The Unexpected Life of Carnegie Lane (5 page)

Written by Annie Lennox and David A Stewart

Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams Album –1983

4

Two
months later and life went on, with still no word about her book from anyone. In fact she had almost forgotten about it in a way. That didn’t change the fact that the effort made to do what she did had healed her to some degree. Carnegie was having a great day at home, doing what she did best. Somewhere in this journey she had come out from under the rock she had been coveting, and glimpses of who she really was, started shining through.

The daggy sneakers made way for her beloved Doc Martin boots, the overgrown shirts became red and white striped stretch shirts, with a vintage jacket over the top. Her hair became a focal point in her life again, strangely braided in unlikely places, tied with ribbons and bows. The eyeliner came out, and those blue eyes were framed in perfect black.

It wasn’t that it looked bad, in fact if she had still been living in Paddington, no one would have batted an eye lid. Only she wasn’t in Paddington, she was in Bundaberg. A town where flannelette shirts ruled supreme, and anything slightly off-beat could almost have been viewed as satanic. At least, it was in the street she lived in.

Her twin daughters had started spending more time at home, studying and preparing for their trial Higher School Certificate exams. She fussed over them, made them lots of their favorite food, and when their music blasted from the bedroom, she bit her tongue. Switching off the sound button in her brain and turning on the memory button to the music that was her life line, she could suffer it. It almost felt like a betrayal to leave the songs of the 80’s behind so easily and move on. It just wasn’t right, on any level!

If only she had really listened that day, she would have heard the voice of the only other person in the world, who at that time, had read her story. Her girls were huge fans of Sheeva’s Disciples. As for Nate Bowman, well it was doubtful they would ever look sideways at anyone with him walking the earth. They, along with thousands, simply adored him. It didn’t matter that he was almost the same age as their father. He was a musical genius that was easy on the eyes to the point of permanent distraction.

Carnegie had noticed the change in the music scene and how it had taken on a very scripted presence. The girls who were making it would dance on stage, throwing themselves around in not much more than a swimsuit, and even though they could possibly sing, their music lacked bass, real drums and therefore, soul! It was a phenomenon that she didn’t understand and it all ended for her with ‘Milli Vanilli’ and the lip sync blunder.

There were some good rock bands out there if she had chosen to follow them. Right now, her take on most modern music was that rock stars had become almost like lava lamps. Pretty to look at but not very bright, let alone overly talented.

Leaving the girls to worship their chosen sounds in their own way, Carnegie escaped to the sanctuary of her bedroom. It had been a while since she checked her email, so now was as good a time as any to do so.

Carnegie had set up a completely new email address, still determined to avoid contact with anyone. It was almost disappointing opening it regularly, only to find it empty. Today was different. Signing in via Google to her new Gmail account, a little sign popped up that said one new message. Her heart almost skipped a beat with joy.
[email protected]
had mail!

All of her excitement came to a screaming holt when she realized the sender was not the agent, yet some unknown completely. Still, she opened her email, curious to see what they wanted and hoping it wasn’t a bail out from Nigeria offering her millions of dollars from a long lost trust fund if she helped.

-----Original Message-----

From: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

To: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

Sent: Thu, May 26, 2010 10:58 pm

Subject: Hello

Hello Carnegie,

My name is Nate Bowman. My sister Katalie Bowman recently received a manuscript from you, your story “Impossible things”. I happened to be visiting her, and I had the opportunity to read it. I just wanted to tell you that I loved it. I really hope that you do well. You deserve it. I hope you stay in touch. I am interested in the world that lives inside your head. I find it inspirational.

All the best

Nate x

Thanks Nate whoever you are
…she thought, when she read it. The name Katalie Bowman was the one she resonated with. So ok, it wasn’t from her, it was from her brother but hey, who was she to worry about that? Someone else in the world liked her book! Carnegie had absolutely no idea who Nate Bowman was, so it wasn’t like she was about to do a back flip in her bedroom over the email. She did feel somewhat obligated to reply though; sort of chuffed she was answering her first fan mail.

-----Original Message-----

From: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

To: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

Sent: Fri, May 27, 2010 11:25 am

Subject: Hello

Hello Nate,

Thank you for the encouraging words. I’m pleased you liked my story, although, most importantly I’m keen to hear if your sister liked it. I’m not sure if you would really be that interested in the world inside my head, it’s a bit trippy at times. Again, thanks for the encouragement. Have a great day.

Carnegie Lane

She sent off that email without a second thought, other than hoping Katalie Bowman was loving it too, and being polite to her brother would have to be a tick in the box. Her day just got a little brighter, regardless. She looked up some songs on YouTube, (it had a plethora of 80’s music to choose from) while she waited for the loud and vivacious rock music screaming from her daughters room to settle. Then she went out and began making dinner, singing silently to herself.

