"There's going to be more?"
"Yes. I'm constructing a square tower at the west side of the house. Three
stories, so it'll extend a floor above the present roof pitch.
All of the attic will be converted into two large loft rooms. I'll need
a skilled carpenter, and you're the best I know. Will you stay on?"
I shrugged. "I haven't another offer at present."
"I received a call from a former client last night. She has a piece of
driftwood she wants sculpted. Are you interested?"
"I haven't sculpted in years."
"I know. But the pieces I saw, mostly against your will, I know, but they
swept me away. That's why I went to them and examined them though I
felt your resentment."
"I didn't resent it."
"You did. Possibly it began to evaporate into reluctance, into a wish that
you'd hidden them all away under a gigantic parasitic and poisonous vine."
"Hah."
"What do you think?"
"I think I don't want to."
"Give it some careful thought."
"Carolyn mentioned the driftwood again. She came upon me among the
fruit. I couldn't very well flee."
"I don't work to order. She wouldn't get what she paid for. I can't work
trying to sculpt what somebody else would do if they could. Be
their tool."
"She knows that. I've told her. She agrees. She told me again today she
wants someone I think skilled enough to take that piece of wood and do
something with it. Carolyn's curious. She wants to see what music
will be made from it."
"I don't know."
"She has no preconceptions. She's giving you absolute freedom."
"She'll be sorry. She does have an idea in her mind, everyone does, and
she won't like what I do."
"Why? How can you know?"
"Because what's in my mind is never what people expect, or want."
"I think Carolyn's different. Do it. Then I'd like you to begin on some
pieces for me, for the house."
"Uh."
"Will you?"
"Ok."