Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors Challenge — The Yellow Door

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Bushboy Photos

Welcome, all.  I confess that the seed of a story began to germinate the moment I saw this photo by Brian at Bushboy’s World when Dan Antion posted the rules for the 4th Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC) — before the writing part of the event began.  (Click the blue link for more information about the challenge and how to showcase your stories.)

That’s why this story appears to have been done so quickly.  Although once I saw beyond that yellow door, it flowed pretty steadily. That said, when you read my story, you might wonder how I got there from the style of Brian’s door… but as I often say, I’m just not wired right.

Actually, it’s more of a backstory than a real story.  Anyway, here goes my first story for the challenge…

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221B

Image collage by Teagan

A muscle cramp seized Saffron’s hand just as she was signing her name for what must have been the fifty-seventh time.  Bron Mycroft looked at her sympathetically.

Waves of emotion washed against her, excitement, pride, and especially anxiety.  However, when she glanced down at the photograph she had taken of the bright yellow door, she smiled.

“Congratulations again on buying your first home.  Did you ever think you’d be signing your name so many times?” Bron said.  “In all the years I’ve been a real estate agent, you are one of the most pleasant clients I’ve had.  I’m happy that you’ve found a place you like.”

“Thanks, Bron.  I never thought Saffron was a long name until now.  Thank goodness I only used my middle initial and not Hadrianna,” she remarked with a chuckle and went back to signing Saffron H. Olmes on the next form.

Across the large conference room table sat the other agent and the seller.  The agent was expensively dressed, but she looked unaccountably nervous as her long polished fingernails tapped the oak tabletop.

“Mr. Brown,” Saffron began, and he asked her to call him Sam.  “What made you paint the front door and entry yellow?” she asked, and Brown’s agent started coughing violently.

Did her foot move under the table to kick Sam?

“Um, he just wanted it to stand out.  Isn’t it serendipity that it matches your name, Saffron?” Willie Morris answered for her client.  “Just one more,” Ms. Morris added, hurriedly pointing to the line waiting to be signed on the contract.  “And initial… and congratulations on your new townhome!”

Saffron nodded.  She didn’t care that her name was associated with yellow.  She simply liked the color.

In a flurry of handshakes, Morris ushered Sam Brown out of the office.  He didn’t get a chance to say thank you or wish her luck.  The agent chattered rapidly, all but dragging Sam out of the office with her.

Happiness unhampered by the woman’s odd behavior, Saffron beamed at the stack of papers that proved her ownership of the townhouse on Baker Street.  Although a slightly troubled expression came to her face.

“What is it, Saffron?” Bron wanted to know.

“There’s something about that address — I mean, my address… but I can’t put my finger on it,” she murmured, earning a loud guffaw from Mycroft.

“Do you mean 221B Baker Street?  You must not be a mystery fan,” he replied and watched her face change.

“Oh, isn’t that the old detective story, Sherlock Holmes?  That’s where he lived?  You’re right.  I like mysteries well enough, but I only read modern stories,” she confessed.

“This is a little awkward.  I shouldn’t have assumed that you made the connection,” Bron said sheepishly.  “I think Mr. Brown painted the entry such a bright color, because he wanted to distract interest from the unit number.”

“You don’t mean…  Do you think people will show up at my door looking for a fictional detective?  For heaven’s sake, even if Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories were real, this isn’t London, England.  It’s Suitland, Maryland.  Nobody would be that stupid,” Saffron began, but then she thought about all the absurd things people did in fact believe.

“Would they?” she asked, incredulous.

Though a skeptical curl tugged at the corner of his mouth, Bron Mycroft only shrugged.

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CGI by Teagan via Playground

While Saffron stood on the sidewalk, directing the movers where to take her sofa, a white-haired woman hurried up to her.  She waved a copy of a “Lost Dog” flyer, with a picture of a scruffy dog with distinctive markings.

The lady begged Saffron to find the beloved dog.  She acted as though it was a task that Saffron should take personally and bolt into action.  Her manner puzzled the young woman.

“Ma’am, I’m only just moving in.  You must be worried sick.  I haven’t seen him, but I’ll keep an eye out.  Maybe people who have lived her longer would have some idea of where to look for him,” she told the woman, but received an incredulous stare in reply.  “Have you called the pound?  He might be safe and sound there.”

The woman shook her head, seeming annoyed.  She thrust the flyer, which included her name and phone number, at Saffron and stalked away.

