Rewind – Three Things Episodes 22 – 24

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Three Faces of EveI started to say, “Just call me Sybil.” Because I have too much going on — a few different works in progress, and the next serial for this blog simmering on the back burner. However, I don’t think it quite adds up to Sybil’s 16 personalities.  Although with two distinctly different stories actively evolving in my mind, and my real job, you might go ahead and call me Eve…

Suffice to say there are a lot of ideas competing for attention in my head.

Book-2 of Atonement, Tennessee continues to Atonement Video Cover copygerminate.  That’s appropriate since the title is Atonement in Bloom.  Little seeds to develop the story sprout into ideas.

Though I met the requirements with a draft novel to achieve a “win” with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), The Guitar Mancer needs a lot of fleshing out.  (By the way, the introduction to the “rewind” for Episode -23 below is a flashback for me to a previous NaNoWriMo. I must be a glutton for punishment…)

Don’t give up! I will finish both of these novels or it will finish me. Then I can go back to re-working Tatterdemallian: The Electric Zucchini.  And maybe even figure out how to divide The Dead of Winter into two (or three) books.

Applesauce!  Suddenly my brain is tired… So here’s another rewind of the original interactive blog serial, Three Things.  

Don’t loose heart my foodie friends! Episode-24 gave us an “ingredient” so look for a recipe at the end of the rewind.  Now, let’s get a wiggle on!

Please join me for episode 22 of our little 1920’s serial.

22. Blue John, Clarice Cliff Pottery, Art Deco, Silk

Before I could stop him, Frankie told Countess Babikov about the burglary at Boris’ apartment — I mean office.  I was worried about that episode upsetting her.  The white-haired woman had clearly been abducted and roughed up, so she seemed fragile.  There was that cut and bruise at her temple, plus her expensive sheer silk stockings were badly torn.

However, the look of frailty was momentary.  Countess Babikov got a steely, protective look in her eyes.  I was almost worried about her kidnappers.  She took another sip of the brandy I had gotten for her, but I could tell she was thinking.  You could practically see the wheels turning in her mind.  She blinked as if something had interrupted her thoughts.

“Frankie my dear, would you bring my coat?” she asked pointing to a chair where the coat with the fox collar was draped.

English: Ballets Russes, scene from Apollon mu...When the fireman handed her the coat she thanked him, then quickly searched through it.  “Ah!  It is still there.  Thank goodness,” she said in a pleased tone as she withdrew a small silver jewelry casket.  She opened it to display a beautiful dress clip, shaped like a butterfly.

She smiled warmly and held it out to the circus magnate.  “I saw this when the Ballets Russes last performed in England.  I could imagine the butterfly in Mable’s rose garden, and I knew she must have it… my dearest friend, Mable.”

The butterfly was made from a lovely blue banded gemstone.  I asked if it was fluorite, but it didn’t really look like any I had ever seen.  In answer Countess Babikov described her visit to Castleton and the shop where she found the dress clip made from a rare stone she called Blue John.

“Jeepers, I almost forgot!” I exclaimed and started fishing in my pocketbook.  When I looked up, I was uncomfortable to find all eyes on me.  I felt a little foolish, but I produced the bent key and grinned.  However, I wasn’t sure to which of them I should give it.  I tried to look at John Ringling and the Countess both when I explained.

Ringling-Zalophus-Ca-d-Zan
Ringling’s yacht, Zalophus docked at Ca’d’Zan

“This fell from the getaway car back at the Nickelodeon Theatre when they nabbed you, Countess Babikov.  I think the engraving says Ca’d’Zan,” I told them.

“It’s seen better days, hasn’t it?” commented John Ringling as he took the key and inspected it closely.  “It’s for Ca’d’Zan alright.”

Then he dropped the damaged key into a lovely pottery jug.  The sound made everyone look at the piece.  Leaning closer to look at the pottery Frankie asked, “Is that what they call Art Deco?  The style, I mean?”

Mr. Ringling wore a rather distracted expression, but he answered, “I believe so.  I haven’t heard the termEarly 'Original Bizarre' pattern on an Athens ... until just recently.  Mable, my wife, took a shine to this stuff during one of our travels.  The young lady who painted it is called Clarice Cliff.  I think she called that pattern Bizarre.”

