The Month Ahead for April 2024

And another thing. Does he only own one tie?

A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.

This is The Month Ahead for April 2024

Hello, All,

February’s recording experiments yielded a simplified and reversed process for editing audio. It also produced cleaner audio.

However, rather than shortening editing times, the new approach has encouraged longer recordings. Rest assured this is still short form audio fiction. But, for a channel that started with average run times of less than four minutes, we are comfortably exceeding five and six minutes per episode. This could come in handy in future shows.

Another outcome of fine-tuning is that writing is a couple of weeks ahead of audio. Is there any impact? I don’t know. Perhaps not. One more note: the intended recordings of Shakespeare’s love sonnets did not happen. Put those into the future projects column.

However, episodes five through eight of SEVENTEEN were published in March. Taglined “He’s dying to forget. She lives to remember.” these were the conclusion of Severin Vincent Tennyson’s story which started in March of 2023. Nicknamed Tenny, he is a sixty-four-year-old, non-verbal, cane-using janitor at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey. Seeing now-Superintendent Millicent di Stefano for the first time since high school forty years ago triggered a flood of memories that threatened his life.

THE GHOSTLY GROOM is inspired by, and interpreted from, Washington Irving’s THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM published in 1819.

For April, The Three Fifty-seven is pleased to announce THE GHOSTLY GROOM. It is inspired by, and interpreted from, Washington Irving’s THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM published in 1819.

With the tagline “His altar was the grave.”, we show a healthy respect for the original text while gently updating it. The story’s lead, Lenore Katzenellen, is the 45-year-old founder and president of a financial analysis firm in Odenwald, New Jersey. She is engaged to Geoffrey Ochre who lives forty-five minutes upstate in Wurtzburg.

A bad automobile accident puts Geoffrey in a hospital where he announces he is dead. Lenore sets off the solve the mystery. But what truth does she find? THE GHOSTY GROOM’s five episodes will answer the question.

One more detail about April: Ingmar Bergman’s THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957) continues to inspire. Fans of the movie will recall Max von Sydow playing a game of chess with Death (played by Bengt Ekerot).

Fast forward to 2024. Death is a subsidiary of The Four Horsemen, Incorporated collecting tortured and tormented souls. What would that story be and how would it unfold? In five minutes! As a comedy!

Until then, look for the first audio and written episode of THE GHOSTLY GROOM. We hope Mr. Irving approves. And, no matter what happens, please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.

Sincerely,

William E. Spear, Jr.

Between Seasons, July 2023

4 July 2023

Happy Independence Day!

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.

It is also the first Tuesday of a new month. Throughout the year, The 3:57 by William E. Spear has started a new series on the first Tuesdays of January through June. As a reminder, these are the first episodes of stories we’ve started this year:

ON A FROSTY MORN – 3 January
https://twoplusplus.wordpress.com/2023/01/03/tuesday-3-january-2023-a-new-year-and-a-new-story/

DEAD AIR – 7 February
https://twoplusplus.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/v1-i6-dead-air/

SEVENTEEN – 7 March: Tenny
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/seventeen-episode-one

THE MESSENGER DINES OUT – 4 April: Setting the Table
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/the-messenger-dines-out-episode-one-setting-the-table

LET ME GO TO HER – 2 May: Two Tragedies
https://shows.acast.com/639e46cac7693300126cc292/episodes/644eec7369b7f00011f0f159

A FORCE OF POETS – 6 June: Helen Hunt Jackson
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/a-force-of-poets-episode-01-helen-hunt-jackson

On this particular Tuesday, The 3:57 announces it is Between Seasons. The program is developing a new series titled IT SUITS HER. The following is a brief description:

“Maxie (Williams) is an actor whose previously brilliant career disappeared with a serious drinking illness; Ceel (Court) ran away from a miserable home life and is working at an equally miserable job. Both are struggling and desperate to build better futures. When their lives collide, will they land in circumstances that suits either of them?”

Show notes for IT SUITS HER

Seven episodes have been written and are working their way to the recording studios for a premiere on 1 August. However, an excerpt of the first episode, as told by Maxie, is below:

Good evening. I’m Maxie Williams. I am on my way an appointment and need to pick up my suit from a tailor in downtown Flemington.

Before I can retrieve my suit from the said tailor I will need to navigate Celia Court. She is easily the most obstinate . . . the most infuriating . . . the most annoying person I have ever met.

It is like looking in a mirror and seeing myself thirty years younger.

That encounter will come later. For now, she is balancing her boyfriend and job by way of her cell phone. If you lean a bit closer you can hear her.