Saffron started after the woman, but the unmistakable crash of something breakable caused her to turn back to the movers.  Seeing the contents of a box come tumbling from the top of the stairs, she ran up trying to catch whatever she could before anything else shattered.

After the movers had left, she sat down, massaging over-used muscles.  Saffron noticed the flyer.  She felt bad for the woman.  On impulse, she looked up the number for animal control.  She called and described the unique markings of the dog.  She then phoned the woman, who sobbed with relief.

The next morning, when Saffron was leaving home for the office, she noticed an envelope that had been pushed under her front door.  It contained a generous check from the lady as a reward for finding her dog.

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Saffron had taken a couple of vacation days for the closing on her townhome and for moving.  When she went back to the office, she saw that many of the cubicles were empty.  Saffron spotted an unusual number of her coworkers gathered in the breakroom. 

Knowing she was behind from taking a day off for moving, she didn’t join them.  Instead, she went straight to her computer.  Halfway down the screen of her inbox she found an interoffice communique.  Maryland-Med Billing Corp., and the 500 jobs it included, had been bought by a global corporation called Omnitech Data Warehousing, Inc.

“That must be what everybody is talking about,” she muttered to herself.  “They get worried about every little thing.  Although this…  This is troubling.”

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CGI by Teagan via Playground

Before the week was over, all the staff were summoned.  Worried grumbles filled the vast room that was typically only used for holiday parties, and rented out for product or technology fairs.  “VIPs” from the new parent company were there to address them.

One of Saffron’s most vocal and paranoid coworkers was quick to notice that most of the executives from their company were missing.  The new VIPs didn’t mention that until the guy stood up and specifically asked.

“Their positions were no longer necessary.  We already have more than the same number of people in those positions for Omni.  They received a generous severance package and they’re satisfied to be moving forward in their careers,” replied the man in a custom-made suit.  “But don’t worry.  Your jobs are safe.  Right now we need each and every one of you.  You’re all part of Omni’s family now.”

Many employees were reassured by the words.  However, most of them remained uneasy.  The manner of the speaker was contrary to his words.

The next week, 50 of Saffron’s coworkers were let go because jobs similar to theirs already existed within the new company.  A week after that, Saffron and 100 others were laid off for the same reason.

“You can’t lay me off!  Right after I bought a home?” she exclaimed to the unknown man who had called her to his office.  “Isn’t there some other job I can do here?”

In answer to her question, the stranger motioned to nearby security guards who escorted her to the front door of the building.

“They’ll pack up your desk and let you know when you can come to pick up your belongings,” one guard stated as he turned and went back for the next person.

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Image collage by Teagan

Numb from the shock of losing her job, Saffron didn’t notice the cheerful yellow of her front door.  When she reached the top of the stairs, a young man rushed up after her.  It frightened her into a yelp-like scream.

He apologized for startling her.  She noted that he was dressed as if for a night of clubbing, in trendy clothes that were supposed to suggest a rebellious attitude.  The stereotype didn’t match his honest face.

“I heard he’d moved in, but I didn’t believe until I saw for myself,” he said excitedly.  “I couldn’t believe my luck.  Look, my best friend is missing.  The police aren’t doing anything.  They said ‘runaway’ and stopped looking.  I need to see Sherlock!”

“I’m sorry about your friend, but I don’t understand why you’re here,” Saffron replied a little nervously.

“Hey, I can pay.  My parents have money.  I have money of my own too,” he interrupted.

“You talk like you think there’s a detective agency or something here,” she told him.  “This is my home.  There aren’t any detectives or any Sherlock.”

“Come on.  I know he only takes interesting cases, but this is important.  I know he’s here.  I saw the name on the mailboxes,” the young man insisted.  “See!  There it is.  221B, S Holmes.”

Saffron looked at her name, which read S. H. Olmes, and pointed out his mistake.

“It’s Olmes, not Holmes.  I’m sorry.  I know you’re upset.  So am I.  I just lost my job,” Saffron told him in a tone of commiseration.

“You said you lost your job.  A girl I know got laid off last week.  She only got a week of severance pay.  What did they give you — two weeks?  Less than that?  How long’s that going to last?” he pressed.

When she didn’t say more, the young man, who looked barely old enough to be admitted to the nightclubs where he likely spent most of his time, hung his head.  Wordlessly, he started down the stairs.

Saffron shook her head and sighed in resignation.