“Tell me everything about Boris,” the Countess said imploringly, and changed the subject.  “When he left the Ballets Russes, he had begun acting strangely.  At first I thought it was because of his injury — you know?  That he was depressed because he could dance no longer.  Yet strange men began to come to see him.  I thought I saw one of them, when I started making inquiries here about my grandson.  Then the other men abducted me, making a ransom demand of my most kind friend here, John,” she said with a look of gratitude and a motion to the circus magnate.

“What can be going on to cause these strange events?” she said as if to herself.  The same question nagged me as well.

***

Introduction for Episode-23

LifeFlapper1922I’m finally here with another episode of our little 1920’s story.  The characters have been nagging at my thoughts.  I don’t know what I’m going to do with them during November, while I’m trying to write an entire (new) novel in a few short weeks, for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! Maybe I’ll skip the fun part of decorating the post and looking up historic links, because I spend a good deal of time with that.

There’s bound to be some “thing” that pulls me back to the story.  Sometimes a single word conveys so much feeling or imagery.  Flapper is that kind of word.  Wasn’t your mind filled with images the moment you read the word?  Provincial Lady has a talent for thinking of those words.  She supplied three evocative things for today’s post.  As always you can find all the episodes in one place at the Three Things Serial page.

Episode 23 causes Pip to contemplate the unusual events that she and her friends have recently experienced.  Can she put the pieces together?

23.  Dissolute, Rocky, Bonehead

An expression of warmth and kindness came to the white-haired woman’s face when she looked at Frankie and me.  “I worried that my Boris squandered his talents in some dissolute existence,” she began, her accent becoming heavier.  I had to focus to understand some of her words.  “But if he has friends such as you, then I know that fear is unfounded.”

Countess Babikov seemed to be wilting from her burst of energy.  I poured another splash of brandy into her glass.  Mr. Ringling helped her sit back on the sofa and put her feet up.  I spotted a decanter of water

Clara Bow as Mona the Movie Star
Clara Bow as Mona the Movie Star

and used some to wet my handkerchief and then gently cleaned the cut at her temple.

A plaintive call reached my ears.  “Pip?”

I opened the door to find Mona looking for me.  She held the tin lunch pail that she’d used for a home-away-from-home for Pear.  However, other than the little hedgehog Mona was alone.  “Where’s Flavio?” I asked.

“He was feeling a little rocky, and went back ashore,” she said with an expression that suggested she was pleased with herself for using the term.  “I don’t think he’s a very good sailor, but he’s a sweet guy.”

Frankie gave me a lopsided grin and commented, “Nah, Flavio’s a bonehead.”  I shot the fireman a skeptical look and his grin was unrepentant.  “Okay.  He’s a good bonehead, but he’s still a bonehead.”

“Oh, Pip!” Mona exclaimed, still in the corridor, but walking toward the door.  “You’ll never believe who I heard this yacht belongs to.”

“Pip, dear,” the Countess said with a twinkle in her eyes.  “Do invite your friend inside.”1920s Dime Mystery

I heard the circus millionaire inside, cautioning Bepa or Faith — she asked us to call her one or the other, but I wasn’t quite comfortable with that.  Holy Hannah!  The woman was royalty for goodness sakes!  Anyhow, he was worried about her exerting herself after the ordeal of her kidnapping.

A thought struck me.  No one had ever said what the kidnappers wanted with her…  Of course there was the ransom, but I had a strong feeling that money wasn’t everything they were after.  I was also sure it had an awful lot to do with Boris.   I felt like I was working a jigsaw puzzle and some pieces were missing.  I didn’t like that feeling.

***

Introduction for Episode-24

Tommy-n-Tuppence
Illustration by Arthur Ferrier of Agatha Christie’s detective pair Tommy and Tuppence, from the December 1923 issue of The Grand Magazine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You’d think I would have thought of Agatha Christie the minute the Three Things Serial became a 1920’s story.  She created so many memorable characters.  Two of my favorites are not as well known, but they showcase the spirit of the 1920’s for me — Tommy and Tuppence.  The first novel in which they appeared was The Secret Adversary.