“Hello. . . . I can only talk for a moment. . . . No, I’ll be there later.” Celia whispered into her cel phone: “We don’t close the shop until nine. . . . I can’t, Mr. Clarkson will hear me.”

Mr. Clarkson, the owner of the shop, elsewhere and as far away as possible without being on the street, bellowed: “Miss Court!”

Celia bent closer to her cell phone and whispered lower: “I have to go. Mr. Clarkson might . . .”

“I might what, Miss Court?” Clarkson boomed.

End of excerpt.

That’s all for now. We will look for you in August.

Regards,

William E. Spear, Jr.
New Jersey, USA

July 2023 – The Month Ahead – The Business of The 3:57 by William E. Spear

A regular accounting of the The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.

Monday 3 July 2023

Re: Midyear Status and Between Seasons (since when do we have seasons?)

Dear All,

Greetings and salutations. It is my hope this finds you well.

The 3:57 by William E. Spear has arrived at the midpoint of 2023 and a reflection upon the first six months seems appropriate. Start with a reminder of the initial objectives: 1) Post each week on the program’s blog and 2) Release a podcast episode on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

Permit consideration of these accomplishments:

  1. Season One has been concluded. Brew another pot of celebratory coffee for that alone.
  2. Stories ranged from turning 64 (ON A FROSTY MORN) to an allegorical view of Russia invading The Ukraine (DEAD AIR) to a non-verbal janitor in central New Jersey, U.S.A (SEVENTEEN).
  3. For 26 consecutive weeks, a blog post or podcast episode was released every single week.
  4. Of note, in April, May, and June both a blog post and podcast episode were released each week.
  5. Of further note, in June was A FORCE OF POETS. The release schedule included the following:

6 June: Helen Hunt Jackson
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/a-force-of-poets-episode-01-helen-hunt-jackson

13 June: Emily Dickinson
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/a-force-of-poets-episode-02-emily-dickinson

20 June: Christina G. Rossetti
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/a-force-of-poets-episode-03-christina-g-rossetti

27 June: Phillis Wheatley
https://shows.acast.com/the-357-by-william-e-spear/episodes/a-force-of-poets-episode-04-phillis-wheatley

The directory for A FORCE OF POETS and all shows may be foud here:
https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/the-357-by-william-e-spear

Stories appear on the following:

  1. Website – www.twoplusplus.com
    • Transcripts are included
  2. Acast – https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/the-357-by-william-e-spear
  3. YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@The357byWilliamESpear

They may also be found here:

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-3-57-by-william-e-spear/id1507429389?uo=4
Fiction Podcasts – https://fictionpodcasts.com/podcast/the_357
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6zGyYBi2LmpnYKKIqQS8Lp
TuneIn – https://tunein.com/podcasts/Media–Entertainment-Podcasts/The-357-p1314327/

We talk about them, and connect with other storytellers, on these platforms:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/The357byWilliamSpear/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/the357bywilliamspear/
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-spear-751163267/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/The357Podcast

The program will be Between Seasons in July. Writing, voicing, and producing each story is exhilarating and exhausting and Season One was a blast. Stepping away from the microphone for four weeks is a welcome break.

However, The 3:57 will not be idle. Season Two is in the works and on 1 August the premiere episode of IT SUITS HER will be released. It will feature the characters Maxie Williams and Ceel Court.

Maxie is an actor whose previously brilliant career disappeared with a serious drinking illness; Ceel left a miserable home life and is working at an equally miserable job. Both are struggling and desperate to build better futures. When their lives collide, will they land in circumstances that suits either of them?

Find out on 1 August.

Until then, regards,

William E. Spear, Jr.
New Jersey, USA

Tuesday 11 April – THE MESSENGER DINES OUT, Episode Two – On the Menu

By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 15

~~

Full Transcript –

THE MESSENGER DINES OUT, PODCAST EPISODE TWO – On the Menu

ORIGINAL DATE: 11 APRIL 2023

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place fades up)

Hello . . . and welcome to the still dancing Three Fifty-seven.

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place plays)

My name is William Spear and this is our series titled THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place plays)

The Messenger has received troubling news that the diner started by Jim and Francine Dale is about to go broke. It was started in the nineteen fifties and has many, many cherished memories. But the Messenger is doubtful.

Now, Episode Two titled On the Menu.

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place fades out)

The boss is a master manipulator but I play along: “Broke? What are you talking about? I hear the parking lot’s full every day.”

The boss continues: “It’s okay now. But it’s about to have a Moment and Jim and Francine – God rest their souls – aren’t around anymore.”

I speculate someone’s losing money on lottery tickets.

“Worse,” says the boss who is reeling me in like a dumb halibut. “There’s a funeral and the new owner is staying open.”

