Being Caught Off Guard

I'm a long time member of the local YMCA.   A 70 or so year old guy named E. is at the main check-in desk most days.  I've known E. for the ten years he has been at the Y.  We enjoy conversation, mostly small talk, but occasionally we share a movie we've seen or travel we've done. He's not a close friend, but he is a friend and is important to me and to others.    He is the first contact one has at the Y so his calm, laid back and caring demeanor gets your workout going on a positive note.  Today he asked me if I had a Kindle.  He said if I did I could read a book he has just written.  What?  I was taken completely off guard.  Not because I don't have a Kindle, but because I didn't quite connect E. with being a writer, much less a novelist.  Even though book writing seems as common as washing the dishes these days, I'm still impressed by those who get published.  I asked him to give me the name of the book as well as his full name.  I only knew him as E.  When I got home I googled his name and came up with nothing.  I figured he had been April fooling me in the middle of August.  He had given me his two initials and a last name I don't think anyone has.   It's the name of a numeral, like three or eight.  E. J. Seven?  You must be kidding.  Just to be thorough I ran the book's name through Amazon and BINGO.  There was his bio and the summary of a 2012 book, a 275 page tale of adventure of an international intrigue kind of character based in New York  and his cat.   I downloaded the kindle content on my MacBook Pro.  I am really excited about getting into it. How much richer my life is with this new understanding of an old friend.  Even more admirable is his humility--he has written scripts for several Broadway productions and acted as well.  He's not a celebrity, probably never was.  He's better. He's a part-time employee at the Y who politely makes sure everyone has a good day because of his hospitality.   Somehow that strikes me as the 'Heart of the Matter.'  Do you have a Kindle? The book is called, "Aldo's Dream" by E.L. Six.