a/n: responses to Hades' December Challenge. Prompt from ImaLateBloomer - Unexpected visitors.

This is a kind of a play in a poem; all the words, scene titles, characters etc, are part of the poem...

The Unexpected Visitors

The Cast

Sherlock Holmes and his friend

Doctor Watson

Young Arthur- an urchin they found

Lestrade

Stanley Hopkins

Of course, Mrs Hudson-landlady, the best one around.

Miss Violet Ponsonby- personal assistant,

Mycroft-the Holmes older brother.

And, adding a touch of dramatic suspense;

A mysterious vengeful A.N .Other

Scene one

Christmas time, in the Baker Street household, a scene of contentment and calm.

Two men sipping wine by a blazing log fire. No hint of distress, or alarm.

A journal to finish, tobacco to smoke, remains of a meal on a tray,

For two who attract so much chaos and mayhem, a perfectly peaceable day.

~0~

A knock on the door, Mrs Hudson appears…

~0~

Mrs H- "Mr Holmes, here's a card

It was pushed through the letter box, minutes ago.".

~0~

Holmes examines the words, frowning hard.

~0~

Holmes-"It appears we'll have visitors, Watson;

Mycroft is bringing a guest!

The tea tray needs filling; the fire needs more fuel,

And really, I ought to get dressed."

~0~

Holmes leaps from the room with his dressing gown flying, while the other two straighten

things out.

A visit from Mycroft and mystery friend, an unusual occurrence, no doubt!

Scene two

Doorbell rings, the landlady answers, two visitors stand in the hall;

A small well-wrapped female, with pince-nez and bonnet, and Mycroft, rotund and quite

tall.

~0~

Mycroft-"Dear brother, I know it's quite late, but there's something I need to discuss

A delicate matter I'd like to resolve at speed and with minimal fuss.

Miss Ponsonby's here from the government office involved in this difficult case."

~o~

He waves at the shy looking girl at his side, her bonnet concealing her face.

Scene three

To the sitting room (seventeen steps) Mrs Hudson starts pouring the tea.

~0~

Miss P(cloak and bonnet in place, husky voice)- "This is such a great honour for me.

I've heard, Mr Holmes, of your wonderful work; I've read every case in the Strand;

It's time you received what you truly deserve, here's a little surprise I have planned."

~0~

With that, she removes her voluminous cloak, her pince-nez, and oversized bonnet

Beneath, were two pistols, both steadily aimed; and a face with an evil grin on it.

~0~

Mrs H (There's a crash as the teapot is dropped, and knocks over the freshly poured

drinks)-"You're Elsie not Violet! My nephew's ex bride! You heartless, despicable minx!"

~0~

Elsie-" That's right, Mrs Hudson, I'm back! No prison can hold me for long

Those government papers and fiery revenge, will prove who is weak and who's strong!"

~0~

Mycroft-"Young lady, it seems such a shame that you spend so much effort promoting

Such vengeful, destructive and murderous schemes."

~0~

Elsie-"Be quiet! I'm gloating!"

~0~

A few minutes later reveals a new scene; two brothers tied up on the floor,

A doctor and landlady bound back to back; and Elsie, with match, near the door.

The match head is struck with a flourish; she'll burn every trace of her crime…

~0~

Behind her a service revolver is cocked.

~0~

Lestrade-"Girl, you've run out of time."

~0~

Two pistols (and matches) are knocked from her grasp, young Hopkins restrains her with

speed;

She's failed in her third most nefarious plot and will pay the full price for her deed.

~0~

As her four would-be victims are quickly untied and two huge extra Yarders appear;

Mad Elsie is dragged away screaming with rage, her threats of revenge loud and clear.

~0~

Holmes- "Thank you Inspector, it seems, for a change, you and Hopkins have just saved the day.

Pray, tell me what reason you possibly had for handily passing our way?"

~0~

Lestrade-"having found the real Violet Ponsonby, tied up in a shed in a yard;

The resultant short chain of deduction and reason was, frankly, not really that hard.

We arrived at your house; one small window was open, too small to let Yarders within;

By fortunate chance, a young urchin passed by, who was tiny enough to climb in."

~0~

At that moment, the door to the sitting room opens, young Arthur steps, beaming, inside.

Arthur-"Hello! It seemed safe to come out, though I know that you told me to hide."

~0~

Mrs Hudson runs over to hug the small hero, who blushes a deep shade of red.

~0~

Arthur (returning the loving embrace)- "I'm so glad you aren't burnt and all dead!"

Epilogue

Peace, in the Baker Street household, a scene of contentment and joy

Five men sipping wine by a blazing log fire, hot chocolate for one tiny boy.

Mrs Hudson has also a glass of red wine, the remains of a meal on a tray,

For those who attract so much chaos and mayhem, a perfectly typical day.

~0~

a/n2; Elsie also appears in "a study in genres-drama" and "Mistletoe and Mayhem-Hug!"