Chapter 2: Contents
Slowly opening the small circular door leading into the large home. Almost immediately, he saw the mouse trap set for him right outside where he stood. Inching past it, he knew that Holmes was out for the night, as he always was. As Basil was making his way past the trap, he couldn't help but notice that the typical slice of cheese displayed on the trap was gone and instead laid a small piece of fur. With the lack of light in the dark room, Basil brought his findings close so that he could see it clearly. The was obviously not of his own, or of Dawson or Mrs. Judson. No. This fur was darker than their golden brown fur. Stepping out into the open, Basil placed his thumb and index in his mouth and whistled loudly. With in seconds, his trusted companion Toby, came running from the Kitchen and over to where Basil stood. Before Basil even had a chance to get a word in, he was seized by a long, wet, soft tongue sliding up his whole body. Regaining his composure, Basil cleared his throat and pushed Toby's snout away from him.
"Yes, well that's enough of that." Basil said quickly, looking around the open living room. He then his attention back to his canine friend. "Now Toby..." Basil whispered, bringing the piece of fur that he had found close to his nose. "Have you seen any of these intruders?"
With a sniff of the nose, Toby went flying across the living room floor and into the kitchen, leaving Basil running closely behind. The kitchen door flew open in front of the dog as he pushed passed it, but only to fly back and hitting Basil, sending him hurtling backward.
"Oh dash it all- TOBY!" Basil shouted, standing up and holding his sore nose. He managed to push open the kitchen door and stepped inside. "How many times have I told you to wait until I-
To Basil surprise, there in the middle of the kitchen sat a large wooden crate. Along side one of the wooden planks it read. "Louisiana's Finest". Seeing that this is what toby led him to, Basil walked over to a small opening in the wooden planks. "Well done, Toby." Basil whispered.
As reached the wooden plank, he peered in through the opening. The contents of the crate where peaches and to his astonishment, there in the corner of the crate sat small suitcases with the name "Baily" stitched on, a rocking chair and small children's toys. "Mmm...hmm..." Basil mumbled to himself.
Right before he was able to crawl in the opening, Toby came up from behind him and began to whine.
"Not now Toby..." Basil scolded, trying to fit through the opening. The dog continued to cry, frustrating Basil more deeply. "Toby. I am trying to study the contents of this crate so that we can discover who is among us. Now please."
Growing angry, Toby used his upper and lower front teeth to grab hold of the back of Basil's green slacks to pull him from the crate. Basil struggled in Toby's gasp angrily.
"You dastardly mongrel! Release me at once!" Basil shouted, hanging upside down in the grasp o Toby's teeth.
Toby raised him high enough so that he could just see the top of the metal wash tub. Basil's struggling stopped when saw bubbles rising from the bottom of the wash tub. His ear twitched when he heard the sound of children's laughter. Standing up on his hind legs, Toby dropped Basil on the ledge of the metal tub. Trying his hardest not to make a sound, Basil peered over the top to see two mice children, a boy and a younger girl with fur much darker than his, washing clothing in a small puddle of water that lay right beside a small bar of soap.
The girl wore a small yellow dress with red plaid, a pair of red shoes with little white bows in the center, and two red bows that held her hair into two small pig tail puff balls just above her ears. The young boy was taller than the girl and wore a pair of rugged overalls over a white long sleeved shirt that had the sleeves rolled up. On top of his head he wore a blue cap with a red stitched patch on the side.
"Children?" Basil whispered to himself, trying to remain unseen.
Ringing the garment of clothing that she was washing, Basil watched as the young girl place it beside her and reach for another one. The young boy was struggling to hold a bucket full of un soapy water as he made his way to pass his younger sister. Right before he passed her, he slipped on the garment of clothing that his sister had just laid down and spilled the whole bucket all over his sister.
"Jeremy!" The little girl cried, tuning around and giving her older brother an evil death glare. Basil couldn't help but chuckle at the child. She couldn't have been older that six years old.
