Rewind – Three Things Episodes 20 – 21

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Welcome back my friends. To those of you in the USA, I hope you enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day filled with gratitude and happiness.

Winner-2014-Web-Banner I would use huge letters to say “Ta-dah!” but I’m exhausted from a full month of squeezing every minute of novel writing possible from each day and night.  My ta-dah is more of a whimper.  But I say it with a smile of satisfaction.

Guitar Mancer Cover 11-28-2014It was my fervent hope that my draft of The Guitar Mancer would be so complete and clean that I might actually be able to publish it this year. Wow — I am a true dreamer!  To “win” National Novel Writing Month, I needed a draft of at least 50,000 words. By the time I was half way into the month it became clear that the finished novel will be twice that length — easily!  So I have a long way to go yet for a finished novel.

So now I’m torn by the question of how to find time to finish the novel and do a new serial here on this blog. As I continue to ponder my predicament, here are more episodes of the first serial, Three Things.

Another conundrum has been how to give a recipe treat to my foodie friends.  So for the remaining “rewinds” I plan to work a recipe into this non-culinary mystery.  Because of the first set of “things” in this rewind, look for some Military Eats at the end of the post.

Now let’s get a wiggle on with the rewind!

20.  Medical Bill, Confirmation, Military

The man had an authoritative manner and was dressed in very 1920 Flu Epidemic nurseexpensive looking clothes.  He had what they called presence.  The white-haired woman murmured something that was lost in a sob.  “Don’t worry about that either,” the man told her in a kind voice.  “Besides, there won’t be any medical bill.  There’s more than one doctor here today.”

A teenager with an alarmed expression on his face came running toward them.  Clearly he’d heard all the ruckus.  At first I thought he wore a military uniform, but then I realized he was some kind of servant, dressed in livery.

In a calm voice the man instructed, “Go fetch a doctor.”

“Yes, Mr. Ringling,” the young man said, and ran away.

Frankie and I exchanged astonished looks.  Even though we had just seen a picture of this very yacht moored at the Ca’d’Zan mansion, I was amazed to think I was standing a few feet away from a celebrity like John Ringling!

Irene Castle
Irene Castle

The white-haired woman lifted her head and stood a little straighter.  I could see her profile.  The first thing I noticed was a bit of blood and a bruise at her temple.  I was sure that bump to the head didn’t come by accident.  Then my eyes just about popped out of my head.  Her profile — it was the spitting image of Boris!

No wonder the “ballerina” had acted so funny back at the Nickelodeon Theatre, when he saw this woman and the group of Russian dignitaries.  Even then I wondered if Boris was connected to that group, though he refused to discuss it.  Right then and there I was sure I had confirmation.  The white-haired woman had to be a relative; probably a close one.  I wondered if she might be his grandmother.

However, this old woman looked like she was well off.  Boris wouldn’t be living in the building with the rest of us if he was from money.  The building owner had a soft spot for people trying to better themselves.  Even though the building was supposed to be for office space, he let us live there if we at least went through the motions of having our own businesses.  It wasn’t the nicest place to live, but he let us rent the suites for a song.

Despite her wealthy appearance, the woman appeared to have said 1920s flapper thinkingsomething to indicate she didn’t have the money to pay a doctor.  Maybe, I speculated, she had been wealthy but had fallen on hard times.  There was plenty of that going around with the land bust.  Or maybe Boris had a falling out with his family and they’d cut him off.

My speculation was cut short when the yacht’s owner, John Ringling, turned and looked at Frankie and me questioningly.

***

Introduction to Episode-21

When I researched ways to illustrate this episode I noticed that media topics of interest in the 1920s were much the same as they are now. I saw headings about sex, diet, scandal, fashion, and other things that you’d see today.  Like they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The “things” for episode 21 come from a friend in the southwest who is positively gifted at refurbishing things.  I think she could give new life to any old item she might find.  When I saw “underwear” as one of the things, I really hoped I’d do something funny with it.  But everything that came to mind was just “tasteless.”  Har-dee-har… a play on words or rather things.  However, I admit that I had to put some thought into “limestone.”

21. Underwear, Tasteless, Limestone

1920s Girdle adI swallowed hard, unable to escape the feeling that I had been caught doing something that I shouldn’t.  That was silly of me, I know.  After all, we had been invited onboard.  Just the same, I was as uncomfortable as somebody with twisted underwear.

