Jane was crazy talented. One time, Mom and I were making Christmas tree ornaments out of that inedible bread dough stuff when Jane came over. Mom and I were making stars and candy canes and such. Jane formed a figure and used her fingernails to finish it. It was Ebenezer Scrooge. As I watched, jaw unhinged in awe, she detailed his scarf, gave him a frown, and showed coins bulging in his pockets.
Amazing.
Jane and I went to different high schools, and to different colleges for my first year, after which Jane transferred. My high school friends and I had so much fun writing serials together, passing them back and forth and adding to the story each time we had it, Jane and I did the same thing by mail. This was postal mail, children. Jane created the character of Tetra, who was a Vulcan. When I started writing the Bel Schuster stories, Jane gave me the character. When I turned the first Bel Schuster Star Trek fanfic into an original novel, I kept Tetra but made her a gilled Gilhoolie from the planet Gilhoo.
The fanfic stories were published in Devra Langsam’s fanzine, Maziform D (not a bra size, as Devra pointed out). I don’t know how we missed doing the first one, but Jane illustrated the subsequent stories. I’ve posted the stories on my old WEBLAHG. Here’s one of Jane’s illustrations, to whet your appetite. The fuzziness comes from the texture of the cheap paper fanzines were mimeographed on. Ah, how we loved the smell of corflu in the mornings.
Jane wrote for Masiform D, as well. In fact, someone who published a collection of fan fiction picked up one of her stories for it. Alas, I never got a copy of it! But Karma has a way of delivering; That book will fall into my lap some day, because Karma.
As always, I invite you to visit my regular Tuesday post at Fatal Foodies. I forget what it’s about.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Write about a friend lost and found.
MA
dan antion
October 17, 2017 at 9:10amJane sounds like she was an amazing person. It’s hard to lose a friend, but even harder when they’ve been with you through so many parts of your life.
Marian Allen
October 17, 2017 at 1:44pmI know, Dan. I feel like something has been pulled out of my heart by the roots. Eventually, I’ll realize that the roots are still there and still nourishing me, but right now I feel her absence more than I feel her ever-presence.
Barbara Greer
October 17, 2017 at 12:42pmI love your stories about your dear friend Jane. They remind me of my Jane.
Hugs,
Barb Greer
Marian Allen
October 17, 2017 at 1:46pmSharing stories about her helps. I’m glad you enjoy them!
Pete Laberge
October 17, 2017 at 4:26pmKeep on writing. Jane would like that! Keep on sharing. A Vulcan would like that!
Take care. and LLAP. I sent Holly some story ideas. Get her to share them with you!
Marian Allen
October 18, 2017 at 8:20amShe shared some with me. You have such a creative mind!
ROY A ACKERMAN, PhD, EA
October 17, 2017 at 9:33pmLoved those sketches!
Marian Allen
October 18, 2017 at 8:21amGlad you enjoyed them, too, Roy. She had a knack, for sure!
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
October 19, 2017 at 11:55amObviously a talented artist. I consider myself incapable of drawing human faces – and real artists do it so acurately. Cpt. Kirk looks like Cpt. Kirk. Wow.
Marian Allen
October 19, 2017 at 1:21pmI know I couldn’t do it!