Fic: Pigeon Feathers: G

[smallhobbit]

Title: Pigeon Feathers
Form/Word Count: 295
Characters/Pairing: Mrs Hudson, Bessie the maid, Mr Sherlock Holmes
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Bessie has found something in 221B

 

“Mrs Hudson, Mrs Hudson,” Bessie, the new maid, called down the stairs.  “Something awful has happened in the gentlemen’s rooms.”

Mrs Hudson picked up the nearest weapon which came to hand, a sturdy broom, and made her way up the stairs to where Bessie was standing in the doorway, one hand over her mouth.  Since ‘something’ eliminated the possibility of fire, blood, or water, Mrs Hudson did not bother hurrying.

Inside the room there were papers strewn in all directions.  Mrs Hudson sighed.

“I think a pigeon must have got in, poor thing,” Bessie said.  “And couldn’t find its way out for a while.  Look, it’s even lost some feathers.”

She went to pick them up, but Mrs Hudson said hurriedly, “Don’t touch them!”

Bessie stepped back as if she had been burned.

“Never touch anything in Mr Holmes’ rooms unless you know exactly where it comes from.  And even then, it’s not always a good idea.”

At that point, Sherlock Holmes returned.  “Have you touched anything?” he demanded.

“No, Mr Holmes, we haven’t,” Mrs Hudson said.

Holmes stooped to pick up the feathers, and Bessie gave an involuntary gasp. 

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I told her not to touch them,” Mrs Hudson said.

“As a rule of thumb, that is quite correct,” he replied.  “However, in this case they are perfectly safe.  Although they don’t look quite right.”

“That’s probably because it was a racing pigeon, sir,” Bessie said.  “My da and uncle keep them.”

Holmes stared at Bessie, before saying, “That explains it.”

He turned round and ran back down the stairs.

“It was too much to hope he would tidy up a bit before he left,” Mrs Hudson muttered.  “Never mind.  Come, Bessie, let’s go and make a cup of tea.”

 

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

It is a good rule of thumb not to touch anything! But how did the racing pigeon get in?

[smallhobbit]

The pigeon didn't - Holmes had collected the feathers from somewhere, and the papers were scattered by Holmes in a temporary filing system.

[scfrankles]

Mrs Hudson picked up the nearest weapon which came to hand... I love how matter of fact Mrs. Hudson has become about all this over the years ^____^ Also very taken with the line: Since ‘something’ eliminated the possibility of fire, blood, or water, Mrs Hudson did not bother hurrying. ^_____^

And clever old Bessie being another conductor of light for Mr. Holmes ^__^

[smallhobbit]

Mrs Hudson sees no point in exerting herself unless necessary. Bessie is going to be an asset to 221B.

[gardnerhill]

Has Tippi Hedrin been visiting 221b again?

[smallhobbit]

Not on this occasion!

[debriswoman]

Mrs H...ready for anything:-)

[smallhobbit]

Most definitely!