The young boy took one look at his soaked sister and burst out into laughter. This displeased the young girl. "That ain't funny Jeremy! I'ma tell Mama on you!" she shouted.
"Such dialect..." Basil whispered to himself. "They are most definitely not from London."
Catching his breath, Jeremy wiped the tears from his eyes. "Ah Nita, you know she ain't scare me!" He said standing tall and proud.
"Who ain't scare you?" A voice came from the other side of the large tub, sending Jeremy to duck under the bar of soap. Basil quickly ducked the edge of the tub, dangling freely. Using his upper body strength, Basil pulled himself back up to peer over to see who the mystery voice belonged to. To his surprise, joining the young children was a young mouse woman with the same colored fur. She wore a light blue blouse tucked into a white skirt. Around her waist she wore a cream colored apron and her hair was pulled back into a puffy pony tail similar to Nita's.
"Aunt June!" Nita said running up to the young woman and hugging her. "We thought you was Mama comin'!" She said happily.
"Yeah..." Jeremy said coming out from his hiding place.
June gave her niece a pat on the head. "What were ya'll doin' to make you think I was your Mama?"
"Washin' clothes. But Jeremy done wasted water on me!" Nita cried, pointing at her younger brother.
The young boy stuck both his hands in his pockets and gave a loud grunt. "Washin' is fo girls. I ain't no girl! I wanna fix things with my tools!"
Giving Jeremy a scorning look, June sighed and sat down on a small spoon that laid near her. " I know whatcha mean, baby doll." She said resting her chin in her hand. "Washin' and cleanin' is the only thing your Aunt Pearly and Mama think I'm good for."
The two small children gave their Aunt a sad look and sat down in front of her. Watching from up above, Basil started to peek out a little more than he was before.
"Aunt June, how come we done left home?" Nita asked in a sigh.
"Yeah...is we goin' back?" Jeremy added.
Breathing in, June gave her niece and nephew a small smile. "Sweety pies. Your Mama and Aunt Pearly wanted you two to go up North to have a better chance then they had. We might go back someday...but for now-
Before Basil had a chance to react, June's eyes met his. Gasping, Basil slipped, hitting his jaw on the side, and slid down the ledge of the tub and down into a puddle of soap water. Underneath the water, Basil could hear the sound of splashing footsteps coming towards him, and then the feeling of four little hands pulling him from the water. Dropping him on the metal ground, Basil's opened mouth in pain and he began to cough up bubbles.
"Oh, Goodness!" June said falling to her knees and taking Basil's face in her hands. "Are you alright, suga?"
Trying to catch his and stop coughing up bubbles, Basil shook his head from her grasp and jumped to his feet. "Now see here! *Cough* I would like inform you that you are intruding on private grounds!" Basil said sternly. He stood at least a head taller than the young woman who smiled and brushed her skirt off. She then reached her hands out so that Jeremy and Nita would walk up to her. "This here are my niece and nephew, Jeremy and Anita."
Basil looked down to see that the little girl smiled brightly at him, as for the boy, he just gave him a dull glare.
"My name's-
"Miss Baily." Basil interrupted, tightening his grip on her hand. She looked at him confusingly. "Born and raised in Louisiana. New Orleans to be exact, by the sound of you accent. Fairly young woman, youngest of your two sisters and you have taken the liberty of casting away in a peach crate to in hopes to be shipped further up North from your past location."
June didn't even had a chance to blink while Basil said this. "Well...I was wonderin' if we made it or not, but I know that we're up North afta hearin' your propa English and all!" June said, shaking Basil' hand harshly now. Pulling away from her, Basil fixed his sleeves and then his collar.
"Yes well...Basil...of Baker street." He said folding his arms behind his back.
"Well, hello there Mista Basil. Could you be so kind as to tell us what part of the North we're in?" June asked with a bright smile. " I hope we're not too far away New Orleans...but just far enough."
Basil gave her a some what de-stressed look. "My dear, I am afraid that you are further away than you believe to true. This is London, my dear."
As if the air was knocked out of her, June stumbled backward. " London? We in London?" She questioned almost in a panic.
