A NASTY FRIEND

"What makes you think you're a writer?" she screamed at me smugly.

I looked at her, dumbfounded. Sitting across from me in a small booth snugly tucked in a corner, her outburst brought a quick glance of interest from other hot mug holders. I rolled my eyes quickly as if to say here we go again.

She continued.

"You've got no education, except for some creative writing courses at that stupid community college."

I said nothing.

"You can't even put two sentences together."

"But I like to write, and I'm good at it." Big come back answer, eh?

That seemed to infuriate her even more. Her face grimaced as she spat out the words, as if they were burning her tongue.

"WHO says you're good at it? Is anyone buying out your books, cleaning out the store?"

"I have a few fans."

"HA! Fans? Are they bestsellers? Has the New York Times come knocking?"

I smiled and realized the way to get her to stop.

"Why do you continue this charade? Do you really think you have any talent?"

"I do. And that's who I write for. Me."

Her look of shock was priceless as she realized I had won again.

She slowly faded away, until I was looking at an empty seat where she had began her diatribe.

Self doubt is a powerful deterrent to getting the job done, no matter what it is you're trying to accomplish.

Don't even let her sit down at the table.