Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Doctrine’s contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
Hosted by Denise, constrained by a sentence limit (high and low) of six, there are worse ways to spend the remaining time you have on earth.
Prompt word:
FLAT
While granite and carved-oak timbers may have served as the skeleton of the space inhabited by the Six Sentence Café & Bistro, the lighting system was it’s heart; powerful with all the subtle versatility that modern technology, (and an unlimited budget), could provide. It could produce, with the flip of a switch or the draw of a slider, social environments where emotions were corralled and passions might be drawn-and-quartered, all in service of the ambitions of the five Proprietors.
Even as Rosetta Storme and the Sophomore walked into the main area of the Café, their backs to the bar and it’s kaleidoscopic rows of liquor bottles, aurora hue’d robes seemed to drop from their shoulders as they drew near their destination: a single table occupied by the owner of the Bottom of the Sea Strip Club and Lounge.
Hidden in the ceiling over this table were any number of light sources sharing the universal ambition of purity; the man, bathed in light was, as one would expect, clearly visible on those surfaces closest to the source; what stood out was how this illumination faded to black on the rest of the man; an observer would be forgiven for thinking, ‘If God had this lighting arrangement in his Garden and had not yet committed to the whole ‘Don’t eat the Apple’ character test, things might have turned out very differently for the human race.
Availing themselves of the approaching diversion, the Proprietors sought and secured the affinity of color and shade and tint that the very, very expensive lighting and illumination system supplied: the Bartender stood in silence, yellow and chartreuse waves broaching and receding, while to her left, the Gatekeeper held a carnelian glow with the fierceness of the One Ring, moving away from both, the Raconteuse shed lilac petals as she passed a row of champagne glasses and, at the far end of the bar, Mimi reflected a deep blue that almost touched the flat black fabric of the tall, thin man’s Savoy Row custom-tailored suit.
“Cara mia, come sit and bring your friend, we have much to discuss,” Lou Caesare’s crocodile laugh carried a new sibilance, one that sawed into it’s normal joviality; it did not go unnoticed by the Proprietors.
About clarkscottroger
Most excellent- in chromatography, placement and cinematic execution.
thanks, man
Full Disclosure: by no means ‘an art person’ the idea of the color thing started this whole Six (in no small part due to a random flash to Hendrix’s Bold as Love (wtf?!?! new appreciation after a lifetime of listening… he not only does evocative (of the emotions) but throws in a total ‘show don’t tell’ thing.
aiyyeee (so not worthy)
Looking forward to see what happens to the Sophomore. The crocodile laugh seemed meant for him.
actually the laugh is one of those ‘you know it’s Lou even if you don’t see him’ characteristics… it was the ‘new sibilance’ element I wanted to imply that Lou was concerned for his niece’s well-being given her close brush with the Order of Lilith
Hmm, we are getting very posh now, aren’t we. Jolly good.
lol we go high, we go low at the Café non?
I hope that Radio Citizen with Bajka is on stage playing … all that ambience needs a beat to match the increased pulse rate.
Don’t tell anyone, but was watching something on the televisor at home and they used this song and I immediately got up to find out what the song was (didn’t know) and plugged it in a draft of the Six seemed to fit. (love that when it happens, i.e. a song, not necessarily otherwise related to a story that adds to (the story) or at very least enhances it
I just posted a long article (no fiction for a change), and the same thing happened. I was listening to the Daylist, and a song appeared that was perfect for the post. I hope you have a chance to read it. It’s a generational topic.
https://misky.uk/2025/08/16/16-aug-journal-of-thoughts/
All of what Nick said. Artfully crafted scene, Clark. The SSC&B is a place irl I wouldn’t minding frequenting.
Teaser of a close! This was fun.
ty
I guess it’s best to simply be ready for anything at this point.
wise words
yo
Exactly why at this juncture I choose to live bathed in the light of 7 watt bulbs! heheheh
I would quote Mr. Reed but
…no, sorry, too late (“…thought she was James Dean, for a day”)
lol