Title: Mouselet - Special Correspondent
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 763
Summary: Everyone seems to be in a rush.

Everyone has been rushing around today; it’s been hard to keep up with what’s happening.  First thing this morning Mr Holmes rushed downstairs to see Mrs Hudson.  He then rushed back up and told the doctor what he had done.  The doctor merely nodded and continued reading his newspaper.

Shortly after that Mrs Hudson appeared with breakfast and said, “I really don’t know why you had to charge in and disturb us, Mr Holmes, we have everything quite under control.”

Then, as soon as he had finished breakfast, Mr Holmes rushed out.  And about five minutes later, Dr Watson picked up a piece of paper which must have fallen on the floor, said, “Oh really, Holmes!” and rushed out after him.

It wasn’t long after that Mrs Hudson came up to collect the breakfast tray.  With her were Esme and Billy.

“Right you two,” Mrs Hudson said, “You know what to do.  Be as quick as you can, you know we don’t have much time.”

She then departed rapidly back downstairs, carrying the tray.

A little while later, Dr Watson returned.  Followed shortly afterwards by Inspector Hopkins.  I was hoping the inspector would be staying for coffee, but he looked out of the window and said, “Oh no!  I must go.”  And departed.

Then Mr Holmes rushed in.  There was a knock on the door.  Dr Watson looked out of the window, “Holmes, it’s Lestrade!”

Without giving Mrs Hudson or Billy time to go down and answer the door, Mr Holmes rushed back down to open it himself.  (This is most unusual.)  Then he hurried the inspector upstairs, saying “Come along, inspector, no time to dawdle.”

Dr Watson went down to ask Mrs Hudson for some coffee, and then I could hear him on his way back up.  However, Inspector Lestrade said, “Holmes, I’ll go and make those enquiries and I’ll be back later.”

And then I heard Dr Watson turn round on the stairs and rush back to see Mrs Hudson.  This is very strange, because even if the inspector was leaving, it was time for coffee.  And it would mean there were no biscuit crumbs.

And so the day continued.  It was all very strange.  Normally, Mrs Hudson would have complained about the continuous to-ing and fro-ing, but today she seemed to be just as involved as everyone else.  Although she did command my beloved inspector to sit down and eat a sandwich before he disappeared again.  Which, of course, was also peculiar.  Not that Mrs Hudson was telling my inspector to eat – she believes, as I do, that he needs caring for – but that it was not a proper luncheon.

By mid-afternoon, my poor little head was in a complete whirl.  Inspector Lestrade had returned, and had managed to drink a cup of tea.  But then the doctor had looked at Mr Holmes and nodded at the clock.

At once, Mr Holmes stood up and said, “Lestrade, no time to lose.”  He grabbed his elbow and almost hauled him out of the armchair, before hustling him down the stairs, telling him there was no time to put his coat on.

After which, the best of all inspectors returned for the third time.  He was carrying a tray of cold meats and cheeses.  Esme and Billy followed, with more food, which Esme arranged on the table.  Then Mrs Hudson came in, carrying a large bowl of punch.  Had the weather not been warm and sunny, I might have thought it was Christmas.

Dr Watson was watching out of the window and called out, “They’re on their way.”

Everyone stood in front of the table, which meant the food was hidden.

Mr Holmes and Inspector Lestrade came in and they all sang out “Happy Birthday!” and moved away from the table, so the inspector could see the feast spread out.

Inspector Lestrade stood for a short while, as if he had lost his voice, but then he said, “Thank you very much.  What a surprise!”

And everyone laughed and began talking at once.

Mrs Hudson, Esme and Billy stayed for tea, and then they left the four gentlemen alone.  Dr Watson gave Inspector Lestrade a box of cigars, and Mr Holmes and my inspector gave him bottles of something.  They were different bottles, with different coloured liquids.  I don’t drink such things, so I can’t tell you exactly what they were.

It was a lovely evening.  Inspector Lestrade seemed very happy to celebrate his birthday in this way.  And I was happy because I had a whole evening to enjoy my inspector.