happyeverafter72: (Default)
happyeverafter72 ([personal profile] happyeverafter72) wrote in [community profile] holmes_minor2021-10-09 05:40 pm

Fic: Cottage Enterprises: G

Title: Cottage Enterprises
Form/Wordcount: 316
Characters/Pairings: Holmes/Watson, OCs
Rating: G
Author’s Notes: Watson buys a lot of jam.


Autumn in Sussex is truly beautiful. The light takes on a tremendous golden quality, tinging everything it touches. The changing leaves are like a natural firework display. The hedgerows become full of ripened berries, nestling like bright jewels amongst the dark foliage. Walking past the village school at play time, one can see conker fights taking place. I am seldom without a smile on my face, and neither is Holmes.

One afternoon, I was preparing a pot of tea when a knock sounded at our door. I opened the door to reveal the Thompson children clustered outside, carrying between them several baskets laden with jars of jam.

“Good afternoon, Dr Watson,” said the eldest, Eleanor. “We were wondering whether you might like to buy some jam. We’re raising money for the children’s library.”

“Of course,” I replied. “What a fantastic thing to do. What flavours do you have?”

She beamed. “We have blackcurrant, gooseberry, strawberry, and bramble jelly. Three pence a jar.”

“Then I shall take one of each.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said as I handed over my shilling.

She dutifully handed over a jar of each flavour. Then, with more thank-you’s, they turned back down the garden path. I watched them with a fond smile before going back indoors. I could hear Holmes in the kitchen, pottering about, setting up for tea.

“We have an awful lot of jam to eat, dearest,” I called out as I came through.

He laughed when he saw how much I was carrying. “How on earth did you manage to acquire so much?”

“The Thompson children were selling it in support of the children’s library,” I explained. “I couldn’t very well say no.”

“Quite so,” he agreed. “Well, I suppose I shall have to make some of those jam tarts you love so much.”

He had assumed a very put-upon air, and I laughed. “What a terrible business.”
smallhobbit: (Holmes Watson grass)

[personal profile] smallhobbit 2021-10-09 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sweet!
debriswoman: (Default)

[personal profile] debriswoman 2021-10-11 10:43 am (UTC)(link)
Nicely done:-)
scfrankles: knight on horseback with lance lowered (Default)

[personal profile] scfrankles 2021-11-01 02:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I particularly like the line The changing leaves are like a natural firework display. And it sounds like those tarts are going to be delicious - you've painted such a delightful domestic scene ^__^
gardnerhill: (Default)

[personal profile] gardnerhill 2021-11-15 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
I've spent a good amount of time this summer in that very pursuit - I have strawberry, plum and apricot jam.