A/N: Hades' December challenge
14th Dec Prompt from Riandra: Where there's a will
Includes Arthur...a very small urchin.
Determination
Arthur, the youngest and smallest Irregular,
Sat up in bed, deep in thought;
He had planned to do something quite special this Christmas
And time was, alas, running short.
He wanted to thank all the folk who had helped him
When lost on the cold city streets.
He hoped to surprise every one of his friends
With some carefully made festive treats.
He'd saved up some money, wrapped under his pillow,
From all of the pennies he'd earned;
And had written a smudged and laborious list
Of his plans and the people concerned.
A bad bout of flu had delayed his endeavours
And forced him to rethink anew;
Ten days left till Christmas, restored to good health,
And a hundred and one things to do.
~0~
The first thing to do was consult Mrs Hudson,
She would help with his schemes, he was sure.
As soon as the doctor and Holmes had left home
He knocked on the kitchen back door.
He showed her his list and explained his intentions;
She smiled and agreed to assist.
An eager young Arthur with hope in his eyes;
An impossible plea to resist.
He offered some pennies to borrow her kitchen,
Buy sugar and ginger and spice.
After chat and hot chocolate and quick calculations
They agreed on a reasonable price.
The recipes, baking help and supervision
Mrs Hudson insisted were free,
And Arthur agreed to return the next day,
With hands spotless, at quarter to three.
~0~
Next task, little Arthur set off for the market,
His list in his small mittened hand.
He walked through the cobblestoned streets in cold sunshine
And approached a small bright-coloured stand.
He needed red ribbon, he'd already measured
The length and the width for his needs.
The stall keeper wrapped his small purchase with care,
And added some shiny blue beads.
~0~
0ff to the park, for his next acquisition;
Red berries, and holly, dark green.
The park keeper noticed young Arthur's behaviour,
But pretended he just hadn't seen.
~0~
And paper, some paper for wrapping up presents;
Brown paper, he thought, would be best.
The shopkeeper peered at young Arthur and pondered
The polite scruffy urchin's request.
He could sell at a discount, some crumpled brown paper
And some remnants of twisted brown thread,
And as it was Christmas, an extra free gift;
Two pencils, one green and one red.
~0~
Clutching his precious small purchases tightly,
Young Arthur ran home, light of heart.
He had used up the last of his bright shiny pennies
And was excited and eager to start.
Red stars and green fir trees were drawn on brown paper,
He cut lengths of the twisted brown thread.
Crooked red bows and small loop of red ribbon,
Prepared for the baked goods ahead.
The shiny blue beads threaded onto more ribbon
And slowly, painstakingly tied;
A perfectly wonderful, elegant necklace,
Which someone would wear with great pride.
~0~
Then off the next day to the Baker Street kitchen
And flour covered, dough mixing fun
And back home to bed for a tired young Irregular
With festive gift making all done.
~0~
And did the gift giving go well?
That's another tale to tell.
~0~