October seems like the right time to introduce you to someone you might wish you had never met. His name is Jeph, and he’s the delivery driver at the center of my Joker Joker Deuce Halloween series. In the opening episode, “A Monster Awakens,” he’s making his rounds through Bridgeport, bringing people their food and offering opinions they never asked to hear.
Last year, I shared these stories on Facebook and Twitter throughout October. This year, I’m turning them into narrated videos, adding images and sound to bring you along for the ride. There’s something fun about hearing a character’s thoughts while watching the world he’s moving through. Especially when those thoughts give you a reason to wonder what he might be keeping to himself.
Jeph spends plenty of time in his own head. He notices things, makes assumptions, and has explanations for why the world doesn’t quite treat him the way he thinks it should. You may recognize a little of the frustration that comes with dealing with people all day. You may even laugh at something he thinks. Whether you’ll still want to agree with him a few minutes later is part of the reason to keep watching.
“A Monster Awakens” opens the series with an ordinary workday. There are deliveries to make, customers to deal with, and the usual distractions along the way. I’ll let Jeph tell you how that day goes. Getting acquainted with him is part of the experience, and I’d rather you hear his thoughts for yourself than have me explain too much before you press play.
What I enjoyed about bringing this story to video was giving that running commentary a voice. On the page, you move through it at your own pace. With narration and visuals, you’re riding along with Jeph, listening as he decides what to make of the people around him. He has quite a bit to say, and very little reason to think anyone would disagree.
The first episode is embedded below, with more installments coming throughout October. If you enjoy Halloween stories that begin close to home, settle in and take a ride through Bridgeport. “A Monster Awakens” is your introduction to Jeph. We have the rest of the month to find out how well you know him.
If you’d rather read it than watch it, here is a link you can follow: Joker Joker Deuce Halloween Series Part I – A Monster Awakens
This is based on the novel, Joker Joker Deuce! These are not the same stories you’ll find in the book. This is the prequel to who Jeph actually becomes when he hits full stride and starts learning more about himself than anyone wants to know…
Happy Halloween!