My jaw fell open. Jim and Francine always closed the diner to attend services. Sent meals to the family, too. They used to joke if people died any more often they’d go broke from being closed and giving away so much food.

“You mean to tell me one of their kids is not paying final respects?”

The boss snarled, “It’s one of their grandkids and the joint’s all fancified. Has a website for online orders and . . .” The boss choked up and turned to the window.

“What? What! Don’t leave me in suspense!” I begged.

The boss checked for witnesses to avoid accusations of blasphemy then leaned forward and whispered: “They changed the music.”

The pain cut into my soul like a jagged knife.

Imagine pork roll, egg, and cheese on a hard roll with ketchup, salt, and pepper and a side of french fries being taken off the menu. For the first time since baseball went on strike, I wept openly.

“What are we going do?” I sobbed.

The boss, the great angler, came out from behind the massive desk and put an arm around me: “Two things. You make a Visit to the grandkid and explain the rules for owning Jim and Francine’s place. But before that, and even more important, . . .”

I was hanging on every word. “What could be more important?!”

Calmly and coolly, with steely nerves developed over decades of leadership, the boss spoke, “First, you go down to the police station and get your car that’s being towed.”

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place fades up)

You’ve just listened to Episode Two of THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.

Theme music is through the courtesy of Francesco Biondi at PixaBay.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening and . . . . . . dance while you can.

(Theme for Jim and Francine’s Place fades out)

The 3:57: REMEMBERING, Episode Eight – Reconciled

Teaser – Zoey Gladden, the dying stranger, is recovering from hypothermia in her hospital room. When she regains consciousness, she tells Chris of their past connection. But the teenager is angered by having any memories of home and changes the direction of the conversation.



Full Transcript –

Remembering, Episode #8: Reconciled

Original Date: 24 June 2020

Hello. This is . . . The Three Fifty-seven.

[The 3:57 Theme plays]

My name is William Spear and I am the Host of The Three Fifty-seven. The current series is titled REMEMBERING.

And this episode, the eighth, is called RECONCILED. Zoey is recovering from hypothermia and telling Chris of their past connection. But the teenager doesn’t want any memories of home.

And now, REMEMBERING.

[Remembering Theme plays]

Eight and one-half-hours after being admitted to an Emergency Room for hypothermia, Zoey Gladden was conscious and explaining how she knew Chris.

“We are both from New Jersey,” she said. “In fact, we went to high school together.”

Chris stood up and backed away. Zoey continued, “We were in the same math class the day you left. I ran away a few weeks after you.”

Chris was uncomfortable talking about home and changed the conversation. “What are you going to do?”

“Get well,” she said. “Get out of here and go somewhere warmer.”

“You could call your parents. I am sure they miss you,” Chris said.

Zoey shrank under the covers. “It was bad there. They don’t want me.”

“You don’t know that,” Chris said. “Call your parents.”

“I can’t do that. We were yelling and arguing all the time,” said Zoey.

Chris pulled the chair close to her bed and handed Zoey the phone. “I’ll be right here.”

Zoey looked at it, then at Chris, back at the phone, back at Chris, then at the phone, again at Chris, back at-

-“Oh, just call them,” Chris said with a smile and a laugh.

Zoey dialed the phone, closed her eyes, and braced for the twin furies:

“Hello, Mom. . . . Yes, it’s me. Is this a good time to talk? . . . I can’t understand you through the crying. . . .

“. . . Wait, you don’t have to – oh, hi, Dad. . . . I’m fine. You? . . . I miss you, too. And I was wondering if you could, you know, do you think, I mean, would you consider, if it’s not a problem, maybe to, uhm, bring me home? . . .”

Zoey’s eyes opened wide and fear grabbed her face. She reached to Chris for support and the teenager leaned forward and held her hand.

Zoey continued: “Why is Mom screaming? Did she drop the casserole pan on her foot again? . . . Oh, screaming for joy. I get it. . . .”

Zoey eased back into bed and closed her eyes in relief. Her reunion faded into the background while Chris simmered with anger. What right did she have to rejoin her parents?

She ran away over some arguments. Made her family sick with worry. Now she was getting another chance. The teenager despised her as she said:

” . . . You can pick me up at Saint Luke’s hospital – I’m fine. Just a little frost bitten. Saint Luke’s near Mount Oliver. . . .

“. . .By the way, an old friend is here. Chris Rowe from high school. . . . Yes, I’ll introduce you. Hey, I need to get some sleep, okay. So long. . . . I love both of you.”

Zoey put down the phone, collected her thoughts, and spoke, “There, I called them. Are you satisfied?” She opened her eyes to say more but stopped.

