The first in a series of responses to Hades' December challenge.
Prompt is "hot chocolate" from I'm Nova.
A slightly fluffy start, including a character from last year's challenge:-)
Holmes and companions do not belong to me.
1/Hot Chocolate
Arthur, the youngest and smallest Irregular,
Stamped his numb feet as he walked through the park.
It was frosty and freezing; as snowflakes fell softly
On Arthur, and daylight turned swiftly to dark.
A quite philosophical soul was young Arthur;
Expecting his days to be cheerless and grim.
A lost, lonely childhood; unwanted, abandoned;
Till fortune and favour had smiled upon him.
~0~
He pulled down his cap, wrapped his woollen scarf tighter
And trudged his way slowly through thick falling snow.
One figure, then two, then three more joined young Arthur
From all of those places no gentry would go.
They huddled together, for warmth and protection,
And picked their way slowly down iced cobbled stone;
A ragged and wayward and noisy assortment;
No longer unnoticed, no longer alone.
~0~
Past ladies and gentlemen hurrying homeward,
Past horses and carriages clattering by,
Past street vendors closing up stalls for the evening;
All hustle and bustle 'neath snow flurried sky.
They reached an address which they knew like no other,
Shook snow off their clothing, and knocked on the door.
It opened, they stepped into warmth, light and comfort;
Left damp snowy trails on the tiled hallway floor.
~0~
They tipped caps politely, to greet Mrs Hudson,
As faces and fingers began to thaw out.
Young Arthur removed the wool scarf he had tightened;
Quite cosy within, as the snow fell without.
Tall tales from a certain detective and doctor,
A place on the rug by a welcoming fire;
Mince pies at his side, with a mug of hot chocolate,
What more could the likes of young Arthur desire?
~0~