Day 22: 39,063 Words and Lab-Themed Cover Bands Explained

 Nothing much of interest today... but I am ready for the home stretch and some outrageousness that is sure to ensue once all my characters end up in the same place at the same time. James, Josh, and Lizzy have entered into the healing circle and are discussing the ways in which they dehumanized Lizzy- which is causing all of the celebrities to think about the role they have played in dehumanizing co-stars. 

Meanwhile, at Jackie's Place, we are preparing for the big finale. Jackie lets Dylann know about the Every Dog Has Its Day Festival: Battle of the Labs, 2021, which is set to take place that day. Dylann finally asks the question that has been on everyone's mind all EsNoWriMo season:

“Why the lab-themed bands?” she asked, prepared for a brush off, or a curt, nonsensical response- she had observed both many times. She received neither. A gentle look crossed Jackie’s face, and he began to speak.

“I had a lab once. He had been left here in the bar. People leave all sorts of things behind, you’d be surprised,” he said, looking at her briefly before continuing. Having spent a great deal of time in Jackie’s Place, there was little that would surprise Dylann, but she had to admit that Jackie’s tender response was the first thing that really surprised her. “I’ve never known such a happy creature. He just accepted everything exactly as it was, and every single day was the best damn day of that dog’s life. He was just happy to be alive. Happy to have a friend. It was the damndest thing,” Jackie stopped speaking for a moment, overcome with the emotion his memories brought up. “I book lab-themed bands, because I want the people of Jackie’s Place to have a taste of that kind of happiness. When I hear the lab-themed lyrics, I am reminded that today could be the best day of my life, if I let it. I want the people who come here to leave with just a little bit of that lab magic. And that,” he said, with finality, “is why I only book lab-themed cover bands at Jackie’s Place, always have, always will.”

“That makes sense to me,” she said gently, and reached out to embrace the grumpy proprietor, whose heart was bigger than any of the clientele were ever likely to know. He returned the embrace and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Now enough talk, let’s get to work,” he said gruffly. “We have a lot of preparation to do. Today is going to be a big day.”