Lost in Chance
Lize Jacobs
Author Bio
Lize Jacobs was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa, where she still resides. Although this is her first publication, she has been writing since she could remember, not knowing that being a writer was who she truly was.
She has worked in the video industry for many years; Producing, Directing, Filming, Editing, and Scriptwriting. But her love for film has allowed her to Produce, Direct and Write several acclaimed short films over the years.
Privileged enough to have been able to travel overseas, to places like Alaska, Mexico, Tuscany, Munich, London, Paris and several African Countries, she has discovered a love for other cultures and the stories hidden in foreign locations.
She is passionate about the diversity and influence of dialogue and celebrates the art of story-telling across all genres.
Her aim is to keep publishing and write film scripts, telling stories which can linger in a person’s souls for a little while, hopefully bringing some joy.
Description
Recently divorced high school teacher, Chrisna, is stuck in her small-town life in Jacobsdal, South Africa.
When she sees her ex-husband with another woman, she is furious.
While she watches a movie, that takes place in Paris, with her best friend, she angrily proclaims that she would like to throw her wedding ring off the top of the Eiffel Tower.
After gathering money from friends, family and co-workers, her friend gifts her a five-day trip to Paris, for her thirtieth birthday, so that Chrisna can finally get rid of her ring.
Not having been anywhere other than the province she was born in, except for a brief honeymoon in Cape Town, Chrisna is terrified of embarking on this trip, alone, to a foreign country. She is not at all excited about being forced to get rid of her ring in such a dramatic manner, and even less so of facing her fears and ending a chapter in her life she has been clinging to.
Her adventure begins when she almost misses her plane from London to Paris. In her haste to board, she does not have a chance to visit the restroom. Now, fighting against nature and seated next to Zenelda, a quirky American forty-something ex-groupie, set on making every moment of life an adventure, Chrisna is unprepared for the life-changing adventure that await her.
Zenelda gives her a nickname, ‘Kristal’ and a list of ‘The only 5 things worth doing in Paris.’
1. Hug the Venus de Milo.
2. Get a mime to speak.
3. Sing in front of a crowd of at least fifty people.
4. Dance the Tango in the rain in front of the Notre Dame.
5. Make passionate love to a Parisian.
Refusing the list and hell-bent on sticking to her carefully planned itinerary, the last thing she expects is to wake up in her hotel room on her first morning in Paris, not being able to remember the previous night…
…A handsome stranger, Tyce, confronts her in the street on her way to The Louvre:
“Kristal!” he called. “I have your shoes.”
However much Chrisna tries to stay on track with her plans, she gets thrown into one crazy situation after the other as she gets lost in chance.
Book excerpt
Zenelda leaned in and whispered, “I didn’t steal it, you did.”
“What? No, you made me. You put it in my purse.”
“Can you prove it?” Zenelda asked. “Besides, no one can make you do anything without your consent.”
“We have to take it back.”
“Why?”
Chrisna frowned. “Because it’s a crime. You, um, we broke the law.”
“And you’ve never broken the law before?”
“Of course not.”
Aman placed two open bottles of beer, with red and white labels, on the counter in front of them.
“Can I have a glass?” Chrisna asked him, and he glared at her. “Never mind,” she said and pulled a tissue from her purse, thoroughly wiping the top rim before taking a sip, and then pulling a face.
“She is strange,” Aman said to Zenelda before turning to help another customer.
Zenelda smiled. “So you’ve never broken the law? Not ever?”
“No.”
“Not even taking a piece of bubblegum without paying for it?” Zenelda took a big gulp of her beer.
“No.”
“Not even a speeding ticket?”
“I said no.” Chrisna took a small sip of her beer and cringed.
“So, how did it feel?”
“Like my heart was going to break through my chest. I wouldn’t have been able to stop running if you hadn’t grabbed me.”
“That’s called adrenalin,” Zenelda said, taking another sip. “Best feeling in the world when you combine it with unadulterated fear.”
Chrisna recalled how she’d felt after she’d hugged the Venus de Milo, but even that feeling of utter exhilaration couldn’t get close to what she’d just felt. Her entire body still felt numb and tingly. She smiled.
“There we go. You just have to give in to it.” Zenelda returned her smile.
Chrisna forced herself to stop smiling. “We still have to take it back.”
“I don’t think so. I got it for us.”
“What? Why?”
Zenelda opened the box and handed her one of the walkie-talkies. “I thought you might like it. You know, like when you and your friend used to—”
“You’re not my friend.” Chrisna regretted what she said as she said it.
Zenelda turned serious. “No, I guess I’m not.” She placed her walkie-talkie back into the box. “Come on, we’ll go back and return it.” She stood up.
Chrisna felt awful. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No, you’re right. We should take it back.” She held out her hand, waiting for Chrisna to hand her the other walkie-talkie.
Looking at it, Chrisna considered the strange gesture. It was thoughtful, even though she’d stolen it. “Maybe we can finish our drinks and then go back and pay for it.”
“Really?” Zenelda asked surprised. “You want to keep them?”
“Sure. I guess it would be fun, and it might help if I lose you in the crowd again, since you don’t believe in cell phones.”
Zenelda smiled and jumped back on the chair. “Great, but we don’t have to go back to pay for them.”
Chrisna frowned. “Ja, we do.”
“No, we don’t.” She took a big sip of her beer. “I already paid for them.” She pulled a receipt out of the leather pouch hanging near her hip and handed it to Chrisna. “See.”
Looking at the receipt, Chrisna saw that it confirmed the purchase of one set of walkie-talkies. She gaped at Zenelda. “What? How? Why?”
“Boom!”
