in the beginning...

And an auspicious one, at that! Though I'll explain that in a 1/2 sec. First, I should probably do the whole introduction thing, for posterity.

Brooke: that's me. Twenty-two, born in October '87. Speech Pathology student by day/cafe barista by nights and weekends. Friendly neighborhood African-American bookstore geek girl.
Wannabe screenwriter. Acting amateur that's looking to break into the industry. Dream is to be the showrunner of my own television series. I see myself as a mini Josh Schwartz meets Tina Fey. And luckily (and unluckily, it's a double edged sword), I live in Louisiana, an [occasionally] beautiful state in the Southern U.S. that has a budding film industry thanks to tax credits for filmmakers and locations like Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and my favorite, New Orleans. So that's the lucky part. The unlucky part is that while it's third in the nation for film production (fact!), it's still behind (1.) California and (2.) New York. Where I want to be.

Hence the blog: From LA to L.A. ... er, someday! If only to be a wack ass tourist and squeal on Sunset, taking lots of pictures?

That's neither here nor there.

The auspicious beginning, and the reason why I believe my lark decision to start up this blog was fated in the stars...

I work in a rinky-dink chain bookstore with their own cafe. So that's my life, or at least a big chunk of it - baking your cookies, grinding your coffee, serving with a smile.

Now, I have a retinue of regular customers that I see - literally - every day that I work. Some are sweethearts, some are nondescript, some are total creepers and I kinda wish they would stop talking to me, but what can you do? This customer wasn't a notable regular, but he definitely made himself known.

First, let's picture the guy: tall, dark, handsome. Totally without Southern accent. Dressed in that typical sporty, baller look. Just think "R. Kelly" for quick reference. This gentleman will henceforth be known as Almost R. Kelly (ARK!)

So ARK orders gives me his credit card and steps aside to let his friend order on the same ticket. While friend is ordering, ARK mozies away from the register to go rifle through books several feet away.

Barista hint: Do do that. Why would you leave you credit card with a stranger? As Dane Cook says, homie if you're in the Entenmann's cookie display, you're out of line, and not only that, you're being fiscally irresponsible! You need to keep an eye on your plastic. But I digress.

So transaction is over. I hand ARK's credit card to his friend. That's when ARK's friend turns around to jokingly tell him that I was "giving his money away." ARK returns, laughing...

ARK: Oh you're getting some points deducted for that. That's not too responsible of you to just be giving customer's cards away.
Me: Well I figured you were friends, you just bought him tea and a cookie.
ARK: Doesn't matter!
Me: Well, technically, it's a lack of responsibility on your part to leave your credit card unattended.
ARK: Ah, she's a smart one!

...Yeah buddy, I think on my feet! So I suppose after besting ARK in a battle of wits, he got curious. Starting asking the standard questions:

(1.) Do you go to school? (2.) What for? (3.) Are you from here?

Yessir! Speech Pathology [AN: Usually here's the part in the conversation where I get a lot of blank stares cause nobody ever knows what SpeechPath is. Impressively, he did] Yes, born and raised in LA, and yeah, I know I don't have an accent to speak of.

So this all leads up to the BIG question - what are you going to do when you graduate? And seriously guys, though I know it is an inevitability, that it's happening in mere months, it's hard to wrap my mind around it. Hell, my own family asks, "All right, what's next?" I don't have a clue, really! When a stranger asks, even more so.

So I default to my stock answer: "Well, I'll either pursue a Master's Degree. But I'd really like to get into acting. Louisiana's a great place to do it. Check out the front page of the newspapers. They're all taking about the next Twilight movie being filmed in Baton Rouge."

ARK: "Yeah? Well what if I told you I was pretty major in the entertainment and sports industry. Would you believe me?"

After giving him the side-eye and fishing his credit card slip out of the pile of paperwork (just who am I dealing with here?), ARK reveals who he is - a sports and entertainment agent. Homeboy had the ESPN interview footage on his Blackberry to prove it. He also had keys to a Bentley in his pocket, Exhibit B.

Me: "Err, wait so there's a Bentley in our parking lot right now?
ARK: "That's irrelevant.

So meeting this guy was pretty surreal. He was very Zen. I suppose that's what comes with Bentley keys and celebrity clients and etc etc. He kept giving me advice that seemed wayyy over my head.

ARK: ....Isn't it a blessing? You've trying to do what I have already done. I've made movies! TV shows! Radio! And now you see me and now you know if I can do it, you can do it. Is any of this making any sense? Are you following me?
Me: Um. I think so!

Long story short (too late!) he told me to contact him about internship possibilities. All that sounds exciting, but I'm going to remain pleasantly skeptical. No one expects to get their big break on their 9 to 5.

And for the tl;dr crowd, don't worry. This is probably the longest post you'll ever see from me!