“Do you want to come in and tell me about your friend?  Maybe between the two of us we can figure out where your friend might be,” she offered, having seen the tears that welled in his eyes.

“Like I said, if you can help, I can pay,” he said, springing back up her front stairs.

He held out his driver’s license which listed his address in a very wealthy Maynooth area.

The idea of taking his money didn’t feel good to Saffron.  Although he was right that her two weeks’ pay wouldn’t last long.  Plus, based on his clothes and neighborhood, it was surely true that he had plenty of money.

I can worry about whether to let him pay me later, she told her conscience.

She knew it was a crazy idea to think she could make any money as some kind of independent detective.  Then she remembered that she had basically already solved her first case with the missing dog.

“I could make us some coffee… Ronald Adair, Jr,” she read aloud the name on his license.

“I go by Ronal,” he replied with a grin and followed her inside 221B Baker Street.

***

And so began the adventures of Saffron H. Olmes, private detective.

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If you think the character names used in this story are familiar, you are right. With the exception of Saffron Hadrianna Olmes, as a way of paying homage to Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes mysteries, I used at least part of each character’s name from characters in those stories.

Friendly comments are welcome. Thanks for opening this door.

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Naturally, the obligatory shameless self-promotion must be included.

Speak Chuckaboo:
Slang of the Victorian and Steam Eras

Speak Chuckaboo, Slang of the Victorian and Steam Eras, by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B0B9W38LDJ

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0B9T8MP1K

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Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. It’s hosted by Dan Antion.  Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).

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No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author, or used with permission, or from free sources.

Copyright © 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

78 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors Challenge — The Yellow Door”

  2. I was engaged from the beginning of the story and was sorry when it ended.  Very entertaining and creative tale.  A lovely new beginning for Saffron, I hope.  Great little details from the Sherlock Holmes lore.  I love the images and the CGI you create.  They’re so eye-catching. 

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    1. You are so kind, Brenda. I appreciate the time you’ve spent here. I was hoping to use Saffron in most of my TDWC stories… but it hasn’t turned out that way. There’s time yet. Maybe she’ll come back. Thanks for your great feedback. Big hugs.

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    1. Wow, Teri. I appreciate all the time you’ve spent here today. I think the Baker St address is part of pop culture now, with or without Sherlock. If you like Victorian literature then you will enjoy them. Big thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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    1. Yay! Another Sherlock fan. Maureen, I’ve been surprised by how many people said they didn’t pick up on it. I was afraid I was being too obvious.
      Thanks so much. It seems strange to me that my mind went there for such a modern looking door image. But as soon as I thought, “Why would someone paint their door that bright yellow?” My next thought was “To distract from something else… like the address.” Thanks for opening this door.

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    1. Yay! I’m glad to see another Sherlock fan here, dear Ape. I hope to do occasional short stories for Saffron, particularly during this writing challenge. It runs throughout May. That’s a good point — S.H. Olmes does need a Dr. Watson… hmmm… Maybe she takes in a kitty and names him Watson… We’ll see. Many thanks for reading and commenting. Big hugs.

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  11. Pingback: Back in Oakland – No Facilities

    1. Hi, Kerfe. Sorry for the late reply. I was hoping to do that. Fingers crossed. I can see her and Ronal at a mansion party where the mystery of his missing friend is solved. I’m just not sure how they get there. Maybe one of the doors will tell me. 😉

      I actually started a story last night for one of the doors, but it’s not a Saffron tale. Have a great weekend. Hugs.

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      1. As I told Dan, I’m waiting to see what the poetry prompts for the week are before I pick a door each Thursday. I’m sure something will fit.

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    1. Yay — a Sherlock fan! I should have known, Liz, since you’ve been interested in a couple of BritBox mysteries I’ve mentioned. I’m delighted that you like it. I have one idea kicking around for Saffron and Ronal, since the issue of his missing friend is unresolved. Hugs.

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    1. That’s great feedback, Resa — thank you. I’m still gobsmacked by your gorgeous Freddy Mercury drawing. I’m really captured by your yellow door too. Yellow seems to be my thing this year. Although your blue-faced woman is whispering that I need to go to Wonderland. 😀 Big hugs.

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      1. Your write is terrific, piquing.
        Ah… my yellow door. LOL. What I like about it is that the slogan over the door is so positive and inviting, yet the door has a lock on it.

