The Name Says It All

"Can I take off my blindfold yet?"

"Just a while more. No peeking!"

"It's not fair. You've been furnishing the new apartment, while I had to g-OW!"

"Whoops. Watch that step, dear. Now take off your shoes."

"Hold my hand now. OK, can I take my blindfold off now?"

"Here, let me help you."

"Goodness. It's so dark! Where's the switch now..."

"SURPRISE!!!" People popped out from behind furniture throwing confetti and pulling poppers.

Alyssa gasped, and tried to take everything in. She turned to Conner. "The furniture, it's...it's...and the portraits...?"

Conner grinned. "Yep, they're Adrienz." Aye-dree-urn-zah. You could hear him drop every inflection in its place. "You were gushing over it at the gallery. And the portraits are Alexanders, directly from Jaylex Studios."

Elated, Alyssa went in to meet everyone, her group of close friends and such. Various wishes of happy birthday greeted her.

"Lovely place you have here, girl! You absolutely lucky thing. How I wish I was in your place. Here, your birthday gift. I'd to hunt absolutely everywhere for a copy! Go ahead, open it!"

Jamie pushed a present into her hands. Alyssa undid the ribbon and opened the box, and let out another gasp.

"A leather-bound Savante! Ooh! 'The New Year'! But, I thought he never completed the story? I always wondered what happened between John and James!"

"He had limited copies made. This is a collector's item - there were a few antique book stores that refused to part with their copy!" Jamie made that little pout that meant 'I went through a lot of trouble for this, so you better appreciate it!'.

"While you're at it, here's an early copy of Ru's latest book. Signed. Gotta admit, I love my job."

"Bookworm." Alyssa grinned. "You're lucky to be able to get a columnist position in NJAPF."

"Have you seen the coffee table?" Jamie was already directing her towards it.

"It's an Adrienz too isn't it?"

"Not just that! The coffee table books!"

"Dear Lord, an Apollo's Cityscapes photobook and a GLog City Guide!"

Conner appeared behind Alyssa at this point. "Better get changed, dear. There's a little supper going on at the dinner table and you might find something more suitable in the bedroom."

Alyssa allowed herself to be led into a room where a stunning dress was laid out on the canopy bed.

"A Daniel Henry ensemble." Conner whispered in her ear.

"It's lovely." She breathed.

"Don't take too long now."

When Alyssa came out and reached the dining table, everyone was already seated. Alyssa headed to the only empty seat at the end of the table, and saw a napkin placed in front of the seat, folded such that the de Cian monogram could be seen clearly, and something else written in the corner of the napkin. She unfolded the napkin to find her name stitched into the corner, a personalized de Cian ambigram of her name. Everyone had one.

Ferpcakes and Just Heavenly delicacies filled the table, and everyone's attention soon switched from Alyssa's dress to the glass tank centerpiece. Alyssa leaned forward to peer inside. "Those hamsters are Froggie breeds. Excellent housepets. Able to sustain themselves without eating each other for months," explained Conner.

The party went on for a couple of hours. Presents were passed and opened, toasts were made, and as the hour grew late, candles were blown. More drinks and toasts.

After the guests had all left, Alyssa was tired out, and slid into the couch. She could feel a headache coming on. "Darling, do we have any 3-Seconders in the kitchen?" Conner brought her a sachet together with a glass of water.

"You better get some rest soon, dear. Don't forget you start shooting for that Sam Nasser movie tomorrow. I'll put on the JoeRy CD, you always find their songs soothing."

OK. We simply cannot write anymore, it's already quite difficult without any script or draft. That we sometime spout utter rubbish, doesn't mean we have the entire backstory all ready also.

But here's the question: Just how big is your ego? Wouldn't it be something to have your name associated with something? And by something here, we mean with an item or creation, not like the Edison Chen kind. Let's stick to a certain kind of ego-stroking here, other kinds maybe next time.

Think of it - it might be due to the job, or a passionate hobby, something you have talent in. Well...among the abovementioned, so far only Just Heavenly would be recognized by most. :) But who knows who else will become quite terkenal in the future, hor?