13. From mrspencil: a December wedding
Holmes, Inspector Bradstreet, and I had just completed a merry chase round London to recapture a prize parrot before it could be shipped out of the country. Holmes was not fond of birds, and I confess I also felt a bit nervous around the large, scarlet creature, but Bradstreet seemed quite captivated by its beauty and it sat perched comfortably on his arm until we transferred it back to the custody of its wealthy, unorthodox owner, a French woman who spoke English perfectly well but rarely deigned to do so (fortunately, Holmes' French was excellent, and mine passable). "Merci beaucoup," she said to Holmes, and then to me, reaching for the bird, who shuffled from Bradstreet's arm and then hers in a second. She gazed at Bradstreet, who smiled, and declared, "Thank you," in a thick accent. She shuffled off, parrot on her shoulder, and we all watched them disappear, a strange sight into the night.
"Well, I suppose that's that," I said. "Holmes and I will be off then, Inspector, for dinner. I hope you have a restful night planned."
"Something of the sort," Bradstreet said. "I say, I wish my wife had gotten to see that bird. What an anniversary present it would've been."
"Oh, congratulations," I said warmly. "How many years?"
"Eight yesterday. A December wedding can be quite nice, you know. With the snow and the candlelight and a nice stony church, it's almost spiritual. I would've liked to have taken our honeymoon out of the country, but we couldn't afford it then." He looked at his watch. "It's too late tonight- or perhaps I should say too early today- but later I believe I shall take my family to the zoo."
Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing! I'll reply to you all individually soon, but it makes my day to read your reviews and also read everyone's fabulous work! This one took an unexpected turn for even me, haha.