        Anyway, I’m glad we a have a month. 😀🤗🤗

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        1. That’s great irony for sure. I’ve been wanting to try and draw something — it’s been decades. Your blue woman door has given my an idea. I don’t know if I can do it or post it, but I’m going to try. At worst, I’ll waste a few hours in “Wonderland”. It looks like she’s smoking a hookah.

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    1. Ah, Saffron Burrows — I had to look her up. I remember her character in Boston Legal, but I couldn’t think of her name. I’ve “known of” Saffron (or Safron) used as a name a few times, but never met any of them. My first thought with that door was the Donovan song, Mellow Yellow (“I’m just mad about Saffron.”) It took a couple of weeks for her surname and the rest of the story to sprout.
      I can’t wait to read your story! Thanks for including the link. Hugs.

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  19. I really like the way Saffron thinks “on the fly” and seizes an opportunity when one is presented to her, showing she’s a clear thinker even in times of stress. She’s pivoted quite nicely, and let the Olmes case-solving begin. Enjoyed this a lot, Teagan.🕵️‍♀️

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    1. Thanks, Deborah. I had a heck of a time with (of all things) Saffron’s jeans. The model was from a computer generated image, and I erased the background and tweaked her eyes. Then I realized that there was a thumb sticking out of her pants… sort of like a hole in the front of the pocket, but with the thumb pointed in an unnatural way. LOL. Smearing out the thumb wasn’t hard, but adding back the creases in the jeans (and getting them to look halfway right) was a royal pain. You have a good rest of the week too. Hugs.

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  22. Good to see you back, Teagan. I hope you’re feeling better, and that your Internet connection is in better shape. This is a fun origin story! I enjoyed how you cleverly wove Sherlock names into the characters. This will be corny to say, but this story is a great example of how when one door closes, another opens 🙂

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    1. That’s a cool thought, Dave — not corny at all. I’m glad to know the story was more positive than I realized. Thanks about the names. Using odd things like that to make character names is a game I sometimes play with myself. I usually have a theme of one kind or another (for characters beyond the protagonist), even when the names come in the usual way (not paying homage to anything). Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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  24. I love it, Teagan! I spotted some of the names, but I also failed to make the connection with Saffron’s name. Although I don’t know what she did at her previous job, I am sure she’ll enjoy her new career much more. I wouldn’t mind reading more about her adventures. Thanks, Teagan!

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  26. I fell deep into interest about this story, Teagan. I knew something had clicked when you told Brian that you liked this door before he even added it to the group.

    I didn’t make the connection to S.H. Olmes – that was a pleasant surprise. I like the name Saffron, and I wish her well on her new start in life. “You’re all part of Omni’s family now.” I’ve heard words like that before, worthless words from equally worthless people. This story is relatable in so many ways. Well done!

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    1. Thanks for that feedback, Dan. I was afraid I was being too obvious with the Sherlock-related stuff, but several people have made similar comments. I thought it was a cool door with that effect, so I wanted to encourage Brian. “Saffron” as mentioned in the Donovan song, clicked immediately. However, other than that, it took a couple of weeks for the story to germinate. I’m delighted that you liked it. Hugs.

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  27. This was lovely. I think sometimes we have no clue if we possess certain skills and talents until someone comes along and allows us to try and we make use of that opportunity. In the apartment building I live in one of my neighbor’s room number is 007 although I must admit the person living there is light years away from the Bond character.

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  28. Thanks for writing a wonderful and compelling story for “our” door 😀 I actually slowed a bit when Morris and Brown were mentioned even though I twigged at S. H. Olmes. The surname was too unusual. Didn’t get the other names 🙄
    Those moving guys are so strong carrying that couch like that 😂 I’d worry about the glassware….ohh that’s right, oops, sorry lady. I love the bold yellows in the other creations.
    I might have enjoyed this read too much. Are you doing another door as well?

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    1. Welcome, Brian! The names for the other characters (well, except Mycroft) weren’t anything I really expected anyone to catch. It’s more of a game I play with myself, using some sort of theme in naming non-main characters. “Saffron” came from my first reaction to your door — in the old Donovan song “Mellow Yellow” he sings “I’m just mad about Saffron; She’s just mad about me”. The rest of the story germinated gradually over the course of a couple of weeks.
      I’m delighted you enjoyed this. I hope to do more stories for the challenge. I finally finished a SyFy-Western I’ve been sharing on my weekend posts, so maybe I’ll be able to do more. Thanks for reading and commenting — and for the door. Hugs.

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