The publication of this story, titled “Table for Two,” is timely. The lead female character is based on my friend Ivy, who passed away recently. The lead male character is based on me. (Essentially, the story is about two longtime Las Vegans from very different backgrounds who, over a spontaneous lunch, realize they have quite a bit in common.)
I view this story as a tribute of sorts to Ivy and I hope it captures her resilience, intelligence, and personality and helps break stereotypes. An editor of a well-paying Substack journal passed on the piece because he felt the female character was not believable. She’s too clever for a street prostitute, he suggested. I told him the character was based on a real person, but, indeed, Ivy was hard to fathom.
Thanks to my high school classmate and fellow writer Kris Herndon for her suggestions on the story, and to Teach. Write. editor Katie Winkler for publishing the piece. (Teacher/writer friends, you may want to consider submitting to this journal.)
The spring summer 2026 edition is at the top of the home page. The story starts on page 123.
