NO FOOL AT ALL ~ By Carrie Clevenger

Here's your fool story, fresh off the press, 

cute and clever, and no fool at all.  ~ Carrie

NO FOOL AT ALL

By ~ Carrie Clevenger

“I always wanted to wear stockings,” she told me one night after a bout of heavy petting in my Plymouth. Well, it wasn’t my Plymouth, but my dad’s. Used to be. Was. Everything was topsy-turvy in this world now. Where dads just went off, fought wars in countries we never even knew about before all of this.

 

    “Why don’t you then?” I asked before I kissed her again. She giggled and lit a cigarette. I rolled mine on the spot; she kept hers in a classy metal case. Said she stole it from her aunt one time.

 

    “Are you kidding?” Smoke whisped from her red lips like a spirit. “Silk stockings? That’s luxury neither you, or I, or both of us put together can afford. Still,” she said, and her eyes got a little misty, “I want to be a dame the boys talk about.”

 

    “I talk about you,” I said and she laughed again. “You’re cute Pete, but you’re not like other boys.”

 

 Judith dreamed of being something bigger and better, and cavorting with a grocery boy wasn’t going to get her nowhere.

 

    “I want to have kids Pete,” she said, “You aren’t the fathering type.”

 

    “What’s the fathering type then? I could wear a suit and tie, carry a briefcase and look important.”

 

    “I’d serve you martinis when you got home.”

 

    “I’m a scotch type,” I said and she shook her black-wing curls at me.

 

    “See? You and me? We ain’t meant to be.”

 

    “You’re here though.”

 

    I watched her smoke in silence, thinking that phrase over and over in my head. She was here. Here with Pete the Amazing Bagboy. Not Andrew the pilot, or Barney the racecar driver. She was stuck with me, and all because she was poor.

 

    “I can get you some of those stockings,” I said, real smooth like. Her face lit up like a full moon.

 

    “You can?”

 

    I nodded. Then I rolled myself a cigarette and lit it with a match while pulling the Plymouth’s big ashtray out of the dash. Frankie rolled over our ears like clouds slipping over the stars. Judith lay her head on my shoulder and for a few minutes, she was mine. 

(c) 2010 ~ Author Carrie Clevenger

premiering April Fool's  AT THE BIJOU

CARRIE? SHE'S NO FOOL EITHER! She kills folks off at the pace and prowess of her hauntingly beautiful eerie tales all around Web'town . . . but she sure slings 'em sweet here, AT THE BIJOU. (She knows Kate's a happy-endings kinda person). She's talent, she's tough, she's the kinda gal who'll give you the Mexican Martini recipe right off her refrigerator magnet. *clink* She's a regular around this theatre showcase, has been known to cavort with our Phantom rather than our popcorn popper and we're right proud of her well-deserved zooooming successes:

MORE CARRIE? Yeah, like you could really get enough -- Check her out at her site ~ MINDSPEAK ... Or ~ Extra - Extra - Read all about her with the Authors we found lingering in the theatre -- it's all there in the following ~ AT THE BIJOU "1st Thursday Alert"

Thanks Carrie

for fooling around

AT THE BIJOU!

~ Absolutely*Kate

and our fine staff of renown 

GET YOUR POPCORN!

THE NEXT ACT
IS RICHER THAN
FOOLS' GOLD!

SO, WHICH LIE IS TRUE? ~ By Absolutely*Kate, all because of Laurita Miller, both proudly from Harbinger*33

SO, Which LIE
is TRUE?

~ By Absolutely*Kate,
all because of Laurita Miller 

Well, well, well . . . when The Brain Droppings of the lovely Laurita Miller (once the fiance and always the muse of Edgar Allen Poe), went splish-splash-squishin' all over tarnation, an award slid right across the WebTown scene that sure made me mighty proud, mighty pleased and OH, so sensationally serene!