At any rate, I didn’t think of Tommy and Tuppence until recently, although they could easily have inspired our little story.  With a nod to Agatha Christie, today’s Three Things come from the opening of that novel:

“TOMMY, old thing!”

“Tuppence, old bean!”

The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and momentarily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so.

Now I give you Three Tommy and Tuppence Things.

24.  Old Thing, Bean, Dover Street Tube Exit

Frankie had already caught on to the mischievous twinkle in Countess Bepa’s eyes.  Mona would probably faint when she walked in and saw a big cheese like John Ringling — not to mention a for-real countess!  He blocked the door for a second so he would get a good look at her face when she saw the occupants of the cabin.

Clara Bow 1927
Clara Bow 1927

“Frankie, old thing,” she said.  “I wondered where you’d gotten to.”

The fireman stepped aside and Mona saw the countess.  Even in her disheveled state, right after having been ransomed by dastardly kidnappers, the older woman exuded easy elegance and confidence.  Mona’s face registered recognition, and I knew she was thinking of the night at the Nickelodeon Theatre when we all saw the white-haired woman pulled into a car that careened away.

“Aren’t you the…” Mona began, but then she noticed the owner of the yacht, and she simply stopped, open mouthed.

“Hey, Movie Star, did somebody just bean you?” Frankie asked with a lopsided grin.

The countess chuckled, and even the circus magnate, still worried about his recently kidnapped guest, smiled.  Introductions were made to the astonishment of Mona the movie star.

“I heard you refer to this charming young man as ‘old thing.’  That’s a term I’ve rarely heard since I arrived in this country,” Countess Babikov told the aspiring actress.  “Are you perhaps from England?”1920s subway crowded

“Oh no,” Mona said with an attractive blush.  “But I did go to school in London for a couple of years.  It was near Dover Street.”

The countess looked shocked.  She turned to Mr. Ringling.  “John… I just remembered.  That is where I first saw those men.  I had just parted company with my Boris at the Dover Street Tube exit.  That is where I saw them!”

 

***

Recipe – Video

Now for the promised recipe! Have you guessed the ingredient?  Of course it is “Bean” from Episode-24.

Slow-Cooked Green Beans – Amazing Southern-Style Green Beans

***

 Tune in again next weekend to see what happens because of the next set of Three Things. Same flapper time, same flapper channel.

 

 

45 thoughts on “Rewind – Three Things Episodes 22 – 24”

  1. Pingback: Using Leftovers — Research | Teagan's Books

  2. Even in DC it can be hard to find sweet tea, and the Virginia part is “southern.” (Though a lot of people farther south would disagree, LOL.) When i lived in New Mexico i sure got crazy looks when i asked for sweet tea. o_O

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    1. LOL! Amazing how unhealthful a vegetable can become. Once in a while, i think we have to opt for delicious. Thanks so much for taking a moment to comment, Brenda. Love your writing and photos. Huge hugs!

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  7. I still enjoy the stories you come up with and all the research you must do to fit in the 3 words and pictures.
    Lorna

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  13. Wow, Teagan, you have the Midas touch with words! You’re the first friend who actually met the goal for the NaNoWriMo. Well, one other did, but it was the same novel she started for the contest last year, so even she says it doesn’t really count.
    All of your projects sound so interesting; I’m impressed with your talent and your energy. And the green bean dish was an extra bonus.
    Well done, and thanks!

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    1. Hi Marilyn, it’s wonderful to see you! Well… remember it’s only a draft (or rather DRAFT in great big letters, ha). I was hoping for a very clean draft — somehow i managed that with “Atonement, Tennessee” in 2012. But this story took turns for which i wasn’t prepared. So i’m still fleshing out the draft.
      >Those green beans were killing me! Where i’m from we cook them until they’re soft, with all that flavor simmered into the beans, but i’m not familiar with adding tomatoes.
      It seems many of my cook-readers who were drawn to The Three Ingredients serials are drifting away with this “rewind” of the original serial (before it became a culinary mystery). So i’m trying to find a way to throw in a recipe now. The next serial will have the culinary element again.
      Great-big-hug! 😀

