?” -
A generic message, yet he still feels excited. Quickly he responds,
“hello!!! I’m an author, and I'm looking for an artist to help me illustrate my children's book! Your page caught my eye and I'd reallyreallyREALLY appreciate it if we partnered up!”
“You expect me to do this for free?”
Ofcourse, yet again, Gon lost all sense of logic.
“NONO my bad… you’ll get paid!!! You can decide how much”
There's a momentary pause on the other end
“How do I know this is not a scam?”
Gon didn’t think that far… of course it's suspicious for a random stranger to offer you a job with any pay you’d like out of nowhere. Jee, he really did not think this through. Still his mind is set!
“even if I AM a scammer, I do NEED an artist, so why would it matter?”
“....Are you stupid?”
Gon is taken aback by this persons bluntness, his face flushing red
“what's that supposed to mean ):”
“Wow, you really are dense. What makes you think I'm a good fit for a children's book illustrator?”
Gon chooses to ignore his remark. “isn’t it obvious? Your art is so expressive and unique! I need something so recognizable and deep that it draws people in, even if your paintings are quite dark…”
“Alright then, not like I have anything better to do.”
“you could at least sound a little more excited… but either way I'm glad you're on board!!! I’ll send you the first 5 pages, you can sketch up a draft and send it back to me!”
“Ok. I'll update you.”
Gon hearts his message, and finally shuts off his phone. He flops down on the floor, letting out a sigh of relief. He finally found something!