Modern Times

First I want to introduce myself: my name is Emily, and I'm a mouse.

Yes, a mouse. Surprised? I'm a girl of, in human age, 20 years. My fur is dark brown with a touch of red on the tip of my short hair. I have black eyes with some grey flexes. I'm pretty tiny but strong, smart and I'm the classic know-a-lot person, but I'm cheerful and brisk, most of the time.

The story that I want to tell you takes place in the current year, 2012, in London...

That day I was wearing my favourite t-shirt under a black leather jacket, a pair of blue jeans and red sneakers.

I was sitting on a sit of the bus, with my mp3 headphones in my ears. Around me, a lot of other mice of every state and nationality, dipped in their thougths.

I felt unnoticed, and I liked that. I prefer that sense of isolation instead of a talk, because when I'm on the train or on a bus, I want to stay alone.

Don't think I'm a loner, it's just because... I love to stay in my world, nothing else.

But the world I love maybe is dead many years ago.

While I was listening to my favourite song, I was watching outside the window: the city was beautiful, in the gloomy atmosphere created by the rain. On the sidewalk, people ran under their umbrellas, searching for a refuge to the water.

My mind went to my destination.

Baker Street.

"Oh, poor me, why?"

Everything started after I've received, for my 12th birthday, a book, written by a mouse called David Q. Dawson. He was a doctor, during the Victorian Era, and in that book he told about the many cases brilliantly solved by his partner and friend, Basil of Baker Street.

I've readed that book again and again, during this 8 years, and my passion for the detective and his stories grew with me. And once my mom told me that there's a museum, at the 221B lower of Baker Street dedicated to him, but...

Only that day I took the heart to go there.

Why?

Because I know that he wasn't there.

"Oh, I will give everything to see him in person!"

This thought, combined with the weather, made my mood a little bit sad, but I told to myself to don't be such a little girl and be a realistic woman.

When the recorded voice of a male mouse said that the destination was reached, I went out the bus, open my blue umbrella and went in the middle of the crowd of humans and mice, with an eye around me to don't be crushed under a foot.

Once I was free to walk, I looked up for the streets names, and then, here I saw it: Baker Street.

I walked along the street for a while, until I reached the 221B. A fake policemouse, impeccable in his uniform despite the water, was in front of the door of the apartment, to control the tourists before and after their entrance.

I waited my turn with my heart running 3,000 miles per hours. "Finally, I will see the home of Basil!"

I've always delayed that appointment with all the possible excuses: studying, friends, helping mom and dad... But not that day.

In that rainy day of September, I would have seen...

"Something that will not return..."

I was tempted to return back, but the policemouse told me to approach.

-Please, identify yourself, Miss. -

-Emily... Emily Black. -

-Something to declare? -

-Uh... No. -

-Please, You can enter. -

I was perplexed, but I remembered that he was only an actor that played his part.

I glanced around, without breath: everything was like doctor Dawson described in his books.

The two armchairs before the fireplace, the table with all the instruments that Basil used to made his experiments... All at his place.

I went near the red armchair, the favourite of the mouse detective, and next to that there was his violin. I looked, with the wonder in my heart while I've imagined how many melodies he has played, up the fireplace. The portrait of the archenemy of Basil, Professor Ratigan, looked at me with a spooky grin that made me shiver a little.

I go upstairs, and I smile as I saw the wax figures of doctor Dawson and Basil.

But my smile faded away as I saw four teenage boys, around 15 years, that makes questionable noises and acting like stupids.

I tried to stay calm and ignore them, but when one of them does the stupid in front of the wax figure of Basil, my anger was near to explode.

-So, this is the Great Mouse Detective? He don't look so special, right guys? -

-Oh, yes! -

-Hey, what about to take his hat? -

-Good idea! -

I ran to that guy and grabbed his wrist with strenght: - Don't you dare! -

He looked at me angrily: - Who are you? -

-Someone that bring the respect that this place and those mice deserve! -

-Let me go, you stupid! -

He tried to punch me, but I was able to dodge it, leaving his wrist.

There was something that I haven't calculated: they was four. I was alone.

So I felt a little scared when they surrounded me, threatening.

-You feel smart? One vs four: the chances are against you. -

-You don't scare me. - I know it was a lie, but I would sold my life dearly.

-Take her, Gus! - ordered the boss of the gang.

But when the guy behind me tried to hit me, a hand stopped him, and threw him down as easy as a twig.

The other guys were confused like me, so I looked up to the stranger while he said, cool: - Don't you know that girls mustn't be touched even with a flower? -

The mouse was tall, thin, with a beautiful sand fur, more pale under his nose and around the mouth. His eyes was of a deep dark colour, dark grey or even black, I cannot said at the moment, with a smart light inside them. He was dressed in a blue jacket, blue trousers and grey shirt of wool, with a dark grey scarf around his neck.

-And who is this old man? - continue the boss of the gang, disrespectful.

-Someone who is very disappointed of your conduct, and I hope you will go kindly out of there, if you don't mind. -

-Ah! Not in a million years I will listen to you! Take him, guys! -

The other two boys surrounded the mouse and tried to get him at the same time, but he was able to evade them and give a punch on the face to one and a knee in the stomach to the other.

-I will repeat - he continued, cool, - would you kindly go out of this house before I call the police? I mean, the real police. -

The boss guy was pale and scared as hell, so after a moment of paralysis he called up his friends and ran away.

I chuckled, taunted them, then looked again at my rescuer.

He looked at me too: - Are You all right, Miss? -

-Yes, uh... I think so. Thanks a lot, Mister... -

He smiled and he said: - Oh, my name is not so important, and this is me that may thank you, for your bravery in the defense of my great-great grandfather. -

I was shocked: - Y-you... You are a parent of Basil of Baker Street? -

In that moment, I noticed how the stranger was so similar to the wax figure, and my shock raised.

He chuckled: - Yes, Miss, I'm Basil IV of Baker Street, at Your service - he said with a small bow.

In my heart, in that moment, there were a lot of feelings: happiness, confusion, wonder, disbelief...

-And... You are, Miss? -

-I'm... Emily. Emily Black. -

-Emily... - he murmured, thoughtful, looking at me, - Sound very sweet. Lovely. -

I blushed roughly with an insecure smile: - Well, uh... T-thanks again... Without Your help... -

-Oh, it was a pleasure. And I think that those little urchins will not return so soon here. -

I recovered my self control and asked: - But... Why You're here? I mean, this is the museum dedicated to your ancestor, but... -

He sighed: - It's a long story... -

-I love long stories. -

He looked at me, curios, and smile: - Well... What about a coffee in the pub near the museum? -

It's useless to say that I accepted without any hesitation.