The detective just stood there and nodded solemnly. "Yes dear, London."
"Sweet Lord." June said, fanning herself. "How on earth am I s'pose to explain this to Pearly and Charlotte? We ain't even in the country no more! We had family up North we was gonna stay with!" June placed her hands on the sides of her head and began to think.
"We wanna go home!" Nita shouted, stomping her foot on the ground.
"Yeah! We all we done here is wash clothes!" Jeremy added, crossing his arms.
June placed her hands on her hips. "I know, babies, but I think we might just have to stay here for lil while. You know your mama sick. I'll find us somewhere to stay, I promise. Now come on."
June took the children's hands in her's and began to walk past Basil.
"It was mighty nice meetin' you, Mista Basil, but we gotta get goin'." June said pushing past the tall detective. He watched her for a moment, but then shook his head and remembered what needed to be said.
"Err...Young Lady!" Basil called after. June turned around and face him. "As I stated before, this home is private property. The owner of this compound has taken notice of your presence here and has prepared traps and poisons for your capture." Basil warned.
"I though you said this is your house?" June questioned.
Basil cleared his throat. "Ahem...yes well...I am the owner of the house hold right below this compound. But I am serious, my dear, for the safety of the children. Remain hidden at all times."
"Is there a cat?" June questioned, pulling her niece and nephew closer to her. Basil chuckled to himself, then shook his head seriously. "Non of those."
"Aunt June, I don't wanna stay and that crate!" Nita cried, burring her face in June's skirt. June sighed sadly. "I know, baby doll, but that's all we got right now till I find us a home. June then picked the little girl and held her in her arms. She then set her attention back to Basil.
"Thank you kindly for the warnin', Mista Basil. We shouldn't be here much longer" She said with a smile.
With that, June made her way up to the ledge of tub. Basil stood and watched them. His intellectual voice inside told him to let them go and make it on their own. He knew that would be best for both he and the household, but the gentleman inside him told him otherwise. He also knew that with in the first few hours of Dawson's return, they would have been staying in his home anyway due to the Doctors over generous heart "Damn it all.." Basil grumbled to himself, watching the young girl with two children reach the top of the ledge.
June had the two children had made it to the floor when they hear a thump from behind them. The three turned around to see Basil standing there, brushing off his shirt.
"I say, young lady!" Basil said, walking up to them solemnly. "A...err...Peach crate does not provide a suitable shelter for little children and a young lady such as yourselves. Since you say that your stay here is only temporary, then allow me to offer you and your niece and nephew, the comfort of my home." Basil said with sigh.
The two children's faces lit up brightly, as well as June's. " Mista Basil, that sure is nice of ya, but we could-
Basil stopped her from finishing, knowing that he could easily change his mind at the snap of a finger. He began to push them towards the kitchen door. "No, No, No, Miss Baily, I insist." Basil said through his teeth, trying no to snicker.
The young girl turned around and face him as he continued to guide them. "Oh suga, you can call me June." she said in a kind voice. Basil watched her lovely eyes glisten with gratefulness.
The Detective blinked and then cleared his throat. "Yes, well...shall we?" Basil said as he opened the small circular door leading into his home.
Chapter 3: The House Hold
Stepping back into his home, Basil was engulfed by the sound of clanking and crashing coming from the kitchen.
"What on earth?" Basil thought to himself. It wasn't long until Mrs. Judson came screaming out, slamming the door behind her and leaning back on it. She placed her hand over her heart and sighed aloud. As soon as she opened her eyes, they caught glimpse of Basil standing in the middle of the living room floor.
"Mister Basil!" Mrs. Judson began, storming up the tall detective. "I have had just about enough of this chaos!" She said, poking Basil in the chest. "Have you found those horrid intruder-
Mrs. Judson's eyes went wide when she saw two small children peep out from the door way.
"Oh dear heavens!" she said pushing past the detective, nearly knocking him over. Before Basil had time to introduce the children, Mrs. Judson already had her arms around them, hugging them closely.