"CREATIVE WRITER BLOGGER AWARD PRESENTED TO - Absolutely*Kate proprietor of AT THE BIJOU. There's no doubt her outrageousness will spill into new realms."  ~ Author, Laurita Miller

"WOWZERS! THANKS LAURITA!", says me, Absolutely*Kate, a humble promoter, believing in believers, writing and dancing with the best writers and wits I know . . . here AT THE BIJOU show, because, geeeeeez ~ what else are you gonna do with such a mighty vs motley crew? Well, other than showing their great writes up AT THE BIJOU's BigScreen, come every Double*Feature Tuesday & Thursday, and putting 33 of 'em into a manifesting of their authoring destiny in HARBINGER*33? (the book ~ Eric Beetner, Anthony Venutolo and Ian Rochford are still working on the screenplay, before the movie can come out, while Michael J. Solender and Madame Z keep amusing the costume seamstress with outlandish requests involving plumage). Laurita designed the seaworthy banner over there to herald the great things to come for Harbinger*33 ~

Now . . . It seems by the Articles of Contention attached to this here shimmery creative award, I'm supposed to spin you SIX LIES AND ONE TRUTH. You, dear reader and BIJOU afficiando, then get to figger out which ones shed doubt and which one rings true-blue. I get the pleasure as well of Thankin' my benefactress, the lovely Laurita who received this award and passed it my way . . . and then (drumroll please, adjust my spots, Eddie) . . . I get to award "The Creative Writer Blogger" award three other worthies' blog*ways. Hmmm, too difficult to narrow down ... but I'll give it some thought.

I most heartily *thank* author Laurita Miller, for this generous bestowment. She's one of my fave writers who gives fantasy a whole new shadowy shade of true-grue . . . My congrats to my comrade and fellow HARBINGER*33 ship'shape-mate on FOUR WHOLE YEARS of bloggin' her meandering mind fanciful free over at that afore'plugged way cool joint, Brain Droppings! Wow, Laurita just gets more intricate in how she webs her weave over imagination, subconscious finery, and a grace which makes shadows shimmer a new hue o'glisteny grey. You can certainly delve into her originals HERE AT THE BIJOU, another of her other homes to haunt around WebTown ~ "The Neighbours" and "The Fetch". (Not to be confused with "Fetch the Neighbours" ~ Read 'em both and you'll see what I mean! Don't try that at home, folks, I'm warnin' you.)

MY SIX OUTRAGEOUS LIES

and ONE TRUTH ~

( But can you spot the truth? )

1. I was the understudy for Etta in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", learning much from Ms Katherine Ross.

2. My grandmother, Helen Kozel was a Ziegfeld Girl.

3. I was on the sailing crew of the Bermuda One-Two race with the president of the Newport Yacht Club and a cargo of rum.

4. I presented a thirsty John Newcombe his Gatorade at the World Team Tennis Tournament, and he winked at me.

5. I wrote an eye-witness account of the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, from the edge of the crowd.

6. I was at Woodstock and my elbow can be seen in the back left hand corner of your album cover.

7. I had a filet mignon dinner with the president of Yale, following the Yale-Harvard football game. Boolah, Boolah!

* * * * * * *

To paraphrase lovely Laurita's acceptance speech ~ It's fitting, perhaps, that I have been gifted this Bald Faced Liar Creative Writer award. Being Outrageous is as good a way as any to celebrate life fully, with moxie. The world needs more moxie.

The rules attached to this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award. ( DONE! )

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog. ( YEP! )

3. Link to the person who nominated you.  ( SEVERAL SHAMEFUL PLUGS MADE! )

4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself and one outrageous truth.  ( EASY! )

5. Nominate 3 creative writers who most likely will have fun coming up with outrageous lies.  ( DIFFICULT! )

6. Post links to the 3 blogs you nominate. ( FOLLOWS ... BUT TOUGH CHOICES, MOST OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE OUTRAGEOUS! )

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them. ( GONNA DO THAT )

I Nominate The Outrageous

*Creative Writer Blog Award*

  To ~

Michael J, soul of Solender at ~ The Not

Because he invented Outrageous, right after the lightbulb
which he delights in holding over his noggin.

