The Book…

What Hides Within

by Jason Parent

The Interview…

JP: Hello, all. I’m Jason Parent, author of What Hides Within, and I’ll be your guest interviewer this evening. We have a very special guest tonight: Ms. Victoria Menard.

(I glance at the little girl sitting beside me, all smiles and pigtails. Not a hint of sadness is traceable in the lines of her face. How could someone so young, so impressionable, hide her pain so well?)

JP: Say hello to your fans, Victoria.

VM: Hi!

JP: Victoria, please tell the audience how old you are.

VM: I just turned nine last week.

JP: Really? Happy birthday. How did you celebrate it?

VM: My special friend threw me a party . . . sort of. We had ice cream, and I got a new bike.

(Since what happened to her parents, Victoria has had a lot of growing up to do, more than anyone could ask from a girl her age. I should have provided for her better. Still, she seems to be doing alright. Where’d she get the money for a new bike?)

JP: Who’s this “special friend” of yours?

VM: I can’t tell you that!

(Why is she laughing? Is there some inside joke I’m stuck outside of? I’ll press for an answer. No nine year-old girl is going to outsmart me.)

JP: Sure you can. Your fans want to know all about you. Please, tell us about your friend.

VM: No.

JP: Who bought you the bike?

VM: I got it myself.

JP: Where did you buy it?

VM: I . . . I don’t remember.

(Why does she look so upset now? Moody little one, isn’t she? She’s lying, too. But why?)

JP: Okay, how about the ice cream? Where did you get that?

VM: Oh, you know, that little place near all those farms in Swansea.

JP: Sanders Farm? They have great ice cream. If I recall correctly, it was broken into sometime last–

VM: I wouldn’t know anything about that. My friend said I wasn’t supposed to talk about that with anyone. Let’s talk about something else.

JP: Victoria, I’m worried about you. You do know that I’m also your friend, right?

VM: You are? I don’t know. My friend says not to trust you.

JP: Who says? Victoria, who’s been looking after you?

VM: My friend says I shouldn’t talk to you anymore.

(Says? Was her use of the present tense a mistake? Poor Victoria. She’s been through so much; it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s invented an imaginary friend to help her cope.)

JP: Is your friend talking to you now?

VM: She says to tell you “no.” She says you’re a loser who shouldn’t quit your day job.

JP: That’s not very nice, Victoria. It sounds like this “friend” of yours is a bad influence. What else is she telling you?

VM: May I be excused? I need to use the bathroom.

JP: Sure, kid. We’ll be right back with more from Victoria Menard.

(Victoria sure hustled out of here. I hope she’s okay. I’ll forgive her that last comment. After all, I am somewhat responsible for all her suffering.)

JP: What’s that? She crept out the bathroom window? What about the rest of the show?

(I guess I should be pissed, but I can’t help but worry for her. What can I do for her? She’s no longer mine to control. God help her. She’s in her friend’s hands now.)

The Author…

JASON PARENT spends his days writing, but it’s mostly drafting legal memoranda as a civil litigator in New Bedford, MA—not exactly a venue conducive to creativity. But during his lunch breaks and after hours, you can often find him at one of the area’s charming coffee shops, huddled over an unadulterated iced coffee with a pen and paper in hand (somewhat old-school in his methods). Hopefully, when you see him, the pen’s moving, and he hasn’t dozed off.

Either way, be sure to say, “hello.” If he’s asleep just poke him with a stick. Jason always welcomes the chance to meet readers and to field their questions and comments, be it in person, through Goodreads or through his website, http://authorjasonparent.com/

Jason primarily writes thrillers and horror, but has branched out into other areas of speculative fiction. Stay tuned for future works.