Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
Hosted/emcee’d by Denise (No, not the Jazzy Jeff, Dr. Dre sort of DJ, more the Joel Grey… pre-war Berlin or, even, Michael Moorcock style)
This week’s prompt word:
FAIR
The sounds of wind shaped by a foreign geography, and the shuddering of more toilets than are possible in a single family home, eroded my dreams; the invisible security of sleep frayed into translucence, light without provenance whispered, ‘You’re not home!”
Getting ready for the day in a hotel suite is fun, waking up is not.
There’s too great an emotional gradient in the transition from unconsciousness to responsibility; while the comfort of everyday routine usually covers and obscures this most human of border crossings, there are almost always remnants from the night, clinging to our thoughts reminding us of our duty to endure.
“Willkommen, Willkommen, Willkommen…”
Detective Captain Anton Rilke stood up as I entered the hotel’s coffee shop, his arms extended in a non-hug-threatening manner; I had to smile as he exerted the rarest of interpersonal talents, the ability to create a sense of familiarity that both co-opted and engulfed his surroundings.
Behind him, arrayed around the circular table, were my Anya-designated travel companions, each looking at me with expressions ranging from resentment to excitement; like faces on a Tarot deck illustrated by drug-haunted medieval monks, it prompted a line from an old Allman Brothers tune, “Well if you ride, you pay the fare, Satan on your back and he don’t care...”
About clarkscottroger
Good description of sleep as an “invisible security” and waking up as an “emotional gradient”. I liked the description of reading the faces of the travel companions as one might read Tarot cards.
thanks, Frank
“Obscures this most human of boarder crossings” that is the best and most gentle way I have ever heard anyone describe waking up.
thank you Marla
As always very approachable imagery. Also loved the tie into the song.
Thank you.
Such rich and splendid prose progresses your story, Clark. The image from my most favourite film ever, distracted me (in a good way) as did the reference to Joel Grey echoed in those words of welcome. Top Six!
the first iteration, draft of this Six had the video from the movie, Cabaret with him. I couldn’t find a path to the group going to a club or, for that matter, making the chrono-cultural leap to allow the direct reference… but, hey maybe breakfast with the Sgt Schultz look-alike it would work
Indeed it might!
Just to add that yet another re-run of my Casablanca CD was yesterday’s post-prandial treat for me.😊
totally the perfect background music/soundtrack for the Six3 Bistro (at least until, say 12:45)
A very descriptive piece, one gem after another!
thankee Mr. Keith
Aw, yes, the promised travel companions…
love how they are like faces from a Tarot deck, illustrated by drug-haunted medieval monks…
cool.
I agree (and can’t wait to see the traveling companions expose their true natures)… we know about Lacey (and the accessory bf) but the two Interpol agents. Remind me who they are and why they’re here? oh, dip*… I forgot, I haven’t written that part yet.
*borrowed from a character, Jason Mendoza, from one of the best of all TV series, ‘the Good Place’
As always, i am wowed.
Thank you M.
(Have an excellent Xmas
Yes! I like the reference to the Tarot deck characters and drug-haunted monks, and I can easily visualise those “Anya-designated travel companions” around the table… like a séance about to happen… or Generals gathered to plan a campaign… or plotters ready to bring down institutions.
Best part of being-in-a-hotel-waking-up-in-the-morn? Going down to breakfast and coffee already made and no washing-up after :)
Thanks Ford.
Actually, back in the day when I did some business travel, I totally loved the room service in the morning… real coffee and cream (as opposed to instant at home) on a tray
(Don’t tell anyone, but that the table is round is the last remnant of a very, very early draft where I was trying to do the breakfast scene from Reservoir Dogs… gave up early but the table stuck.)
Weird, I have this recurring thing (in my stories) that are, basically, scenes at a dining room table…
I like the vibe of in-between sleeping and waking this Six evokes. While I enjoyed the entire story, the last sentence stands out for it’s implication. Indeed, how will this cast of characters affect the outcome of Ian’s investigation. Always there should be caution when Ms. Claireaux is involved, lol
Excellent use of song lyric.
‘this most human of border crossings’ – excellent!