In honor of May 4th, here's a scene I cut from my college time travel romance. It may have been too silly for the book, but it's perfect for this time of year. Are you a Star Wars nerd? A Walter-and-Aurelia fan? Or a sidekick-Jackie groupie? This scene is for you! May the fourth be with you. The Ewok Scene“This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done,” Aurelia said from her spot in the middle of the living room. “That’s why I’m getting it on camera.” Jackie adjusted the cell phone on its stand. “When I said I needed something to do—” Jackie interrupted. “You’ve been practicing this song for a week, and it’s too good to let you perform it without extra effects.” Aurelia fidgeted with the brown towel Jackie had wrapped around her head and shoulder and safety-pinned together. She had finally learned the Ewokese celebratory song, although now she wished she hadn’t known it existed. Yes, she liked to learn songs in other languages, and yes, this would be a great final farewell to George, the Star Wars fan she once dated. Still, were all these props necessary? “Push your ears back,” Jackie commanded. “They’re sliding forward.” She adjusted the headband with bear ears. On the counter lay several other animal headbands, as well as a gray beard she had categorically refused to wear. “And action.” Jackie clicked the film button and, with the TV remote, started the Star Wars scene on the screen. The instrumentals and Ewok voices began. Aurelia gritted her teeth and began to beat the bowl in her hands before she joined in the first few words. When she broke off and shook her head, Jackie gave her a stern look. She moaned and sang again, rolling her eyes at the ceiling. As if to provide encouragement, Jackie grabbed the bunny-ear headband and a beige towel and joined the scene, singing loudly even though she hadn’t learned the words herself. Her random syllables sounded no more nonsensical than the so-called lyrics. Aurelia started to laugh. Jackie ran across the room and picked up a pot to beat on. Aurelia focused her memory on the next words and waltzed across the living room with her bowl. The two of them crossed paths, drumming and grinning and singing, Aurelia snatching up the beard and tying it to her face, because why not? At this point, she might as well go all out. Jackie caught on to the words that sounded like “Alleluia” and continued to repeat them to the melody. The two of them crossed paths anew, moving their arms up and down like the Ewoks. Aurelia swung around, singing, and then her heart stopped. Her roommate Meana stood in the doorway. Beside her was Walter, whose gorgeous brown eyes were popping out. He spun around as if to hide his reaction, but already he was bending forward, cracking up, his hands on his knees probably the only thing keeping him from collapsing in gales of laughter. Dropping her makeshift drum like it was on fire, Aurelia sprinted to the remote control and turned off the TV. Walter staggered outside, but she could still hear him dying of laughter. Jackie seemed to suffer from the same malady. “It’s not funny,” Aurelia choked out. She tugged at her beard and grew hot when the string tangled, leaving the gray mess hanging half off her face. Her gaze caught on Meana, whose mouth hung open. Huge mistake. The dam inside her burst, and howls of laughter crashed through her body. “That was . . . so . . . good,” Jackie panted. “Noooo,” Aurelia moaned. Walter started to come back in, only to burst into another laugh and stumble outside. “Help me,” Aurelia said just as she managed to get the beard off. “Jackie, help.” She tried to pull off the towel, but it got stuck around the safety pin. “Here, let me see-hee-hee.” Jackie stumbled over, wiping away tears. Walter returned and used the doorway for support. “What are you doing here?” Aurelia cried. "I popped by just in case you were here." He tried to catch his breath. "Meana was on her way home and met me at the corner. She let me in. Sorry I walked in on--no actually, I'm not sorry at all." He hiccupped. "My little Ewok." “Don’t call me that.” She gazed at the ceiling above Walter, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. “I’m never watching or speaking about Star Wars ever again.” “I just need to know,” he pled with her. “Did you play out that scene for one of your books?” The towel-cape came off at last. She ducked her head and tried to smooth her staticky hair. “No, it was for my love of languages. But I’ll stick with real languages from now on.” "Why? Oh, I wish we had gotten this on film," he said. "We did." Jackie's voice rang out, and she pointed to her phone on its stand on the table. Aurelia and Walter stared at the phone. Then at each other. Aurelia made a mad dash for it, but Walter was just as fast. He grabbed her around the waist, but she swung a leg in front of him so he couldn't get closer without tripping. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Jackie snatched up the device in front of them. "My phone." "Can you send me the video?" Walter panted as Aurelia tried to free herself. "I wouldn't mind seeing her as an Ewok again." "That's a four-letter word, Walter," Aurelia said hotly. END OF SCENE If you haven't read Walter Times Two, get to know the above characters and their time travel adventure here:
A stranger's proposal. A crazy time travel explanation. An uncommon love triangle. (1) bit.ly/waltertimestwo-direct Or (2) bit.ly/waltertimestwo-amazon
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