Bistro Clémentine (Part I) - CW

The luncheon crowd has long gone back to work.
And the "Happy Hour" has yet to begin.
The waitresses have all left and the only person 
on staff is the young man behind the bar.
Matthew Wright has worked here for a year, part-time.
He is a fulltime university student in business.
He likes his job but work is slow this afternoon.
The bistro is nearly empty save for three occupied tables.

At a table in the rear of the bistro sits an older man with gray hair. 
Though very youthful looking he must be about 70 yrs. old.
He is fiddling with his Blackberry.
His name is Arnaud Loyer.
He is the owner of the bistro.
The bistro is named after his late wife,x Clémentine. 

Towards the centre of the bistro, along the left wall
sits a couple who look to be in their late fifties.
Their names are Ian and Deborah Wellsley.
They are leaning in towards each other while quietly
discussing something that leaves them both with serious expressions. 

And finally, the third table is occupied 
by a man in his late thirties to early forties.
He sits at a table looking onto the sidewalk and busy downtown street.
He keeps checking his watch.
His name is Adam Seabring.

A young, attractive woman breezes through the door of the bistro.
Amanda Kent is late for an appointment.
As her eyes adjust to the change in light,
she unbuttons the top button of her coat.
Then she smiles in recognition.
-"Matt, I got the contract! Can you believe it?"
-"Sis, I knew you'd get it. How could they say no to your talent?"

Matthew and Amanda are half-siblings.
Amanda is six years older than Matt.
They share the same mother but have two different fathers.
Amanda's father died when she was only three years old.
Still young, Amanda's mother remarried two years clater to Jim Wright.
And Matthew was born a year later.
Though not her biological father, Jim has been her Dad ever since she was little.
And Matt is her brother. 
No step this or that, just her brother.
Matt and Amanda are very close despite their difference in age.
Though still at university, Matt has always been Amanda's sounding board.
Amanda is an events planner.
And she started her own company almost two years ago.
The company is growing quickly to much acclaim.  
Amanda is hoping that Matt will come 
and run the business after university.
That would free up Amanda to take on larger events
and forge a bigger clientele.

-"My proposal was chosen out of the three companies
who submitted them."

-"Congratulations! Are you ready to speak with Arnaud?
He is sitting at his usual table in the back. I think he is ready to see you."

-"Excellent! We can get down to business."

At that moment Arnaud Loyer looks up from his Blackberry
to watch Amanda Kent walking towards him. Arnaud stands up 
to greet her as she offers her apologies for arriving late.

-"Amanda, cherie, no harm done. I am just glad that you finally had time
to meet with me. Your brother tells me that your business
is booming. That is good news. Come. Sit down. I want to tell you
about my project. I'll need your help with it. 
Can I get you something to drink?"

-"Yes, thank-you, Arnaud. A perrier with a slice of lime, please."

While Arnaud goes to the bar for her drink, Amanda removes her coat 
and lays it over the back of the chair beside her. She then takes out her
portfolio and some company brochures. Even though Arnaud already
knows what Amanda's business is all about from previous meetings,
he might be able to pass on the brochures to potential clients among his 
business associates. Amanda never misses an opportunity to promote
her company. Most of her business comes from referals.
   
Arnaud returns with her Perrier and sits with his back to the kitchen.
He clears his throat then starts in on his project.

-"You see, Amanda. Business is slow on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
I want to fill this place up like in years past. With happy, joyful people.
I want to start a singles night on one of those evenings. After work.
Almost like a matchmaking service like in the old days. Something very classy. 
Something that will help people find love. And I need your help."
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Stay tuned for part II....

Jack Layton's words revisited on 911.

My friends, love is better than anger.
Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we’ll change the world.

Jack Layton

--------------------------------------------
I don't think it can be said any better than that
on this, the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the WTC
and the death of so many unfortunate souls.

Tomorrow's Another Day

I don't know what it is today but I am feeling
a little down and a little angry.
I am not sure what I am angry about.
But I can feel it.

It was a beautiful day today.
Sunny, warm.
More like summer than fall.

I spent the day alone.
I think that maybe it would have been better
if I had gotten together with a friend.
Perhaps I have been spending too much time by myself.

Ah! well....tomorrow's another day!
The start of a new week.
And so on....

Listening to.....

"Popsicle toes"
Diana Krall

Saturday Night Knitting Fever

Well another saturday night at the Bab's.
I was knitting and people watching.
While others on are their way out for a night of dancing
I am knitting up a storm.
Actually, it is a scarf. :)

I find it interesting that everyone is dressed
as if we were already at the end of October.
I plan on wearing my flip-flops for as long as I can
except for those rainy days because I don't want to fall
down the outside stairs of my triplex AGAIN.
Twice is quite enough, thank you very much.

Anywho, did I mention that I love the fall?
I love it!
It is a very comforting season as
we prepare to go into hibernation for the winter.
Well, I go into hibernation.
Like a bear.

C'est ça!

Creative Writing = CW

From here on in any Creative Writing pieces will
be annotated as such by the "CW" following the title
in the title bar. As I seem to be doing a lot of
creative writing shorts this will make the titles'
list cleaner (hopefully!).

C'est ça!

A Request - Creative Writing

Can I ask you a question?
To which you will reply
without sighing
or holding back.
Without that defensive tone you sometimes get.

Can you tell me the truth?
The whole truth
The simple truth
The truth as you see it
So help you God.

Can you tell me what you want?
For today and tomorrow.
In order to feel good.
About your day
About your life.
About yourself.

Can you help me to understand?
How things can be so different
And yet remain the same
All at once.

Can you tell me about yourself?
The part that you never share with anyone.
The part that is usually in the dark
The part that you try to hide
Until the sun goes down.

Can you trust me?
to love you
and to protect you
no matter what
So help me God.

Can I ask you a question?
Can we just be
together
Alone but together
Loving, living, laughing.
Just you
Just me
Together