Fic: The Contributory Factor: G

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Title: The Contributory Factor
Form/Word Count: 273
Characters/Pairing: Mr Sherlock Holmes, The Ocelot/the Ferret/the Sloth/Aemelia Vole
Rating: G
Warning/Content: A report of the recent church fair

The Marylebone Monthly Illustrated, December :

One of the highlights of the Christmas fair at St Paul’s Church was the mechanical nativity scene which had been built by Mr Sherlock Holmes.  Small children stood entranced as they watched Mary rock the infant Jesus, and the moving wings of the angels as they proclaimed the good news.

Of particular interest was the first king, who was holding a ring which was indeed made of gold.  It was noted how the king, whose beard appeared to cover most of his face held onto his gold very firmly, even when one small child tried to take the ring in order to present it to Mary.  An adult, who claims he attempted the same thing, maintains he received a nasty bite to his thumb, but this is sadly an example of the over-indulgence in alcohol.

The vicar of St Paul’s has said a substantial sum of money was raised and will be sent to support The Mission to Lepers in India.  The vicar expressed his particular thanks to Mr Holmes for the nativity scene, which had proved so popular.

***

“There’s no mention of my gold cloak,” the Ferret complained.

“Never mind,” Aemelia Vole said soothingly, “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of other opportunities to wear it.”

“There’s also no mention that Freddy the Dip was in too much pain from his sore thumb to steal any of the takings from the other stalls,” the Sloth added.

The Ferret stood up proudly.  “So it could be said that I was responsible for the sale raising so much money.”

The Ocelot laughed.  “You were certainly a contributory factor!”

Comments

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm certain Ferret made a splendid Melchior and all for a great cause (direct and indirect!). Though I hope the church officials were in on the plan or they may have been surprised at a consulting detective making a suggestion about a nativity scene.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Of course he did.

The suggestion originally came from Mrs Hudson, who volunteered Holmes' services to the vicar, following a rather unfortunate episode ...

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

The Ferret rides again ^__^ I really should have guessed that when I reached ...the king, whose beard appeared to cover most of his face... ^__^ I have to say the mechanical nativity scene does sound lovely, btw.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I thought a mechanical nativity scene would appeal to Victorian children, and would be deemed entirely suitable by the adults. But, of course, a mechanical king would be unable to defend the gold from Freddy the Dip, so a very bearded king was called for.

[debriswoman]

I am sure the y all looked lovely, and well done to the ring bearer:-)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Of course they did.

*The Ferret bows*