short story - elementary
A repost of a story I wrote years ago on my blog to a prompt. I bet it was chocolate.
Footsteps. Bare feet. Ten meters. Five. Four. One.
Soft thud.
Footsteps disappear, swiftly.
I frown as I glance at my pocket watch. 6 am. What a curious time for a delivery. Might it be a new case?
I move up swiftly, light my candle, put on my deerstalker cap, and walk to the door.
I listen. No sound.
I open the door and glance down.
A square box, wrapped in brown paper, a white envelope on top.
I pick up the envelop and read the text on the envelope, "To the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. Well, that is me, quite obviously."
I examine the box and deem it harmless.
I pick it up, walk back into my room and put the box and card on the desk. Curious.
I wish my good friend Watson was here to chronicle this for me. Alas, he is at home.
I set the envelope aside, tear the paper from the box and remove the lid.
I cannot contain my squeal of excitement when I examine the contents.
A magnifying glass, a deerstalker cap, binoculars, a notebook with a pen attached.
The tools of my trade.
I remove all contents of the box and stare down at another box. I carefully remove the lid and frown at the contents. It looks… flawed.
I study it with my new magnifying glass. Curious indeed. What reason would one have to send me a calabash pipe with an obvious flaw on its bowl?
I drop the magnifying glass, take the pipe, and put it in my mouth. Despite its flaw, it appears to be a satisfactory pipe.
Why would one give me such a flawed pipe? Is that a clue?
Footsteps rush at the other end of the door. Laughter, and then a voice, "I should have guessed you would’ve heard me. Happy birthday, Davy... erm, Sherlock. Do you like your gift?"
I grin and say, "Elementary, my dear, dear mother."
“Don’t eat all the chocolate, I’m making your favourite breakfast.”
I remove the foil around the pipe, and break off a piece of chocolate. It is my birthday, and one should always eat chocolate on their birthday.
I put it in my mouth and grin, "Fine Belgian chocolate, indeed."