the Wakefield Doctrine

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

This is the Doctrine’s weakly contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.

Hosted by Denise, subject to the Rule of Six.

Previously, in our story

Prompt Word:

CARD

“The first guests of our April Fool’s Day³ will be arriving before we know it, time to get to work setting up,” the tall, thin man, after rolling up his impeccably-tailored sleeves, put down the rack of glasses and held his suit coat out, over the bar, “Do you mind putting this on a chair somewhere?”

Perfectly shaped eyebrows shifted like hungry wolves looking for the prey’s weakness as Rosetta Storme stared in disbelief; finally her shoulders relaxed slightly, but sufficiently, to bring her upper body from attention to at ease.

Like olden day card sharps looking for the single weakness in their opponent, the young woman and the refined gentleman began an exchange:

“No problem, what the hell, I’ll go put it in your office,” and took one step in the direction of the hallway…

“Stop, under no circumstances are you to ever go down the hallway without being accompanied by a Proprietor…”

“Jeez… just trying to, like, get in the spirit, but if you people are so uptight, maybe I should just leave…”

“Not at all, it’s for your… I promised Lou that you would be safe working here,”

“Hey, old dude, I ain’t no kid, I can take care of myself and am way capable of handling drunks both male and female…”

“You misunderstand me, this is not about the customers, hell, it’s not even about the Manager’s office,… it’s about the hallway…”

“Are you busting my balls or what?”

Sighing, the Proprietor continued, “You’ve worked here, what, a total of five days, and among other attributes, you are very observant…”

“Sure but whats that got to do with…”

“Don’t interrupt, just tell me if you’ve seen a single thing about this place, lights, plumbing fixtures, furniture that seems to be broken or in need of repair…wait, don’t answer… the  hallway at the end of the bar, tell me, what you see?”

“The lights are fucked up, a bulb or two that’re ready to burn out, … a little dark for a emergency exit route…it’s been badly lit since I got to this zoo, so the hell what…”

“Do you think Mimi, a Proprietor and one of the, to use an expression from before your time. the most-together people in this… zoo, as you so charitably put it, sits there at the last seat, right next to the service station because it’s the best seat in the house?

“She’s there so you or some other kid, being all young and oh-so-sure of yourself does not come to harm.”

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

This is the Wakefield Doctrine’s contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.

Hosted by Denise, there is one rule: Six (no more, no less) Sentenceses to the story

Previously, ‘The tall, thin man laughed...‘

Prompt word:

CLOUD

“Good, though I would have accepted: the original industrial section of a medium-sized city currently in the early phase of redevelopment;” the Proprietor waved an arm in an arc that, were this a fanciful Disney movie, would illuminate the granite-stone mill buildings and multi-story factories, most still empty shells, some, like the one housing the Café were showing signs of life, commercial and otherwise.

“We’re hosting an event on the third of next month and it behooves all employees be able, whenever called upon, to provide clear directions to those wishing to attend,” the Proprietor walked down the center of the midnight street until he stood opposite the Bistro’s entrance.

“From the commercial section of the city, turn right onto a boulevard where the plate-glass store windows decrease in proportion to the lessening traffic (pedestrian and auto); bear right at a fork in the road where surnames replace brand names; one more right turn on what, at first glance seems an alley, though still a commercial area, the trend is clearly from retail products to personal services, i.e. tattoos, massages, private investigation, food, beverage and entertainment not available from your computer or, even from the Cloud,” Rosetta pointed towards the far end of the street where the anemic light of the thriving city gave the illusion of life to the wet cobblestones.

“And now, for the last question of the final phase of your evaluation as a probationary employee, describe the interior of the Six Sentence Café & Bistro …in fifty words or less,” the Proprietor looked at the young woman.

“The bar forms the right wall, interrupted once by the kitchen access. Beyond the end where Mimi sits, a hallway and Manager’s office. The other walls? Exterior with alcoves, interior with a small stage in the middle and, the space between: tables for guests and the occasional audience.”

“…keep the change,” Rosetta Storme laughed and the tall, thin man let a full, unrestrained smile off-leash.

*

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

This is the Wakefield Doctrine’s contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.

Hosted by Denise, there is one rule: Six (no more, no less) Sentenceses to the story

Previously, in our story…

Prompt word:

CLOUD

“Come with me,” the tall, thin man turned away from the newest employee of the Six Sentence Café & Bistro and, without another word, began walking towards the entrance; frozen in place, Rosetta, quite uncharacteristically, decided not to let her life be nothing more than a temporary ceasefire between good and evil and spike-heel skipped into a quick walk.

Losing sight of the Proprietor, Rosetta became angry and, like a cartoon character with an animated-black cloud (complete with yellow-jagged lightning bolts) over her head, pulled open the oak-and-hammered-brass-nail door and walked up the three granite steps to the sidewalk.

“Good girl,” the tall, thin man cigarette smoke-signaling his compliment, stood in the middle of the empty street.

“Tell me what you see,” the man did something with his body language that, somehow, resulted in her joining him in road.

“A wino, two hookers and capitalism’s insatiable appetite for the soul of the working class?”

The tall, thin man laughed; Rosetta Storme blushed at the sidewalk and let a smile appear.

*

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

This is the Doctrine’s weakly contribution to the Six Sentence Story bloghop.

Hosted by Denise, subject to the Rule of Six.

Previously, in our SSC&B story...

Prompt Word:

ENTRY

“Want a Xanax?”

I kept my eyes on the dashboard, my feet on the floor mats and my head in the reassuring embrace of a 35 mph wind coming in from the front passenger-side window; my mind, well like the owner of an excitable puppy bouncing off the entry gate of a safely-fenced dog park, I unclipped the leash and let him run.

“What? I believe in a well-stocked medicine cabinet and my business partner is a major underworld crime boss, I could take you to the hospital but all they’ll do there is pump you full of sedatives, put you in a room that’s nothing but soft, well-rounded corners and have a social worker talk to you like a child; or you can close your eyes and pretend you’re a college sophomore.”

I took a chance and turned in my seat to look at Diane Tierney, being extra careful to focus on her face and avoid the motion-blurred scenery that was, unfortunately, for my present mental state, an essential element in automobile travel; damn I was high.

Her face was as beautiful as always, framed in brown hair that always managed to be an essential element in her communication style; a turn of her head was accompanied by a slow wave of hair from one side to the other, every bit the placing of a hand on the forearm of the person you’re trying to persuade; her lips, as delicately sculpted as if daring the world to ignore the sensuality they outlined, her eyes… her eyes were brown most of the time, slightly-hooded and was the essential point-of-entry for anyone with a heartbeat, a life-force and a desire to become, if only for a moment, immortal.

Did I mention how high I still was?