"Ah yes, let me introduce miss Anita and Jeremy Baily." Basil stated, patting the two children on the head.
"Oh you poor darlings! Up there all alone with those dreadful traps! I say my dears...where is your mother?"
Right as Nita was about to answer, June walked through the circular door. "Their Mama ain't come with us." June said trying to present her self as properly as she could.
"Ah, here we are." Basil started. "Allow me to introduce the children's Aunt, Miss June Baily. She and her niece and nephew where the mice at question. You see, they were mistakenly transported here from Louisiana in a mer peach crate and now have no where to reside. Until they are able to find a new home, they shall be staying here with us for the time being." Basil said, folding his arms.
June reached her hand out to the plump House keeper, who took it happily. "And you must be Mrs. Basil!" June said happily.
Basil's eyes shot open and a devastating look came across his face.
"Oh good heavens, no!" Mrs. Judson said with a smile and a small blush. "I'm old enough to be his mother, I am Mrs. Judson, his House keeper."
June looked at her confusingly. "House keeper?" she said turning and facing Basil. "S'cuse me for askin', Mista Basil, but where your wife at? You must be married, living in a big old house like this" she asked.
Not really comfortable with the matters of marriage, Basil just pulled on his collar and gulped. He had been asked many times why he never married and to honest, Basil just never had the time. There where far more intellectual experiences to encounter than marriage. Far more crimes and mysteries taking place than love at first sight. No. There just simply was no time.
"He is a Detective, my dear." Mrs. Judson interrupted, making June turn around and face her. "He solves murders, robberies, kidnaping...the list can go on and on."
Setting her attention back on the two children, Mrs. Judson pinched both of their cheeks. "Now, my little Angels, are you two hungry?"
"YES MA'AM!" The two young children said in unison as they ran toward the kitchen door.
June quickly chased after them. "Hold up now, you two! Don't just walk right in to people's kitchen's with out they permission!" she scolded.
As soon as June passed through the wooden door her eyes widened at the sight before her.
"DOVER!" She said aloud, placing her hands on her hips as she watched the green frog hop all about the kitchen. Seeing her, the frog immediately stopped in it's tracks and stared at her brightly. Suddenly, the frog hoped over to where her and the children stood where the children embraced it. From behind them, Mrs. Judson and Basil peered through the door.
"Don't tell me" Mrs. Judson started. "That thing...belongs to you?"
Turning around with a regretful expression on her face, June nodded. "I'm afraid so. This right here's my bullfrog, Dover." She said, turning around to face him with an angry expression. "And he was s'pose to stay back home in Louisiana!"
Slowly, Mrs. Judson approached it. It was laying on it's back as Nita and Jeremy where rubbing it's tummy. "Well...i-it doesn't seem so bad when its...err...petted."
June sighed. "I've had him since I was a 'lil girl. He don't mean no harm and I hope he didn't cause ya'll no trouble. If he did you just tell me and I'll pay for whateva mess he done made."
"Oh!" Mrs. Judson exclaimed waving her hands. "No...no trouble at all, my dear. Just a few little messes here and there. Nothing I can't clean." The House Keeper lied.
Basil just stood there with his arms folded. "He will be safe sleeping outside on the lawn tonight."
Hearing this, Nita spun around. He eyes looked as if they were about to spill over with tears. "You can't keep Dover out side! He ain't been before and he might get lost!"
"Now baby doll" June interrupted, kneeling down to her niece. "This here is Mista Basil's house and if he tell you that Dover need to sleep outside then you need to listen." June said, placing her hand on Nita's shoulder. "Dover'll be alright, honey. He won't go hoppin' away knowin' you and Jeremy here."
Standing up straight, June looked at Basil who simply glared at her. "You can put him outside if you like."
Before Basil even got the chance to take hold of the frog, it hopped past him, through the kitchen door and awaited him by the front door. Sighing and brushing off his shirt, Basil grunted as made his way out of the kitchen. Smiling slightly, Mrs. Judson turned and faced June.