The white-haired woman turned to us with a haunted expression in her eyes.  “These children,” she began, speaking to Mr. Ringling in an accent I recognized.  “They are familiar.”  She took a trembling step toward Frankie and me.  Her bright eyes zeroed in on me.  “You were there when I was taken.  You were there with my Boris!”1920s Underwear for Men ad

Then she paled and swooned.  Frankie Fabro, fireman, rushed forward and scooped her up as if she weighed nothing at all.  John Ringling, circus magnate, motioned him into the cabin.  Me?  Paisley I. Peabody, palmist?  I stood in mute astonishment for a second, but I snapped out of it when Frankie called my name.  “Pip?” came the fireman’s anxious voice.

I hurried into the beautifully appointed cabin.  I still thought my suite back at the office building was the cat’s meow, but that room made it seem tasteless in comparison.  The woodwork alone was stunning, and brightly polished brass reflected light from a small but glorious crystal chandelier.  An ornately carved table had a red marble top.  But no… that would be travertine, not marble.  I remembered travertine was actually a kind of limestone.  Horsefeathers!  Why was I thinking about something like that during all the drama?

With a shake of my head, I gathered my scattered wits.  An etched glass decanter of what looked like brandy stood on the tavertine table.  Picking up the first glass I saw, I poured a little and held it to the elderly woman’s lips.

Johanna Loisinger; the Countess Von Hartenau
Inspiration for “The White-haired Woman,” Johanna Loisinger; the Countess Von Hartenau

“John, kindly introduce me to these lovely young people who know my Boris,” she said with a weak smile.

Frankie cleared his throat awkwardly, knowing we were strangers to that gentleman as well.  He introduced himself and then me to both of them.  “I’m John Ringling,” the man said, but of course we’d figured that out already.  “It’s my pleasure to welcome two clear headed young people aboard.”  Then he made a bow to the white-haired woman.  “I present the Countess Bepa Babikov.”

I bounced in place before I caught myself.  Then I blushed at my childishness.  But I had been right!  Boris’ last name was Babikov.  Maybe it was too forward to be polite, but I blurted out the question.  “Are you his… grandmother?  I mean Countess… ma’am…”

The woman nodded her head and smiled a hopeful looking smile.  “Please, dear one.  Call me Faith.  That is what Bepa means — faith.  If I may call you Pip, as this strong young man does.  The sound of the name pleases me.  It is like a little bird chirping.”  I nodded, speechless for once.  “Yes my dear Pip, I am his babushka.  Please tell me.  My Boris, he is well?”

***

Don’t go away yet.  I promised you a recipe!

Seafood Normandy

Recipe credit: Food Network

Total Time:  40 min

Prep:  20 min
Cook:  20 min

Ingredients
5 scallops
4 shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon chopped spinach
1 teaspoon diced red bell pepper
1 teaspoon chopped onion
1 teaspoon chopped celery
6 ounces dried fettuccini
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 ounces whole baby clams
6 mussels
4 ounces Alfredo sauce, recipe follows
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
Freshly ground pepper
Salt
Lemon twist, for garnish

Alfredo Sauce for Seafood Normandy:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan
Ground cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions
Combine scallops, shrimp, chopped spinach, and diced red bell pepper.

Bring large pot of water to boil and add chopped onion and celery for flavor. Add 6 ounces fettuccini to the boiling water and cook to al dente.

Meanwhile, put olive oil in saute pan and heat over medium-high heat. Then add shrimp, scallops, clams, chopped spinach, and diced red bell peppers. Saute for approximately 5 minutes.

When fettuccini is done, drain. Drop mussels in the boiling water after removing fettuccini. Cook until mussels are open and tender, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, then drain and combine mussels with ingredients in the saute pan. Add the Alfredo Sauce to the pan and continue cooking for about 2 minutes.

Add fettuccini to pan and toss until well combined. Plate, sprinkling top with freshly chopped parsley and garnish with lemon twist. Grind fresh pepper and salt if desired.

Alfredo Sauce for Seafood Normandy:
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic, cheese, and cayenne and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.

For a lower fat version, substitute 1 cup milk and 1/4 cup flour separately, instead of heavy cream.

Recipe courtesy The Globe and Laurel

49 thoughts on “Rewind – Three Things Episodes 20 – 21”

  1. Thank you Janet, for taking a moment to comment — you are so kind. Yes, let’s hope for relaxation! 😀 The weatherman doesn’t predict any sunshine in the foreseeable future, so i’ll have to hop over to your blog and look at your hummingbirds! Mega hugs!

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  2. What an incredibly creative writer you are…..and indeed you should be smiling broadly and sitting on your laurels for a while.:) Love it….and hope you have a relaxing weekend. Janet. with big hugs.

