I think I will try my hand at writing. Please don't laugh!

Fall came late to Moose County this year, 400 miles north of everywhere. Old timers said the wooly caterpiller had not yet gone underground, and predicted a slow coming winter, but when it came, a cold one. Winter was always cold in this part of the state, bordering Canada with a shared lake. A lone man walked down the beach with a protuberance on his shoulder. As he came closer, one could see it was an animal, a weasel.......no a skinny cat with strange markings. Jim Qwilleran, richest man in the northern US, and columist for the local newspaper, trudge through the damp sand with his siamese cat on his shoulder. A leash, dangled down, looping , swaying as he walked. The cat had thrown a cat fit to go for a walk.
They had been visiting the lakeshore to check up on the cabin he had inherited, along with millions if not billions of dollars over a decade ago. The oaks and maples were hanging on to their green leaves, reluctant this year to give way to gold or red.

Hey this is really hard.

He liked the feeling of walking along the shore with no one around, he like the feeling of isolation. It gave him time to think. He seemed to need more time to think as of late. His companion of 10 years had moved to another country, a new person in his life had moved to another state, and most of his friends were married and busy with their families. He had been spending alot of time alone, and he found he liked it. If only he had known what events were waiting around the corner to shake up his solitude. But walking on beach that day, he had not a clue to the upcoming upheavel in his serene exsistence.

The first inkling he had of impending disaster was a call from his friend Susan Exbridge. Susan was more than an aquantance, but slightly less than a close friend, partly because Susan cared about Susan and this made it difficult for him to call her a true friend. But knowing this about her, he still liked her and knew he could count on her........to a point. Susan talked in a rush when she called. Qwill, Qwill, are you sitting down, sit down, I need to tell you something. I have just received the most terrible news! Slow down Susan, so I can understand you, Qwill barked into the mouthpiece. Qwill, you know Moose County is so underpopulated it can hardly support an antique shop like mine. I have had to do internet sales, and have joined several auction houses in larger cities to support my shop. And now, of all the nerve, I can't believe it! The Lockmaster Gallery of Fine Antiques has decided to open up a sattelite location here! Not only in Moose County, but across the street from me in the old bank building! Qwill, I don't want that kind of local competition, it will only drive price down. Did you know about this. You had to know! Don't you have Lockmaster connections! I know you are friendly with the newspapwer's managing editor. Qwill this is terrible.
Susan, calm down, calm down, are you in your condo, come down for a cup of coffee. No, no not your stomach burning brew Qwill, no thank you. Let's have dinner tonight Qwill and I want to tell you all about it. I thought you might have ideas how we could stop this encroachment from Lockmaster. You know they are all crooks over there Qwill. I'll drop by your condo after work. Make reservations for us somewhere.