"He's just a tired, dear." Mrs. Judson then looked down to see that Jeremy and Anita where yawning. "Speaking of witch, I think its time for you two to get some sleep. I'll fix you breakfast in the morning." She then looked at June. "I'll prepare the guest room for you then, dear."
Mrs. Judson then began to guide the two sleepy children out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. June peaked out through the door shyly. "Ma'am...did you want me to put them to bed-
"Oh no, no, my dear." The house keeper began. "I'll make sure the little darlings are tucked in soundly, I believe you better stay out here and become better acquainted with Mr. Basil."
From outside Basil had tied a piece of rope that he had tied to a small metal pole that was driven into the ground comfortably around Dover's neck. Giving the frog a pat on the head, Basil began to head back inside. "Now, you be a good chap and stay right there, Dover" Basil stated, before walking inside.
As he closed his door behind him, he looked down his small stair way to see June sitting in front of the fire place with several books sprawled in front of her on the ground. Raising an eyebrow, Basil made his way down the stairs and walked up behind her. He watched as she pointed to each word in a sentence and read it out loud slowly. Finally, he kneeled beside her, catching her attention.
"Oh, I hope you don't mind my snoopin' through your books, Mista Basil." June said, quickly closing her opened book. "It's just that I ain't seen so many of them in one place before."
Shaking his head, Basil reached down and took the book in his hand. "Atlas of Orthopedic Surgical Exposures...you wish to be a doctor?"
June began to laugh at the young detective. "Oh Lord, no. I could neva be no docta, suga."
Not understanding what was so funny, Basil just placed the book back down. He looked at June a little more closely than he did before. Her hair was wild and curly, but was pulled back tightly in a pony tale. Her eyes always seemed bright, even when she appears to be worried or sad. Basil noticed that her fur was much darker than his, meaning that she was of a different race of mouse than he was. She was from New Orleans, that was for sure, and Basil never in his life heard such incorrect pronunciations or words that seemed to hold no intelligence. It was a murder of the English language, but still, it was interesting to listen to.
"Now, Miss Baily" Basil sighed, sitting up straight and folding his hands together.
"Now, now, I done said you can call me June" She interrupted, making Basil sigh louder.
"Ahem...yes. Well Miss...June. Your story seems to be missing a few details." He said some what suspiciously. "And as a Detective I have a dire need for detail." The tall mouse said with a small smile.
"Well theres nothin' much more to tell ya that ya don't already know. My name is June Harriet Baily, born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. I'm the youn-
"Yes, yes, yes!" Basil interrupted, rubbing his temples. "The youngest of your two sisters, and you came-
"Three."
Quickly looking up at her, Basil gave the young girl a confused look. "Three?" He questioned. "I thought you had said-
"Well you was talkin' so fast back there that I didn't want to interrupt ya. I have three sistas. Pearly is the oldest one. She live back home in Louisiana. Charlotte is the second oldest, she live in Mississippi, but she livin' with Pearly right now because I left. And my otha sista is-
June stopped in mid sentence. Basil watched as her eyes lowered to the ground sadly.
"Is what, my dear?" He questioned.
June fiddled her fingers. "My otha sista is their Mama, Rosie." June said slowly. "Eva since our Mama died, she's been so self centered. Always hangin' with the baddest type of mice out there. "I don't need ya'll tellin' me what to do!" she'd yell at Pearly and Charlotte. But months later, she'd come back with a black eye and a lil baby in her arm. That happened twice. So one day she said she was leavin' for up North. She said she was gonna find somewhere to stay and make money to bring back home to help out the family. That was a year ago. Nita and Jeremy ask about her everyday and it just breaks my heart."
Basil watched the fire dance among the fire wood. It was never in his best interest to have pity on people, but he knew what it was like to not have anyone at such a young age. "Is there any more, Miss Baily?"
"Well, 'bout couple months ago, we got a letta from Rosie. She said it was hard, but she finally made it up North. New York City. She said that she would send back some money as soon as she could. So my sistas Pearly and Charlette wrote back sayin' they gonna send me with Nita and Jeremy up to where she was so I can help her out with the money makin' and all, but we ain't neva hear back from her afta we sent that letta. Oh but, Mista Basil!"