Carnegie lived her life in increments that varied in length between three and five and a half minutes. It really depended on the length of the song she was thinking about. Within those moments, she could become whatever she wanted. She could be singing to a crowd of thousands, or be standing in the front row of a concert, staring up at Robert Smith, wondering how he got so god damn talented in the first place. By the time her musical selection was over, she had all of her earthly tasks completed and she was revived, feeling like she just got home from a holiday. Music was her life. It just needed to be a little more updated than what it was.

Later that night, she decided to check her email again. The game of cat and mouse had begun. She had a reply.

-----Original Message-----

From: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

To: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

Sent: Fri, May 27, 2010 9:15 am

Subject: RE: Hello

Hi Carnegie,

Thanks for the fast response, I really wasn’t expecting one at all to be honest. I’m not sure what my sister thinks of your story. I’ll text her and ask her. I’m sure she will love it. Your wrong on one thing, I
would
like to know what goes on in your head. Where did you get your story idea from in the first place? I feel like I know it. Have to run, got people telling me to get moving here. Another day, another dollar really. You have great taste in music, I love The Cure too. Keep in touch.

Nate x

She was happy with the response. He was going to check and see what his sister thought. Through the vague and very new connection with someone, who at that moment meant nothing to her, she was about to get the updates on her progress in the publishing world. Something that was made very clear in her acres of research, was very unlikely to happen. He wanted to keep the connection. She was happy to entertain it.

-----Original Message-----

From: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

To: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

Sent: Sat, May 28, 2010 12:20 am

Subject: RE: Hello

Hi Nate,

I love my music, it means the world to me. In fact, in many ways it is my world. Hard to explain, you probably wouldn’t understand, even if I tried. Thanks for following up with your sister for me, I have been waiting to hear something, anything would do. I’m a bit new to all this, so not sure what to expect.

So you have a heap of people pushing you along hey. What do you do for work? Just curious. Anyway. That’s it for me, it’s late. Have a great day.

Carnegie xx

Nate Bowman was in Prague when the email came through on his Blackberry. He was about to go on TV and do an interview. He opened it, and almost burst out laughing. Carnegie Lane just became even more interesting. She was possibly the only person on the face of the earth that had no idea who he was. It made sense now, that’s why her emails were casual and somewhat relaxed. He quickly sent her back a reply, wondering if it would really make that much of a difference to her. There was only one way to find out.

-----Original Message-----

From: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

To: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

Sent: Fri, May 27, 2010 11:15 am

Subject: RE: Hello

What if I told you I was the lead singer in a band? Would it change anything?

Nate.

She was just about to shut down her computer when the email came through. She quickly opened it and read it. Her response was fast, since she was tired, and she gathered he was just playing games with her.

-----Original Message-----

From: Carnegie Lane ([email protected])

To: Nate Bowman ([email protected])

Sent: Sat, May 28, 2010 1:05 am

Subject: RE: Hello

Hi,

Rock Star hey! Nope wouldn’t change anything. Unless you were secretly Robert Smith!

Later!

Carnegie

Nate lay on the bed in his hotel room that night reading her final email over and over again. It was a great answer. She either really didn’t know, or had a great way of deflecting what it was she did know. He decided to give her a few days and see if anything further came through. He closed his eyes, trying so hard to remember the words on the pages he no longer had. Before he went to sleep, he sent a text to his sister. He was curious to hear what she thought about the story. If he loved it, she would too.

Hey Kat just checking in, was

Wondering if you read the

manuscript from Carnegie Lane

yet? Wondering what you thought

of it? Can’t get it out of my head. In

Germany next weekend. Want to fly out

and hang with us? Come over.

Love u

Nate xx

Katalie Bowman opened her text message early the next morning. As soon as she read his email she got a sinking feeling. Where was that manuscript? Then it dawned on her. It was still somewhere in her car. She rarely drove, since she caught the train everywhere, so it wasn’t like it was obvious. All of the other manuscripts had been well and truly documented and categorized by now. Except for this one. She ran out to the elevator and went down to the car park, searching through the deluge of stuff in the back until she found it. Feeling guilty she decided to leave it on her coffee table, and promised both that manuscript and herself, that she would read it, carefully, as soon as she got home.

Right now, Katalie Bowman had a train to catch. Today she had to submit her offerings for the monthly mosh pit of stories that may or may not become represented works. Sadly for Carnegie, her story had been missed from the selection pile…twice. Although, that one simple mistake had proved to be her saving grace.

On the train on her way to work that day she sent her brother a reply:

Reading that manuscript this week.

Will let you know what I think when

I come to Germany. Looking forward

to seeing you. Luv. Kat!

Nate read her text. He was pleased she was going to come and see him. He was also curious what her feedback would be. He considered himself educated enough to know a good story when he read one. It was hard for him to believe that she hadn’t bothered to pick it up, since he had raved about it being a great read.

His assistant changed his train of thought. Suddenly, Nate Bowman was thinking of interviews, of film clips, and upcoming concerts. He walked out of his hotel room, and was met by fans and media at the door. He stopped to talk to them briefly, although the meet and greet was cut short when his assistant grabbed him.