Irrepressible Zelda, Madame Z at ~ Get-Your-Z's

~ for what is more Outrageous than a Pirate Queen

with a loose cutlass?

Clever Carrie the Clevenger at ~ MindSpeak

~ Outrageously reported to be the mother of

the Phantom of THE BIJOU's spirited offspring!

MAY YOU ALL HIT THIS CHALLENGE

WITH OUTRAGEOUS GUSTO! 

~ Absolutely*Kate,

shy, introverted and learning what Life has to offer,

Outrageously so . . . more so because of all of You! 

FAB-FEB FILM*FEST ~ AT THE BIJOU . . . Double*Feature Tuesdays & Thursdays

Of course it's true . . . 

FAB-FEB FILM*FEST

 shines the way for Oscar's greatest night,

*AT THE BIJOU* !

Yes, I heard it too.

The Red Carpet rolls out 

in cinematic flair ~

A STAR STUNNING PERFORMANCE BY

******************

CARRIE CLEVENGER

DOUBLE*FEATURING A DEBUT DELIGHT ~

******************

PAMILA PAYNE

Let the movies roll

* AT THE BIJOU *

TWINKLING LIGHTS ** STAR STUDDED SIGHTS

******************** 

"ONE-OTHER" ~ By Carrie Clevenger

The lights greet me as I step out of the car. Red greets my feet with lavish grandeur as the flashbulbs  flash like over-sized Christmas lights. I pray the pins will hold and stepped proudly down the L-shaped carpet with as much dignity as I could muster. Were they looking at me? Would they get a decent shot or photograph me with my mouth open once again? 

"One-Other"
by Carrie Clevenger

I clench my fist around the handkerchief and paste a smile on that will remain for the rest of the evening. No matter what anyone says. No matter if the punch is flat and distasteful. No matter if I stumble on the wires snaking under the carpet. No matter 

if—

The flashes hurt my eyes after a bit as we turn the corner. It feels like a funeral procession in Hell, it's gotten so hot. All my careful grooming is going to fade if we don't get inside quickly. I am wearing three-too-many layers of clothing, including a vest. The neat little red rosebud in my lapel seems to be gasping in the stifling air as we pass through the line.

We pause at the door and my daughter opens her tiny satchel to present the invitation. I nod as I am announced as her 'one-other'. 

“Daddy,” she says, pulling me down to her height for a hug, “I'm so glad you could be here.”

(c) 2010  ~  Author Carrie Clevenger
Originating . . . AT THE BIJOU!

Who could say more about star-quality Carrie the clever Clevenger, than . . . well, herself, when running down long hallways to slip this nifty script into my anticipatory palms:

CARRIE:  I hope this fits your 'bill'. I enjoyed writing something where nobody died! Just for you Katie-Q. Thank you for jerking my attention away from scarier things!

Carrie Clevenger is a regular feature AT THE BIJOU with shows that keep the rowdy crowds happy. (She claims they're all her friends, but we know Jeanette's been exchanging e'mail addresses already.) Her writing entices as well as the come'hither glance she constantly throws our young popcorn guy, Eddie. Disarming charm? Nope. Just Carrie ~ talent on the rise. Read more rave reviews  of her own latest news as she voices her MindSpeak < right there, or listen closely, come autumnal times when she shows up in the anthology Chinese Whisperings. Though she may be Scary-Carrie to the rest of the reading world who seek her collossal play of wordplay, to me . . . she's joy of the zingers.

THANKS CARRIE!

THE ACADEMY AT THE BIJOU

KNOWS ONLY YOU
  COULD TAKE

THE FIRST STEP

ON THE RED CARPET RIDE

TO OSCAR'S GREATEST NIGHT!

