Sunday, April 20, 2014

The Butler Didn't Do It

Sometimes, you get a break just when you need one.

It's October 2010. After some very stressful weeks getting important stuff done*, I was delighted to be invited to one of Bear's parties. He's just got engaged to his girlfriend Clarice, and I can think of no better reason to celebrate. Anyway, the pair of them love an excuse to dress up, so they decided to hold a murder-mystery party based on CLUEDO/CLUE.

[*Vague, I know.]

I just got back. Here's a picture of us, all dolled up.

CLUEDO, Bear style. The guy can party. (The picture's worth a click, there's tons of detail.)

From left to right:

Colonel Bear Mustard - The lad himself. Trust him to nab the best costume opportunity. But he carries it off magnificently, don't you think? The moustache was a nice touch; I can just see him sipping a gin and tonic in Poonah, India during the Reign of Victoria. And trust me, this fella can roar like a general.

Miss Clarice Peacock - Bear's beautiful fiancée. An American bear, originally from the deep woods in Augusta, Georgia. She'd not played the game before, so I explained that we were there to solve the murder of Doctor Black. For added realism, King provided a dead zebra, which he declared was Dr. Black-White, a close relative. I thought he'd never stop laughing.

Professor Indigo Plum - I dug out one of Uncle Idaho's old smoking jackets. I think he'd been smoking kippers in it. There was still one in the pocket, in fact. Luckily, there was time to dry clean it, else I'd never have got a date. On which subject...

Miss Abbey Scarlet - My lovely next door neighbour, and date for the evening. Blonde today, in a simple red t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Bare feet, as ever. Not exactly pulling out all the stops on the costume front, but every time she spoke to me I forgot my name.

Reverend Max Green - Taking time off from invading Bolivia in a submarine, Herr Doktor Tunguska brought his own murder weapons along. I salute him; when he method acts, this guy goes deep. Of course, the Reverend's attire is his own. He's diverse.

"Mrs" T-101 White - A late addition to the party. This decommissioned Terminator has been in the shed for a while, but agreed to cross-dress to play the cook and make up the boy/girl ratio. He rather liked the idea, actually, and already had his own pig-tailed wig. Worrying. The chef's apron was another late addition; we didn't want to frighten the horses.

We had a lot of fun.

And the butler didn't do it.

It turned out it was Max in the Lavatory with the Chainsaw.

Some things never change.


Indigo

This blog entry is protected by copyright © Indigo Roth, 2009-2014

18 comments:

  1. The phrase is a thing of time-honored ubiquity but I don't believe there's any mystery in which the butler did it. If I wanted to write a whodunnit that was unguessable, I'd make the butler the guilty party. Your party sounds like great fun too!

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    1. Hey Geo! It's a modern cliché, but there is a precedent. Click here for details. But yes, great fun, mostly because of Max. Indigo

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  2. I never go to fun parties like that...except in my head...but that's another slightly disturbing story.

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    1. Hey Delores! Is that right? And do you know what? My invite musta got lost in the mail... Indigo x

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  3. Now I'm laughing, and will be doing so for some time I am sure.

    Smoking kippers = new phrase du jour. Thank you.

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    1. Hey Bill! Smoking kippers is more of a Scottish occupation, and I'm certainly unable to roll them, but... =D Glad you enjoyed! Indigo

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  4. Of course the butler didn't do it.

    There isn't one.

    Silly Indigo.

    Pearl

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    1. Your logical argument is invalid. So there. Roth x

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  5. Was Lion not allowed to take part, even after making such a meaty contribution to the success of the party?

    Great illustration. Your artistic ability extends in many directions.

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    1. Oh, Kingy was there, tho only to leave the dead zebra. He's good that way. And thanks, it was a lot of fun to capture the scene. Indigo x

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  6. Hari OM
    Thank heavens for mates you can dress down with.... and solve the odd murder or two. YAM xx

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    1. Namaste Yam! Dress down? Recently, getting dressed at all has been an effort. But I figure I have a great chance of Gold at the Slackerlympics in 2017/18/whenever. Indigo x

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  7. It turned out it was Max in the Lavatory with the Chainsaw.

    Well... in my house... with the two older boys.... EVERYONE has a chance of being murdered in the lavatory.... but by smell alone! And Max had to use a chainsaw....! Ha ha ha!!! Of course the smoking jacket that smelled like kippers might have done the job too!

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    1. Hey Katherine! Yes, chainsaws are perfect for those "I can't shut the lid!" moments. Max excels. Apparently. Erm. Indigo x

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  8. Ms Scarlet, in the wardrobe with a come hither look, is how I usually play it.
    Sx

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    1. Ms. Scarlet! Welcome! So... "don't come a-knockin' if the wardrobe is rockin'?" Sounds Blue to me. Oooh, how does that work out with built-in wardrobes? Indigo x

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  9. Wow. Your parties look like fun over there! That's it, I'm hopping on the next plane!

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    1. Hey Dawn! Outstanding! I'll put the kettle on! =) Indigo x

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