Page 68 of Bad Words

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 26, 10:55 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

Surely not? Is Parker Navarro saying something negative about a book?

You’re right, though. Terrible book. Meandering MFA project that should have been killed in its overpriced workshop. Sometimes I wonder what the National Book Award committee is thinking.

An instant after I pressed Send, I wondered if that had been wise to put in writing. Kellie had reviewed The Fire Beneath Her Feet for City, so my distaste for it wasn’t public. I shifted my weight on the dampening bathmat and wondered if I could expect the next notification to be from social media. Something along the lines of @ParkerNavarroWrites has tagged you in a post: If anyone thought Selina Chan was less awful in private, I’ve got news for you.

My inbox refreshed, Parker’s name in boldface again.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 26, 10:56 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

Oh, I would kill to know what happens in those committee rooms.

It’s funny. With the glaring exception of my books, you actually seem to have good taste.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 26, 10:57 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

Thank you. Did you find that out when you read my entire review archive?

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 26, 10:58 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

God. I don’t know why I told you that.

I tied my robe and reclined on my bed in a pool of warm lamplight, my muscles relaxing.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 26, 11:00 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

No, please, tell me more about your disturbing internet habits. Did you Google “Selina Chan age” when you were writing your short story? “Selina Chan alma mater”? “Selina Chan height”?

To: [email protected]