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    1. Ha-ha! I’ve never decided what “type” alphabet letter i am. I think i would need to borrow a character from the “symbols” in stead of a letter.
      I behind on my blog reading too… i expect you cooked up something delectable this weekend — need to check out your blog! (BTW, i made that cauliflower/potato soup again. Yum!) Huge hugs. 🙂

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  15. Teagan, sorry I’m behind in my blog-reading … can the end of another semester ever get here?! I can’t believe how many writing projects you have going! That’s wonderful! The more projects you have going the better you write and create (and least that’s what I believe). And your titles — I’d love to steal them, they’re so fun, electric, and original. And, of course, each episode is terrific, too! You’re an inspiration, Teagan, 🙂

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    1. Debra, what a lovely comment to start my Monday. You are such a treasure. (And with the environment at work, believe me, i really needed it. You can’t even imagine…) Thank you — you’ve no idea how much that means to me. Interesting what you said about the titles, because i’ve always thought that was my weakest thing. (Except The Guitar Mancer — i admit to being fond of that title — no wonder the idea stuck with me since the late 1990’s!)
      >This semester will be over before you know it, and you’ll have a huge sense of accomplishment for all the knowledge you’ve passed forward to your students. And with that ending, a new beginning right on its heels — time to share more of the gems inside your head. Mega-hugs! 😀

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  17. Fabulous post as usual. Nice to see David mentioned and the gorgeous pictures. Agatha Christie, Blue John (I’ve visited Castleton often as it’s fairly near where I live and has fascinating complex of caves and mines) and Clarice Cliff….I don’t mind what you choose to write as long as you keep gracing us with your writing. Good luck Teagan!

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  18. You’re too kind Christy. My brain was in so many different places, that in this post i found myself listing all the novels that lurk in my brain (in the past six years). So, distracting though it may be, it’s not that furious of a pace. Compared to others, I’m a very slow writer.
    Thanks so very much for dropping by and for taking a moment to leave a comment. It means a lot to me. Huge hugs! 😀

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  20. Hi Teagan! I’m really enjoying the rewind and will just keep going as long as you are postin’ 🙂 I think Hemingway was lucky he didn’t have to compete with you. I’m sure he would have worn his old Royal typewriter out trying to keep up. I am glad you have such a prolific writer’s mind because I like to read. Big hugs and thanks for all your hard work 🙂

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    1. Rand/Daniel, you always make my day. That’s high praise coming from a truly gifted writer like you. (And i only wish i could hammer out a novel at Hemmingway speed! 😀 ) I guess my brain is just feeling a bit crowded this weekend — must be the weather. Thank you, thank you for your encouraging words. Hugs ❤ 🙂

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    1. Tess you always know just what to say! That’s the way they play out for me, so i’m tickled to know i’ve gotten that across.
      I think these characters are not finished with me yet — particularly now that “Mona the movie star” has gotten some fresh air with this rewind…
      Mega-hugs my friend. ❤ 😀

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  24. You are such a treasure, David. I really did have a lot of fun doing all the research for the “things” you sent. (I know… i’m just strange that way.)
    Ha! You might want to count your blessings that Reuben isn’t old enough to be that advanced. Just think of the trouble he and Mike would get into if they put their heads together. LOL. Mega-hugs my friend. ❤

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  25. First off thank you for the bit about the very talented Lord David, I had to remedy not having one of his books and order. Honestly Teagan how do you keep all this things straight that are floating around in that very creative head of yours. Amazing, so much going on and it’s all exciting. A lot of work for you and exciting for us. Loved this episode and It’s such a great story, the characters are so real (at least to me) I feel like I am with them all watching it go down. Really look forward to the next installment.

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    1. Suzanne you are a true gem! Thanks for your encouraging words. It would be hard to choose a favorite from David’s books. He actually published that one after the original of this post. But the image was missing from my old post somehow… So i used his most recent book.
      > Keep what straight? (Hysterical laughter ensues…) o_O I think my brain ran for its life… If you see it roaming the streets in NY, try to lure it in from the cold with one of those delectable angel food cup cakes! http://apuginthekitchen.com/
      Mega-hugs!

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