I did some research for this one, I hope I got it right and did this double 221b to the best of my abilities. I hope you enjoy and I wish you a happy new year 2009!
Be careful with the fireworks ;)
It was the 31st of December 1881, still early in my association with the man who was to become the world's foremost private consulting detective, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
As the previous year had taught me, my friend was not particularly interested in holidays of any kind. I had no reason to believe it would be any different on the last day of the year, or 'Hogmanay', as Father had called it.
It was bordering on midnight and I was in my room, sitting on my bed, reading. I hadn't gone to any of the festivities going on all over the town, but I could not sleep either and so I awaited the new year in the solitude of my upstairs bedroom.
I thought Holmes had gone to bed or rather stayed in bed because I had not seen him all day. So I was understandably surprised to hear the sound of a violin playing a familiar tune, one I hadn't heard for more years than I remembered. (1)
I confess that I listened with rapt attention.
The clock struck twelve and I heard his tread upon the stairs to my room. A knock and then the door opened to reveal my new friend, fully dressed but for his jacket, standing there in his dressing gown, a bottle of what I believed was whisky in his hand.
I remember that I opened my mouth, but made no sound. He had me completely surprised and I could see that he had counted on this, if his smile was any indication.
"Good evening my dear fellow, or rather good morning. Also, pardon me. I may not have your Scottish ancestry but I do hope my dark hair will make up for it." (2)
I felt myself beginning to smile.
"Holmes, are you-"
"First-footing is the name of this strange tradition, I believe," he replied before I could end my sentence.
"That is quite right. But, my dear Holmes, I had thought you above traditions of any kind."
His grey eyes sparkling mischievously at me, Holmes stepped over the threshold and into my small bedroom. He sat himself into the chair by my bed and the bottle onto the table standing next to it.
"The last year has been an excellent one," he said, "and I hope this one will continue to be so. As it is, I hope the whisky is an adequate present under these circumstances?"
"Quite," I repeated in my amazement.
"Excellent. Speaking of traditions, I think you agree if we refrain from burning juniper branches as well as sprinkling so called 'magic water' as I prefer to sleep in a dry bed."
(1) "Auld Lang Syne"
(2) First-footing is supposed to set luck for the rest of the year. According to folklore a man with dark hair was assumed to be a fellow Scotsman and welcomed. Men with blond or red hair were more unwelcome. So, Holmes would qualify I think.
