Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
It is hosted by Denise.
The rule of this ‘hop is extra simple: six, (and only six), sentences permitted. (However, it’s a No Limit season on semicolons.)
Previously, in ‘the Case of the Missing Fig Leaf’…
Though Ian Devereaux would be loathe to admit it, turmoil and conflict were as essential to his capacity to maintain a relationship as oxygen to iron or heat to metallurgy. This is not to say he was one of those toxic people who, provoking a reaction before taking a diametrically-opposed position, fed on the emotions of others. And, while our detective wasn’t quite a natural predator, thriving on the inevitable turmoil of the chase, he did have a bit of a streak of the hunter. When all is said and done, our Mr. Devereaux made up in imagination what he lacked in conviction, accepting the disappointment of most he interacted with as the price of freedom. Ian’s current profession, one that held his attention for longer than any previous avocation, including matrimony, owed its longevity to its namesake qualities: private and investigation.
The prompt word:
KEEPSAKE
I woke up at my desk, an early-morning Tuesday tapping on the windows behind me like a jilted co-ed with a cardboard tray of cafeteria food and a sure-fire plan for reconciliation.
My email account was open, waiting silently on the flat panel display, three draft-but-not-sent messages and, as a keepsake from a night spent wandering the internet, a flashing icon: Urgent New Mail.
The only sound available was the stoplight a building away on the corner of Empire and Fountain Street, assuring pedestrians it was now safe to cross; a hint of what probably will provoke the machines to rise up against humanity: while it was too early for anyone to need of guidance, by design or lack of consideration, the traffic safety system spoke, oblivious to the lack of human need.
For some reason I didn’t feel like I’d spent the night sleeping in an office chair, my back didn’t resist and the rest of my body was a relaxed as a ten-year-old on the first afternoon of summer vacation; naturally a part of me went on high alert, just because the bear isn’t swiping at our heels doesn’t mean one is out of woods.
Two things happened that confirmed my opinion of my place in reality: both the phone rang and my computer screen came to life.
“Good morning, Ian,” the two dimensional blonde woman on the screen smiled, “Seeing how Leanne, who I really like, the two Interpol agents who I do not, and that cute Lacey Whitelaw, who reminds me of that rich girl you brought to Chicago, just aren’t going to give up on their Scooby adventure, I need you to brush up your German and leave for Vienna this afternoon.”
About clarkscottroger
Woke UP at my desk wins the internet
Thanks, Paul.
I liked this line to set the mood:
“…just because the bear isn’t swiping at our heels doesn’t mean one is out of woods.”
Thank you
Ooh change of scene… No resting on his laurels for Mr Devereaux!
(No Limit season on semicolons 👍😉)
And, lest we forget, a resource like this must be responsibly managed and lovingly nurtured, lest there comes a day when writers must write as simply as this. There can be no flowing enhancement. A bleak future where independent clauses are not allowed to gather. Lists are herded by humorless bullet points and conjunctions wander among the fields of fiction, orphaned children of the mind.
lol
Good point well described: ” just because the bear isn’t swiping at our heels doesn’t mean one is out of woods”
thanks, Frank… yeah, was loving the visual of paw-swiping bears
Well, I guess three might be a crowd, but “a part of me went on high alert, just because the bear isn’t swiping at our heels doesn’t mean one is out of woods” is too great of a line not to mention it again.
Once again Ian is on the go again. Time for a crash course in recalling his German, so forget about taking a nap during his travels.
Thanks, Pat.
Yeah, I figured, ok, Ian’s got enough supporting characters, secondary plot variable, lets get him out there (probably back to Wiesbaden) and find himself some bad guys.
And he’s off! Once again. You, however, are spot on with these episodes.
Thanks, M.
This (kind of story, genre) is fun.
Hey… you ever give some thought to a walk-on? Especially with the Ian serial, short and effective wordage is the rule of the day and you do those (short, effective word stories) really well.
Wait…wait! Hear me out!
I’ve never been to New Orleans. Neither has Ian. Anya has a woman who is a bit of a local legend. (Anya is the ultimate human resources conservationist.) Maybe, by way of a brief conversation between Anya and Ian, mention is made of this woman. Then, ‘jump cut’ to this woman doing something, describing something, directing someone to do whatever might aid our intrepid detective (or his stalwart client, Dr. Thunberg) in their quest for answers.
First of all, Clark, I’d like to apologise for not answering the kind comment you made on my last [ost. I was just moving home – to live by the sea – and I’m afraid I ran out of head space for writing. So, a belated thanks.
I love your use of language: ‘an early-morning Tuesday tapping on the windows behind me like a jilted co-ed with a cardboard tray of cafeteria food and a sure-fire plan for reconciliation.’ That image of a Tuesday tapping on the windows is so evocative. And then there’s the bear! Brilliant.
And an excellent ending that leaves me wondering, ‘What next?’ (I wish someone would tell me to ‘brush up on my German and leave for Vienna this afternoon.’)
np*
thank you… (this metaphor came not without a cost, having to cast my mind back to days of college dorms and romance writ large)
you speak of ‘living by the sea’ ayyiee we all should have such an opportunity… it (by the sea) is the best of all geographies
Not sure what next… off to The Continent, fer sure… sets of supporting characters running around, getting into adventures (thanks, Q Tarantino for that phrase from Pulp Fiction)
If it ever strikes your fancy to do a walk-on, our door is always open… let us know and we’ll conspire to set up a story context
*old person ‘np’ not young person ‘np’**
** I’m glad you asked! old person ‘np’: not a problem, think nothing of it, no offense taken, who among us has not had that happen and, if anything what you cite as a cause for apology is anything but, rather it is an opportunity to identify with another which only enhances life
thank you, Clark
you’re welcome J
I do enjoy a good Ian Devereaux story.
At sentence 5 the alarms in my head began to buzz – sure enough! Enter one Anya Claireaux.
Most excellent music soundtrack for Ian and surely for the appearance of Ms. Claireaux. Looking forward to how Ian handles the “mischief” yet to be wrought by Anya.
They are truly fun to write, that genre, that is.
Everyone loves our Miz Claireaux
As others have pointed out: “…just because the bear isn’t swiping at our heels doesn’t mean one is out of woods.”
Man, that is such a good line!
thanks, Ford.
(fun at the Sixiac Cafe and Bistro, non?)