The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, hurries along the narrow street, looking up and down and around, checking to see what is unchanged: here’s the Bagel’n’Cake place (closed at this time, of course), and here are the two warehouses, rather dingy, on either side.
She’s almost there… and here it is: The Café and Bistro, she holds her hands up, but there’s no one there; she’s deflated, she dropped her head and her feet felt like lead.
She notices something at the top of the steps, it was a still-smouldering cigar butt on the ground – it must be him, the Gatekeeper, who else could it be?
She hurries down to the three steps by the double-doors, peering in the gloom in the long bar and high seats, and across the way to the food pass behind the doors; she could almost see what should be happening – the Bartender with the wine and whisky, and Mimi in the kitchen, and Tom as well.
Then she turns around, going back up, scanning around; there’s something about the back of The Café and Bistro, she races around the building, heaving her big bag, she peeps in the basement, now she’s making headway; she can hear music, in her mind’s eye, she listens, isn’t it Mark Knopfler playing ‘Sultans of Swing’ and wearing his headband?
The Raconteuse grins and she can see the Manager, smiling back and waving; he cranks up the volume and plays, ‘Ace of Spades’.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written in response to two challenges:
Di of Pensitivity 101’s Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: HEADWAY, HEADBAND, LEAD
Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: ACE

Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories



Excellent weaving of the story and words in. Love this new development in the story.
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Thanks, Sadje!
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You’re most welcome my friend 😍
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😄😉
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😍
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Be right there,
ttm
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I should think so!!
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🙏🏼
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Loved the pace of the piece 🙂
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I’m glad that you enjoyed that. Thank you, Bernadette.
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Thanks Chris
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Hey! the loading docks are hardly the place for the guest of honor. (That said, ya gotta admit, still muy cool a place to hold a pre-party). So the official position is we planned this precisely.*
*ok a little less planned than on-the-fly, but by way of my own cred, please note the music choice of my first Six this week. Simpatico, senora, simpatico.
fortunately, the Six Sentence Cafe and Bistro caters to a global clientele so its safe to assume that the social-trajectory of a welcome home party is anything but normal.
lol
“Tempus a nemine regitur” yo
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It’s going to be a good one in so many ways. Talking, laughing, food and drink, and music, the best!
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Hūnga jumped from my lap to greet you and threw my cigar down😄
( oh, you are back… your ink’s voice is loud, clear and as distinguishable as ever, Chris).
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What could be better? I’m cuddling Hūnga just now and all three of us are laughing together!
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Great addition, Chris. Terrific voice!
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Glad that you liked that. Thanks so much, Nancy!
(I found you in the spam just now)
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What a drag! Well, I’m glad you fished me out!
Most welcome, Chris. A truly great write!
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I’ve heard of Motorhead, but I’ve never heard any of their music. I’m all about Mark Knopfler!
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Good place to listen, and noisily. Hope you enjoyed it!
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I’ll confess it was too noisy for me. (I’m not a big heavy metal fan.)
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No problem. Go to something more peaceful then. Maybe ‘Careless Whisper‘ by George Michael.
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Much better . . .
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So cool that you combined more than one challenge in the same story. Here’s some “truth in blogging” (lol) I finally looked up the word “raconteuse” because all this time I’ve had no idea what it meant! 😂😂
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I’m glad that you enjoyed it, Debra. I always like to find new words. That one, the Raconteuse, was new then a couple of years ago.
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It’s a joy to have you back. Crawfish etouffee or shrimp creole?
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Oh yes, give me both!
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Business more or less the usual at the SSC&B while the Raconteuse went on her “Sabbatical to Travel the World” tour. Maybe, there was a drop or two of drama here and there, lol
I don’t Chris. If the ttm is smiling and waving and cranking the music, something special must be happening!
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Dramas? Definitely! Meanwhile, enjoy the music.
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P.S. Feel free to edit the “I don’t Chris”. Clearly I did not last night 😉
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Excellent… and thank you, Denise!
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The Raconteuse made it home. I am glad there was someone there.
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Absolutely! Thank you, Frank.
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[…] but overwhelmingly enjoyable event, a voice behind the music laughed, ‘Tell them it is the Raconteuse and she commands their attendance,’ a flare-up of voices laughing.. ‘yeah! […]
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wonderful ❤️ I saw Motörhead play this about nearly 30 years ago and my ears are still ringing 😂
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Quite so! I never saw Motörhead, but I did see Def Leppard (when Rick still had two arms, not that it stopped him) – I couldn’t hear for two days!
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Hi Chris, sorry… I’d been sent to the room upstairs to get a box of… now, what was it? It was only a couple of days ago… 🤔😊
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That happens to me too😄😉
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Tension is definitely rising ✍🏾🖤
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So it seems!😉
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Fabulous! I am thrilled you are diligent at work.🤙🤗😉💖
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I’m doing my best! Thanks so much, Aladin. 🤗🌻🌼
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Wonderful, Chris. The still-smouldering cigar butt was a lovely touch.
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Thanks, Matthew!
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Hi Matthew, I’m just a little concerned because I have written back on your post both today and yesterday with your haiku, and also your article from last week. Could these have been dropped in your spam? Just a thought, sorry.
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That’s really strange Chris. Just checked spam and all of your kind messages are indeed there. I’ve never had that happen before!! You appear to be the only one in there as well – please be assured that this was not my doing 😆😆
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Ah-ha! Got both of them, plus twice on your haiku!
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A lovely and vivid piece, Chris. It is so nice to read these on-going short stories.
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Thanks, Robbie!
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💚
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I hope she gets in… listening through a door isn’t always enough! 😉
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Don’t worry, she’ll get in, somehow! 😄
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…resourceful… 😀
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Great writing paired with your song, Chris❣️
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Glad that you enjoyed it, Cindy💛
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I sure did!!!❣️
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Brilliant story Chris! I loved it! ❤
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Thank you so much, Carol Anne!
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One of the many adventures of the Raconteuse. This was a fun read.
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Yep, a little bit of fun!
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