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  6. This is great – loved reading this 🙂 It was also really interesting to get a snapshot of your research, a behind-the-scenes look. Have a great week 🙂

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  7. Teagan, well, first — congratulations for completing Nanowrimo! That’s terrific! Secondly, my gosh, you have really gotten yourself into a “big novel,” and all that entails — and that’s great! I’ve said this before, but I absolutely LOVE the title (and the cover you show looks so cool!). Thirdly, not only do you finish your 50,000 words … but then you still have enough fuel to write your blog! You rock, girlfriend! Congratulations, again! 🙂

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    1. Oh thank you Debra! That means a lot to me.
      Umm, i won’t call the Guitar Mancer big (but then i like huge fantasy books). However it will probably be longer than “Atonement, Tennessee.”
      For huge, i have The Dead of Winter, which i need to rework a bit. I need to figure out good ways to divide it into two or three books, because it’s so long… It has a very different tone than my other books; a little more serious. I’ve relegated it to the “one of these days” stack.
      >
      Enjoy your cabin adventure! Mega-hugs! 🙂

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  8. So glad you’re in my corner with the handy scissors. 😀 I knew you’d be at the ready if I ran into trouble and for all your support. Thank you, Teagan, you have a generous heart. ❤ ❤

    I haven't read this rewind yet and am pleased it is on rewind. Glad I came back to visit or I wouldn't have seen this comment. I should have added that this recipe for Seafood Normandy sounds so good, I'll have to make it during the Christmas holidays.

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  9. Well, luckily i had a pair of scissors hidden and made alterations to the white jacket. 😈 LOL.
    Seriously though, thank you Tess — that means a lot to me I do a good bit of work to get the “rewind” ready, but at least they were already written.
    I’ll eventually get back with a new serial and it will be “interactive” once again with me begging “things” or “ingredients” from everyone.
    I hope everyone will visit your latest post, and the links to your anthologies. You’re positively brilliant with short stories. Hugs. 🙂

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  10. Congratulations on completing NaNo! Of course I knew you would and m.o.r.e.
    I just love the voice and bouncy tone of your ‘Three Things’ serial. I don’t know how you manage to accomplish so much in a day. I’m more than impressed. Me, I’d be overwhelmed and in a white jacket. ❤ ❤

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  11. Great post! Congratulations on NaNoWriMo. Everything is getting very intriguing indeed…And I hope everything else works out…The recipe sound delicious but…possibly a bit heavy for me (and especially for my non-cooking skills). 🙂

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  12. Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    My Sunday mid-morning coffee is not complete without a Three Things rewind – also new ons NaNoWriMo – looks like we have a little while to wait for The Guitar Mancer but you know what they say about good things… Also an amazing recipe for Seafood Normandy – Some twists and turns in these two episodes which cover some intriguing elements such as Military Underwear…

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  18. I was happy you’d done a seafood recipe tonight as it gave me the excuse to ignore it and not be taunted by you horrors who flash food around at 11.50pm when I’m starving.
    Also and luckily for me you’re such a superb writer the episodes quite took my mind off food. This is actually where I joined you , wonderful you, and your blog last year
    xxx Massive Hugs xxx

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    1. David you have always been a treasure. I don’t think you can know how much your support and encouragement has meant to me. It seems as though i’ve known you for so much longer, maybe as if I’ve lived next door to you for many years. So thank you. Mega hugs my friend. ⭐

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    1. Suzanne, thank you so very much! I’m delighted that you are enjoying the rerun of this serial. The real woman in the picture of the countess is truly fascinating. I enjoyed reading about her. Wishing you a Sunday filled with sunshine super hugs. 😀

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    1. Why thank you Tim. 🙂
      I enjoyed a lovely very simple Thanksgiving of writing. A paid day off just when i needed it most for Novel Month.
      I hope it was a beautiful holiday for you and yours. Hugs!

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      1. We had a great Thanksgiving. I tried out a new, rather old, 4×5 camera in the morning, processed the film and printed a couple of the negatives before we went to Laurie’s parents for dinner at 2:00 with our daughter and a friend. We had red chile posole with guacamole, purple cabbage, lime and corn tortillas for dinner which was much preferred by all over the traditional turkey dinner.

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        1. Oh you’re killing me. 🙂 LOL. I’m always trying to describe posole to people here. I finally got my own recipe the way i wanted it.. So glad all of you had a good Thanksgiving. I also hope everyone will take a look at your blog. I really do enjoy your photos. Hugs all around.

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  21. Mihrank, you are so kind. And your music director brought a smile to my face. Wouldn’t that be fun a TV series of old time cliff hangers or even an Anime series.
    Your lovely music still rings happily in my mind. I hope everyone will check out your blog. Hugs! ❤ 😀

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