Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
The theme: story-writing. The rule: six and only six sentences.
Denise is the host and she will be reading each story.
Seeing how she’s only recently taken over the director’s duties from zoe, if you haven’t yet joined in, this is, perhaps the best of all possible weeks to do so. You know, ’cause she’s settling into the role of hostinae, and hosts are always looking for new participants.
Anyway, for us here at the Doctrine, we’ve be hittin the genre for inspiration.
So, if I may, a Six Sentence Story (in the genre of), ‘Historical Fiction’.
Vent
“General Grant is safely on his way home, Mr. President and I’m happy to report he managed the step up into the carriage on his first try,” the black man, in the uniform of the White House domestic staff, closed the office door by leaning back against it, putting his own body between the stress of the world of duty and the peace that now grew in the second floor meeting room.
The tall man stood looking out the window towards the square-edged stub of a new monument, spoke with a tone that still conveyed a sense of wonder at the distance travelled since leaving Springfield twenty-three years before; with the lack of concern for inflection often heard between friends, said, “I don’t know which I dislike more, the limits on the power I can claim, or the terrible suspicion I’ll be unable to meet the demands when the end-game commences.”
Thaddeus Langford sat in one of the pair of leather chairs opposite the fireplace and fought the fatigue pulling his eyes shut, “If memory serves me, Abraham, we’ve had this conversation from the day you gave up being a shopkeeper and dragged me along as you set out to bring justice to the Eighth Judicial Circuit; I will say now what I said then, ‘Take care to not exhaust yourself in the service of others'”, without bothering to open his eyes, he tilted his head to empathize his point, “and evenings like this, letting your mad-dog general vent the ravings of a half-sane, mostly inebriated mind is what you need to limit, for your own good; I don’t suppose he left any bourbon.”
“You stay where you are, Thad,” Lincoln poured two glasses from a nearly empty decanter, handing the glass to the seated man before allowing himself to occupy the second chair; the light from the hearth flickered over their faces, turning one a lighter color of copper and the other all the more pale, a clay sculptured profile in the hands of an average art student.
“Most people have no idea how critical the intelligence that you’ve secured from your contacts among the slaves and those in the underground railway is to this war,” closing his eyes, the tall man stretched his legs, as if to prevent them from running in a vain attempt to out-pace the fear that grew within, “I promise you, my friend, when all this is over, they will.”
“Well setting the history books straight is admirable, Mr. President, but I was thinking more along the lines of a Cabinet appointment, say Secretary of the Treasury,” after a full moment of silence, the late night silence fractured into shared laughter and the two friends returned to staring into the flames.
About clarkscottroger
Good post. I’m exhausted by the way. Lol
lol but it’s (or was) still early morning!
What a wonderful scene you’ve created here, Clark, and conversation between two friends. Could have been any two friends, but in the context of history this is about so much more. Very well done!
thanks, Josie was fun to write (the dialogue)
I’ve enjoyed your other writing genres quite a bit, but historical fiction might be your niche. The attention to detail, combined with the ability to bring the characters to life through the dialogue–well, you might want to explore this genre more!
there was more research, but, being a clark and all… that was nothing but fun (like the thing about the Washington Monument being visible out the window and nothing but a stub. I may have to do that…
This is an excellent historical fiction SSS.
You sent me googling to try to learn a little more about Abraham Lincoln. I learned some interesting information thanks to you, i.e. his relationship with the Secretary of Treasury and also some facts about the underground railroad and the Langford Station.
Thanks, Pat
From what I read, Secretary Chase was a real pill. (No, seriously, a total roger) lol
Lincoln always held me captive. You packed a lot in here!
I’m a big fan of historical fiction. I’ve read a lot of the Lincoln years, and never heard of Thaddeus Langford and so I Googled him. I wasn’t as lucky as Pat finding info. While reading, the voice wondered about your inspiration for this Six and man, that man can paint a picture.
oh man! talk about the metastasizing of story ideas!
I settled on Lincoln (as a period of time everyone will be familiar with), then (blank) (blank) so who could he confide in… then what about those generals weren’t they a bunch a jerks… back to the white house after a meeting. Thaddeus Langford* is there to relate to Lincoln. (Funny thing, I came across a reference to Lincoln (the real one, not my Lincoln) did bring a black servant to Washington with him)… and talking about the War and or the generals.
Anyway the last part you will surely relate to, I needed to know my characters better (to write their dialogue) so I decided to make Thad a scott and Lincoln (not a choice, a simple fact) as a clark….
*here is where things get really weird, lol Thaddeus was just a an old timey name, Langford is from a character in ‘Missing Starr’
The real Abraham was a clark?
I’m thinkin he was
Good six. You’ve combined wonderful dialogue with great description and come up trumps.
Enjoyable piece. Different. I liked it.
btw…title? Good one :D