A Deal With the Gods

As the young groom-to-be LEX takes an overnight train with his FIANCÉE and her wealthy FAMILY en route to his upcoming wedding, he remembers SERENITY, the unafraid school cheerleader he fell in love with when she caused a fracas at a high school football game.After reading one of his later stories titled "Angst" to a BARTENDER; a story about a naturally shy, frustrated winner who escapes his angst by accepting his worst-case scenario, Lex argues with fiancée who wants him to give up writing to take a dead-end job for her FATHER. Lex gets a hunch that the only way to keep himself from compromising is to accept his personal worst-case scenario, too.Lex frees the flamboyant MR. TOMORROW from behind a jammed restroom door and readily admits his apprehension over his upcoming marriage to him. Tomorrow, who seems to know everything about Lex, compels him to draw near his truelove by the means of telling honest stories that attract the object of the writer's desire.Lex finds his fiancée reading a story of his-"The Invisible Fish." It's about career paths and when to have kids. The ending hits too close to home for her and she upbraids him for it. Lex's father-in-law, ULICK, summons him to dinner to discuss his future with the company. Intimidated by his wealth, Lex is nevertheless disgusted by his arrogance. Lex is berated and beaten by Mr. Tomorrow for actually accepting a job with Ulick's company. Mr. Tomorrow orders him to finish a pivotal short story called "Paying for His Sins." He assures Lex it will help him overcome his urge to take a shortcut in life and stay on the right track.Lex remembers that back then in writing class he had written an essay about a boy who fell in love with a girl and made a deal with the gods to win her heart someday. After taking another hard beating by him for still hesitating to fulfill the "contract" contained in his very first story, Lex slowly understands why Tomorrow suddenly appeared in his life.