The young man with the skinny tie reappeared, and turned on a large television set in the corner of the room.

“Quiet, please,” he said. “We are—on.”

The credits for The Tom Hogan Show rolled. Todd turned to Nora.

“Shouldn’t I be in the, you know, the studio?” he asked.

“They’ll take you in,” said Nora. “He’s got the opening monologue to do first.”

“Also you’re the final guest,” said the pale young man.

“He is?” said the cheery actor, looking slightly less cheery.

“Number one!” said Nora, giving Todd an encouraging look. Todd smiled back weakly.

*  *  *

The show revealed its treasures rapidly. Tom Hogan delivered a long but snappy monologue about the President, about Japanese cars, about the latest misadventures of the Rolling Stones, and cut to a commercial. Then he introduced his first guest—the cheery young actor—and talked to him at some length, pausing only to show a clip from the cheery young actor’s movie, which seemed to take place entirely on a golf course. After another ad break, Tom brought on Jane Collins.

This was clearly a serious moment in the show, and while he was bored by the idea of Jane’s documentary, Todd admired the way Tom steered the interview away from the political points that Jane seemed to want to make and into the more acceptable area of Jane as David to the Goliath of unnamed forces of oppression: how she’d secretly entered several of the countries she’d filmed in, how one of her cameramen had almost lost his life, how she’d smuggled the film out, and how, after just one screening in Los Angeles, the documentary had been instantly purchased by a major movie company and nominated for every award going.

A short clip from the documentary was shown. Todd had no idea what was happening in the clip, but it was dramatic, people were screaming and there was a lot of mud on the lens. He joined in the applause in the studio and the green room.

“Follow that,” someone said as the show went to a break. Todd felt a tap on his shoulder.

“You’re on,” said the pale young man.

*  *  *

Todd stood at the edge of the studio set during the ad break. He watched as Tom Hogan held up a copy of the book, recited a couple of statistics, quoted a review and then said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the author of All My Colors—Todd Milstead!” The pale young man propelled Todd out onto the set. He heard applause and even cheering as the cheery young actor and Jane Collins made room for him on the sofa.

“Welcome, Todd,” said Hogan.

Todd beamed. His nerves were gone. He fixed Hogan with a grin.

“Wow,” he said. “It really is a pleasure to be on the show.”

“You know,” said Hogan. “I think you’re the first cheerful writer we’ve ever had on the show.”

Laughter.