The Tea Writers' Collective

RECAP OF INSTALLMENTS ONE, TWO, and THREE: JJ McQuade, feeling abandoned by her friends, has escaped for a quiet holiday New Year’s tea at an inn. Unfortunately this time of respite from her problems turns out to be more dangerous and eventful than she could have imagined. Tearoom servers Farnsworth and Mena, an older couple the Helmsmiths, and an eccentric character named Castleton are not what they seem. When JJ’s former FBI colleague John D. Dawes appears on the scene she realizes that life is about to get very complicated. Suddenly JJ finds herself in the middle of a raid but she has no idea who the target is. And why is Castleton just sitting there like nothing is happening? And now we continue…

The Tea Room

Installment Four

It wasn’t as if Donovan Castleton hadn’t expected the commotion that befell the tearoom. What had him vexed was the complete and utter disregard for decency. Damn Americans, he thought to himself. No sense of subtlety.

Did no one use invisible and odorless neurotoxins anymore to quell a crowd – even one as docile as a tea den full of spies? He came here for one reason and one reason only. It was the one place where a covert cavorter could hang his hat and not be disturbed by all that cloak-’n-dagger hullabaloo of the outside world. Sure, he knew that the tearoom was a front for serving and selling psychotropic tea…but they were also the only place within a thousand miles where one could get a good cup of first flush Sikkim Temi. And Farnsworth – “colorful”, though he was – always prepared it right.

He was glad he ordered his pot before the British couple entered. They wreaked of “Intelligence” the moment they entered. The brandished “M”-s were also a dead giveaway. Bedazzled pins were only handed out after a thirty-year stretch. It was a lesser known and utterly stupid MI6 practice. Wholly English and wholly pointless. Well…to a Scot like him, all English were pointless.

The fake mustache he adorned was starting to itch. That and he could tell that a few stray droplets of his precious Temi were now victims of the faux-white scruff. Castleton scratched at the adhesive only slightly, but still continued to sip.

The woman by the bay window with the FBI goon eyed him quizzically. Then her eyes widened…as did her mouth. No, JJ, he said to himself. Don’t recognize me. Be a good girl and stay safe.

“You!” came a baritone voice from behind him. “Get on the ground!”
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RECAP OF INSTALMENTS ONE AND TWO: JJ McQuade, feeling abandoned by her friends, has escaped for a quiet holiday New Year’s tea at an inn. Unfortunately this time of respite from her problems turns out to be more dangerous and eventful than she could have imagined. Tearoom servers Farnsworth and Mena, an older couple the Helmsmiths, and an eccentric character named Castleton may not be what they seem. When JJ’s former FBI colleague John D. Dawes appears on the scene she realizes that life is about to get very complicated. And then, just as she is about to learn who the Helmsmiths really are, the front window of the shop explodes. And now we continue…

THE TEA ROOM

INSTALMENT THREE

Some people handle pressure well and some simply do not. Despite the arrival of the black-clad men in what looked like scuba gear through the window, front entrance and even the kitchen, as well as screams from the patrons not prepared for the explosions, there was absolutely no reaction from Mr Castleton. It was as if he were alone on a desert island.

Within seconds, the paramilitary force had secured all possible escape routes, as well as whatever else these security forces do in such a situation. They were not only prepared to storm the tea room, but had been particularly carefully briefed on how to sensitively handle the clientele of such an establishment. For example, it was to be expected that some might go into shock and even begin hyperventilating. This was nothing new for this highly-trained force.
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Ed. note: “The Tea Room” was created by a group of writers known as the Tea Writers Collective. It was written “round robin” style — each author adding as much as he/she wished before passing it along to the next. What that means is that the story ends up being a mash-up of ideas and writing styles and occasionally takes some wild turns. We think it’s safe to say that none of us predicted the direction this story would take, but it is with great pleasure we now share it with you. this is the second installment of our tale…

The Tea Room
Instalment Two

“JJ? JJ McQuade?”

She looked up at the mention of her name to see a dapper man in a suit heading to her table. Her heart sank. She placed him at once. One of the joys of having an eidetic memory. And this afternoon was already so far from the pleasant teaing and wuthering she had planned. He sat down, uninvited, on her side of the table, scuttling his chair around so they were virtually both facing the front window.

“Remember me? John D. Dawes. FBI, though on loan to the Special Project Division at ATF at this time.”

“John? What a pleasant surprise!”
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Ed. note: “The Tea Room” was created by a group of writers known as the Tea Writers Collective. It was written “round robin” style — each author adding as much as he/she wished before passing it along to the next. What that means is that the story ends up being a mash-up of ideas and writing styles and occasionally takes some wild turns. We think it’s safe to say that none of us predicted the direction this story would take, but it is with great pleasure we now share it with you. We hope you will enjoy the first installment of our tale…

THE TEA ROOM

Installment One

This was the most difficult time of year; a time when most people are joyous she knew she would sink into the quagmire of despair. One consolation, she knew it was coming. Of the depth of the darkness, she had no clue.

The trigger this year was a visit to her friend’s teashop, her friend “on vacation” as was communicated in small talk exchange with the manager. She knew they were together. She had introduced them to each other.

The group relationship became estranged three years ago when the annual invitation for holiday celebration and New Year’s Eve Tea did not come. After questioning why, she was told they did not think she would be interested. “How could she NOT be interested in something she helped to create?” The second year, she was told since she was recently unemployed, they felt she could not afford to go.

So many excuses, so much left unsaid.
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