Chris was gone.

[Remembering Theme plays]

You’ve just listened to Episode Eight of REMEMBERING. The series music, What A Way – The Prelude, is through the courtesy of Semaphore.

The Three Fifty-seven is an anthology of comedy, drama, and supernatural stories. Theme music is Not On The Bus . . .

[The 3:57 Theme plays]

. . . by U. S. Army Blues.

The Three Fifty-seven is Written and Produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.

The 3:57: REMEMBERING, Episode Seven – How Do You Know Me?

Teaser – After driving three hours through freezing rain, Chris and the talking car, an ancient Odyssey, found the dying stranger. Unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris takes her to the Emergency Room where she begins treatment for hypothermia. Once she regains her consciousness, the teenager asks, “How do we know each other?” Her answer shocks Chris.

Full Transcript –

Remembering, Episode #7: The Mount Rushmore of Nobodies

Original Date: 10 June 2020

Hello. This is . . . The Three Fifty-seven.

[The 3:57 Theme plays]

My name is William Spear and I am the Host of The Three Fifty-seven. The current series is titled REMEMBERING.

And this episode, the seventh, is called HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? Chris went with the talking car to search for a dying stranger. But, unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris wants to know how.

And now Episode Seven of REMEMBERING.

My name is William Spear and I am the Host of The Three Fifty-seven. The current series is titled REMEMBERING.

And this episode, the seventh, is called HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? Chris went with the talking car to search for a dying stranger. But, unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris wants to know how.

And now Episode Seven of REMEMBERING.

[Remembering Theme plays]

The talking automobile had insisted Chris travel to a town three hours away. It was early December and freezing rain fell the entire time.

They arrived as the sun came up.

The car, an ancient Odyssey, said they were looking for a dying young woman named Zoey Gladden.

The car, an ancient Odyssey, said they were looking for a dying young woman named Zoey Gladden.

Chris found her under a bridge. She was begging for help, “Is that you? . . . Let it be you. . . . Please, please, please, let it be you.”

The teenager told her, “Everything will be okay, Zoey”, then eased the blankets under her, and gently got her into the warm car.

“I knew you would find me,” she said. “Thank you, Chris.”

The teenager was shocked. “You know me?”

She was losing consciousness and unable to speak. The teenager spoke again: “Stay with us, Zoey.”

But she passed out.

Chris asked the car, “How does she know me?”

The car ignored the question. Chris got louder: “She knew me. Said my name. How?”

The car got louder; “If you want to find out, we need to leave NOW!”

Chris drove to the Emergency Room where she was rushed inside. The teenager parked the car and went in.

“You got her here just in time,” the doctor said. “Another fifteen minutes and she might not have survived.”

Chris sat in the waiting room while Zoey was treated.

An hour went by and then another. How could she know Chris? They had never met before. And how could the Odyssey know about her?

Two more hours went by and Zoey was still unconscious.

Four hours later and there was no change. And the teenager was no closer to figuring out where they might have met.

Finally, eight-and-one-half hours later, she regained consciousness. The doctor came to Chris: “She’s better and wants to speak with you.”

They went to Zoey’s room and the doctor left them alone.

“Thanks for finding me. I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” she said with a weak smile.

The teenager said ‘Nothing to it’ as if saving people from hypothermia happened every day of the week.

Then she asked: “By the way, who else was in the car with us?”

Chris offered an unconvincing ‘What do you mean?’ but she insisted: “You said, ‘Don’t leave us, Zoey.’ Then I heard another voice. It sounded like you were arguing.”

Chris told her she must have imagined it as she was passing out. She shrugged her shoulders and continued: “You’re probably wondering how I know you.”

Relieved at not having to explain the talking car, the teenager sat next to her and admitted, “The thought had crossed my mind.”

“Let me start with this,” she said. “You’re from New Jersey.”

“You can’t possibly know that. The people in New Jersey don’t even know I’m from New Jersey,” said the teenager.

They both grinned. “I remember your sense of humor, too” she said. “You’re from Hunterdon County.”

“Come on you don’t remember me. I’m a nobody,” said Chris. “You’ve never met me before.”

“Yes we have,” Zoey said as she struggled to sit up in her bed. “In fact, we went to high school together.”

[Remembering Theme plays]

You’ve just listened to Episode Seven of REMEMBERING. The series music, What A Way – The Prelude, is through the courtesy of Semaphore.

The Three Fifty-seven is an anthology of comedy, drama, and supernatural stories. Theme music is Not On The Bus . . .

[The 3:57 Theme plays]

. . . by U. S. Army Blues.

The Three Fifty-seven is Written and Produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.