~ Absolutely*Kate

BLUE IS THE NEW RED . . . read AT THE BIJOU on Double*Feature Thursday & Tuesday

BLUE is the new RED

READ AT THE BIJOU

 TRUE COLOURS

touch the sky

or your heart

or its sigh

and the popcorn plays on . . .

Lascivious Ladies and Genuine Gents

*AT THE BIJOU*

 proudly presents

the debut

CARRIE CLEVENGER

the return

JEANETTE CHEEZUM

True Colours

colour truth

BLUE AND SKY ~ By Carrie Clevenger

AUTHOR'S NOTE OF CARRIE:NATION:  
"And Finally, nobody died in the making of this flash. 
For your theatre of magic, I present to you:"

Blue and Sky
by Carrie Clevenger

I always use the blue sugar, not the pink. It is courteous, how they are always packaged just so. Pink or blue. My coffee shimmers steam of smoky azure. The cold creeps in around the frosted windowpane. I perch on my seat, precarious. Tall seats make me feel royal.

The people sit in short chairs and engage in small conversation over lattes and Americanas. Espressos for the distinguished. Skinnies for the ungainly. Crepes and sausage flavor the air. Cigarettes spice my coffee. I inhale the aroma of shared nicotine and anticipated caffeine. I am running late.

This is a morning I will be tardy.

A chime at the door. The sun peeks over the eaves of nearby slumbering motels. Diesel cloys with perfume of the rushed and the sparkle of the innocent. My coat crushes home around me; a cocoon of mixed warmth and security. I stir my coffee.

Murmurs of good morning and good day blend to form a low hum of human activity. I pause before the first sip to capture the moment internally. The youth in my hands, the heat of the cup permeating the cardboard collar. Pumpkin spice and cinnamon. Hazelnut and French Roast. Near the door, shining machines devised to never quite replace this sensation of togetherness yet solitude. A worn newspaper, touched by many hands, rests unfurled on a table nearby, forgotten.

Concrete walls, painted with swirls of mocha and raspberry. Stars stretch across the blue ceiling. The fixtures, blue-shaded.

I take a drink of sky. 

(C) 2010, Author Carrie Clevenger

In Debut . . . AT THE BIJOU
 

Colour this edgy trendy zingy author fresh and kalideoscopic. We found CARRIE CLEVENGER hunched into her own fave seat in her own choice row, throwing popcorn at Paul Brazill, and rollickin' at all she discovered to thrill, after her first soft'shoe tiptoe in . . . to every gosh darn performance AT THE BIJOU. Well folks, life here in the theatre has never quite been the same. Her voice sparks the dark and then holds up a flashlight so Laurita can find out where she put the cookies she baked to share but were quietly crunched by the Mikes and that Har ... over there. Then, when you go out on the streets, you meet up with whole packs of her gangs who 'troupe' around Carrie's nation. Many mumble memorably as Carrie does. It's getting so I can't walk by a streetcorner they desire without addin' to their wise'crack rapid fire. *FLASH!* There she is ... writing here, writing there, even cracking the code at the'6 and adding a new dimension of flair.

Well, all's fair in the flare of flair, which is why Carrie wrote this one up most profoundly to debut not any there ... but here ... at her welcoming home away from all her other creative homes, AT THE BIJOU. Clever Clevenger, (who aka's as Carrie Cleaver) worships Maynard and dreams of cephalopods on trains and other oddities in Austin, Texas. She doesn’t have to write the next great novel, but intends to leave a bloody print on her way down.

Carrie may feign astute apathy with her "Eh, Whatever" . . . at her killer-quirky-classy Mindspeak, but I say she keynotes clarity intensified with her taunting tagline:

"The struggles of the soul are intended to be lost." 

Feelin' glad all over you found AT THE BIJOU

  and we all found you, Carrie'On ..

~ Absolutely*Kate and the fine staff of renown

... already with grin