Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
It is hosted by Denise.
It suggests you write a story consisting of precisely six sentences, and involves the week’s prompt word.
This week’s Six is (a) continuation of the, ‘the Whitechapel Interlude’, in the Order of Lilith series. If you click on the link (under the Whitechapel Interlude) you can read the chapters to bring us to today’s Interlude.
Prompt word:
Twist
‘Anselm, if you’ve messed this up you might as well keep walking, the Reverend Mother is not fond of failure,’ I no longer saw the man I was assigned to follow, even as the stone-and-iron dragon that was the new St. Pancras Hotel reared its gothic head two blocks away; fear sparked panic, my body paid the price, and twisting my neck like a giraffe afflicted with Tourettes, I frantically scanned the early-evening crowd filling the sidewalks.
I got no more than a half block back towards St Paul’s cathedral when I saw Brother Abbot, he appeared to be holding a woman in an embrace more restraint than support; fortunately, even the sight of what could only be my mentor’s doppelgänge had a calming effect and I turned in time to see my quarry ascend the stairs to hotel’s entrance; the lobby was so full of light that, as the doors were held open, I could clearly see his face; handsome, intelligent and barely able to contain an ambition that made his eyes outshine the brightest lights in the grand lobby.
As I approached, a memory, from my first days in the Order, of a large room containing five chairs in a circle, six young men and women and Brother Abbot holding a lute; he spoke without preamble from the furthest corner, “In our Order we hold, ‘To each according to their talent, for all the responsibility to grow and develop,’ whereupon he began to play, ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ and said, in a loud whisper, “When the music stops, claim your place.”
Moving around the perimeter of empty chairs, I saw the personal rhythms of the others take control of their bodies and somehow knew when Brother Abbot would stop playing and when that happened, everyone sat, except for one young man, there being one less chair than bodies; we all stared the boy, as his shoulders slumped, imparting both motion and direction towards the door.
“Ring around a….” the notes brought my attention back to the room where, somehow, there were now only four chairs and, once again we began our dreadful orbit; without conscious thought, I knew the girl behind me would be the next left standing; the music stopped exactly when I knew it would and, even as my body sought the security of a chair, I rose with a nod towards her, and she smiled, not so much at me as something within, and remained standing before the single remaining empty chair.
“Thank you,” Brother Abbot’s voice conveyed the confident pleasure of a person experiencing a belief confirmed, and, looking at the two of us, said, “Welcome to the Order of Lilith.”
About clarkscottroger
Great line. ” twisting my neck like a giraffe afflicted with Tourettes”
He seems to be a true little gentleman in the making.
Thanks Pat.
A story with a twist indeed, interesting initiation rite to gain entry into the Order.
…part of seeing if it is possible to imagine a culture where consideration for others is a higher good than personal success
as per usual. excellent. I like the giraffe line a lot.
it was a fun line to write
I like the implications in the description of an embrace being more restrictive than supportive.
I like how the test of entrance to the society was a game of musical chairs.
not your normal or typical entrance exam, but then, the Order of Lilith is not your typical secret society
It would take a sense of humor to use musical chairs as an entrance exam, and i really value a sense of humor. Well told!
Thank, M!
Add me to the list of people who enjoyed the giraffe line. :-) Giraffes AND musical chairs? Wow!
surprise… (lol) I don’t necessarily agree to what constitutes harmless, good, clean fun games for children…
The mystery of who this handsome man (Anselm’s quarry) being track is now supplanted by the mystery of who is the Reverend Mother and is she and Brother Abbott an item?!
surely a question to be asked
What an intriguing tale, and a definite twist on the rules of the “game”. I liked it very much!
Thanks, Josie. It will be fun to find out how it unravels!*
*in our true seat-of-the-pants approach to writing serials, I’ll find out, like, the day before
I think it’s fun when the author doesn’t even know the whole story until it happens!
Interesting twist..left me with an ahha moment.
Excellent! (I was hoping for that kind of response, “So, this Order of Lilith, what kind of people are they?”)
Intrigue upon intrigue in this ongoing tale.
any good serial should aspire towards a mille feuille plot*
lol
*alas, I cannot claim to have that culinary term in my head, had to go looking for it… ‘course, I’m totally glad that I did and, as always. owe it all to the internets
Love that the initiation was ‘musical chairs’. Love how intuition played its part in taking a seat, as well as giving up that last seat.
This new chapter has the same edges as the others, but with a nice ‘twist’ of playful humour. Unfortunately, I am now fearful to within an inch of my life at the mere mention of the Reverend Mother!
Nice work for this 6 Mr Clark!
Thanks, V
(I’ve always had this thing about the inherently abusive games young children are forced to endure. Well, at least young clarks (as opposed to young rogers and scotts*) Musical chairs is so one of them. I mean, the name itself should be a tipoff… musical sounds… creative, relaxing, collaborative. ‘course we find out that they should have named it: “Cast out the slow, non-aggressive, considerate child… and make sure they understand that, although the other children are laughing at them, it was the game’s rules that are at fault, and besides, had they been a little more vicious and grabby, they might be sitting and listening to the loverly music.” oh, shit, am I typing out loud again?)
She is not, shall we say, one to be trifled with. But she also is responsible for the local chapter of the Order.
*the three personality types of the Wakefield Doctrine, of course
Lol. But you are right about some of the children’s party games… what’s the one ‘bobbing the apple’ ? Where you have to duck your head in a basin of water to retrieve said apple with only your mouth… humiliation points galore…
(…dunking for apples! who could forget… that said, and having been updated to the realpolitik of the 21stC… they changed the name to water-boarding)
I’d lol, but its not funny…well, not funny unless one untethers to the ‘real world, ever so slightly