Confirmation
The two went to the next publisher, and he was old, bald, and stiff.
Ally felt uneasy. Very uneasy. She could tell Aaron felt just as worried about the fate of their book.
Milton, a middle-aged man, flipped throughout the manuscript, murmuring things unable to be translated into words.
He read the blurb and then smiled at the two thirteen year olds.
"This work, miss and mister, is art. Very good. Very good. I think it will sell. I will give it to my testers and have them read it. If they think it is decent, we can discuss the costs."
Milton stood up and smiled. "You see, although it won't be easy, I know it will work out somehow. I know when I see a good story, and I found it! This is the first work in weeks to make me smile, make me dazzled. My pre-teen daughters, my testers, are very good readers and they especiAlly like books such as the one you have made here. Go, and rest. It must have been difficult to come here and deliver the manuscript."
Aaron beamed. "Thank you, Mr.—"
"Milton! Milton." Milton waved all airs of superiority away.
Ally stood and reached out to shake Milton's hand. "Thank you, Milton!" She smiled and gave him her email address, and the pair left smiling dumb.
"We did it!" Aaron gave Ally a hug. Ally hugged him back, grinning into his shoulder.
Three days later, Ally received an email.
Dear Cecilia,
My daughters loved your story! They couldn't stop gushing about how fun it was to read. I would like for you and Aaron to come to my office some time, any time, and discuss the costs. I am willing to lower the costs a bit to minors, but we are facing at least three hundred dollars including an editor, if not more.
Good job! Looking forward to hear from you.
Milton
Ally smiled to herself and forwarded the email to Aaron, then shut her laptop and sighed, flopping onto the bed and rolling over to lay on her bed. She smiled at the ceiling before reaching for her phone to call Aaron.
