holmes_minor | Fic: The Opportunity: G

Title: The Opportunity
Form/Word Count: 341
Characters/Pairing: Dr Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: G
Warning/Content: A collapsed Irregular gives Holmes and Watson concern

Holmes and I considered the pale Irregular who was now ensconced in one of our armchairs, having collapsed on the floor when he’d come to make his report. It was clear the poor child was ill, and unlikely to survive another London winter.

“If this were one of your patients, what would you recommend, Watson?” Holmes asked quietly.

“I’d suggest a time in the country, perhaps staying with distant relations. There frequently are family members who live outside the city who will be prepared to take someone in, especially if they are prepared to work.”

“You believe Archie could work?”

“Oh yes, a few weeks in the country and he should be well enough to give a hand. And we know he’s always been a willing lad.”

“Hmm.”

I could see Holmes trying to come up with a solution to the problem, and then I remembered a letter I had received earlier in the week from an old army connection. I took it from my desk and reread it.

“Holmes,” I said. “I believe I have the solution. Entwistle writes that he is looking for a bright lad to assist Haydock, his gardener. Ordinarily it will be the gardener’s son, but this man has only daughters, and the undergardener’s boy is but a baby. I will write and suggest he take Archie on.”

A few days later Entwistle replied saying he would give the lad a trial and if his gardener was satisfied with his progress, they would keep him on.

It was some ten or twelve years later when Holmes and I had ourselves moved to Sussex that we visited Entwistle. There we saw a strapping young man working hard in the gardens.

“That’s Archie,” Entwistle said. “You remember sending him to us. He’s been a great worker and is now extremely knowledgeable. Oh, and he’s married to one of Haydock’s daughters.”

We were amazed, remembering the pale, thin lad who had collapsed on our floor and comparing him to the strong man whose face now had a healthy colour.