The Lila Beckmann Project started a few months ago as a result of my frustrated job search.
Thinking I could use some help, I went to the best character in business-- Shere Khan.
Among the more interest tidbits of advice he gave me were these:
"In business there are the 'eaters' and the 'eatens'."
"What you have to do in your cover letter is create a niche. There is no one else that
possesses your exact talents, so they must hire you."
"Do not apologize. Do not grovel. You are what you are...
a professional prioritizer, an expert multitasker."
"Your cover letter is NOT the window to your soul."
Rather than solve my frustrations, having Khan as a mentor exacerbated them. He was ruthless
in his criticism and with my laid-back personality there was PLENTY for him to criticize. So
in a desperate attempt to divert his attention and forestall his next attack I asked about
his personal life. Big Mistake! There is nothing worse (well, hardly anything worse) than
having a moody tiger on your hands while conducting a fruitless job search. I had to write
the story.
He turned away with a sigh and whispered the name: "Lila". The next moment, he drew a deep
breath, and it was back to business as usual. "It's like that song you're always listening to
on the radio... When she died, she 'stole my sunshine.'"
I was surprised. Khan didn't strike me as the type to be '...lying in the grass of Sunday
morning of last week/ indulging in my self-defeat...'
Khan sat down wearily, lost in his thoughts. The results of that conversation I have written
down here. It is mainly an ending. His voice was harsh and bitter especially whenever he
spoke of Eddie. I was full of questions: what was she like? why did she go with Eddie? what
happened to Lila?
In spite of his engagement, Khan seems to know surprisingly little about his fiancee. Or he
doesn't trust his memories of her to be true. When I pressed him for details, he simply said,
"You will have to go to Ms. Cunningham."
It was possibly worst thing that could happen. Let me explain. The majority of us, I suppose,
have a furry alterego. Mine is a raccoon, whose mother was very good friends with Ms.
Cunningham. She's known me since I was seven years old. There was no way she would tell me
what had happened. As expected, when I asked, she said with downcast eyes, "I don't why you
would be interested in such a sordid affair." So that was that. Another dead end.
The truth is I don't know what happened. I'll probably never know. But I'll try to figure it
out and write it down here. There are still some sources I haven't tried: Plane Jane, Princess
Gwace, that pawn shop fellow (what was his name?), Lila's parents and Broadcast Sally.
-dress buying scene?
-Lila gives Rebecca the letter, Plane Jane is there-- implies that PJ visits H4H on a
reg basis
-bad guy scenes???
-Lila calls Rebecca -- implies a tight friendship with R
-Eddie arrives at Lila's apartment/ L calls SK.
-Lila dies
-Rebecca in hospital
-SK hunts down rebel faction. Confronts Eddie.
-SK brooding in office/ Rebecca delivers letter
Coming Soon (to this very spot): Table of Characters
Lila Elise Beckmann- young, ambitious but kind. She has this way of making others feel good about themselves when speaking to her. Grew up in CS w/ Plane Jane in the same poor neighborhood. Also childhood friends with Eddie whom Jane never liked. Both Jane and Lila were selected from their elementary school to receive a scholarship to an international/ boarding/ finishing school They helped each other w/ homework. Jane is a math whiz and Lila excelled at most other subjects. Formed a clique w/ Princess Grace of Wallawallabingbang. Lila served as a foil for Jane & Grace's wild schemes. They became 3 really close friends. Jane quit finishing school to become a pilot. Grace went on to become Queen. Lila went to business school in CS with some financial help from her friends and some straggling and sacrificing on her parents' and her side. Got burned really badly by Eddie. Not sure exactly what. Chosen to mentor w/ Khan. She really admires Rebecca for her business ethic and courage.
Eh, why not? Song Lyrics that make me think of this story:
Who is she in the moonlight?
Who is she for you?
-Dreams Come True
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