June grabbed hold of his arm and held it tight. "I know that ship wasn't headin' to no London when we got on that peach crate. We was headin' to Washington D.C where some family of ours was gonna take us to New York City. I know somethin' went wrong, Mista Basil, I just know it! I don't even rememba the trip here. I rememba gettin' on the ship early in the mornin' where a couple otha mice was headin' up North too. When we was settled in, the first mate came around and gave us blankets and somethin' to eat and then...we was here! Sittin' in the middle of that kitchen up there in some peach crate!."
Looking at June's hand on his arm, Basil scratched his chin in curiosity. "You remember nothing else of your voyage here? Do not find me imposing, but a trip such as yours cannot simply end with you merely waking from a long sleep"
June shook her head. "Thats all I rememba." She said sadly. "I've asked the youngin's if they rememba anything, but they don't seem to either."
"Hmm..." Basil mumbled as he stared into the fire. "Very well. I will take closer examination of the crate first thing tomorrow morning."
June just smiled. "Okay." she said, fiddling her fingers. There was a long silence as Basil thought of each possible reason that ship that was destined for Washington ended up in London instead. Or better yet, why the devil was that peach in Holmes' kitchen? Basil knew the answer already. This girl was clearly uneducated and the confusion was of her own poor judgement, but she did have two young children that where not hers to care for, so he would force himself to participate in her supposed "case". But that didn't explain how the peach crate got in Holmes' kitchen
As all these thoughts where going through his mind, he didn't notice June staring at him. Finally, breaking his concentration, he finally looked over to meet June's stare. "What?"
"Nothin'" June shrugged. "I just can't believe you ain't married yet." She said in a laugh.
Basil gave her a bewildered look. "Haven't we been over this already. I am a-
"A detective." June sighed, resting her hands on her lap. "You solve murders, robberies, kidnaping and such."
Grumbling, Basil stood up and straightened his shirt collar. "Well. It appears that Mrs. Judson has retired for the night. Come. I shall show you to the guest room."
Several seconds later, June finally stood up. She kept her head lowered as if she were a little embarrassed. "You mad at me ain't ya?"
Groaning, Basil placed his hand on his head and made his way past the young girl. "No, I am not mad at you. Just terribly, terribly tired. Now please..." Basil said opening the guest room door. "I shall see you in the-
Basil was cut off by being pushed out of the way by the young girl. He watched as she twirled around and allowed her skirt to float in the air. She stopped and faced him. "Oh Goodness, is this room for me?" She asked as if she had just received a diamond ring.
Basil thought for a moment. It was just a guess room. It was like Buckingham Palace or anything.
"It is." He answered.
"Oh my! You sure can make someone feel like they was a Princess in here." June said, looking closely at the decorative wall paper. Not sure what she meant, Basil stepped in the room and took a good look around. It was nice he supposed. Nothing like his bedroom, but it was nice enough for a young girl. Letting his eyes settle back on June, he watched her run over to a small wooden makeup table. June fumbled through all the makeup and scented perfumes. Through the mirror, she could see that Basil had made his way up behind her.
"You know I thought you'd be a lil more excited to have a case. You seem like that type that lives for his work.."
Looking at his reflection, Basil adjusted his robe. "You are indeed correct, my dear. Normally I would jump at the sound of mystery, but I am most certain that your situation is non other then an misunderstanding of some sort an-
He was cut off by June, once again, dashing off somewhere. This time she had made her way over to the bed where she threw herself down and snuggled into the large soft pillow. "Oh Lord, its been so long since I've slept on something soft." She said, closing her eyes. "You should show more appreciation, Mista Basil.
Grunting in frustration, Basil rested his hands on his hips. "Now see here, Miss-Miss Baily! I-
Seeing that she was already sound asleep, Basil figured that there was no point in arguing. He simply sighed and walked out closing the door behind him.