18. From BookRookie12: Poetry
"I'm bored!"
"Shut your mouth, Billy," Wiggins said sharply, but privately, he had to agree. For once, everyone's stomachs were full, and Mister Holmes had been forcibly removed to the seaside by Doctor Watson. No new cases meant no new work for the Irregulars.
"We could go see the tree in Trafalgar Square," James pointed out.
"We did that yesterday," Simon grumbled. "Reckon we could look at window displays."
"Or find some wealthy bloke 'oo won't mind partin' wif his valuables…" Billy said, a little more cheerfully.
"Enough," Wiggins said, silencing them all. "Mister Holmes is always suggesting we keep our eyes and ears open. We should go around and see if we can learn anything useful to tell him when he gets back."
A few perked up at this. Mister Holmes was rather generous with his shillings.
"We can meet up again at five o'clock and look for something to eat," Wiggins said before there could be arguments. "Off you go!"
The boys scattered in all directions.
Wiggins set off in the direction of Kensington Gardens, taking his time and listening to the chatter on the street. It was like Mister 'Ol…Holmes said. No one noticed a boy listening and lurking about. By the time he reached Elm Street, he'd picked up a number of tidbits Mister Holmes might find interesting. Mr. Gladstone, the baker, was struggling to make ends meet and had decided to save money by short-changing customers. Not that he was very good at it; Wiggins figured there'd be a Constable to visit him by the week.
Then, as he drew close to the park, he noticed two girls skipping rope in the shadow of a nearby building. They were chanting the words together, and a familiar name caught Wiggins' attention.
Mr. Holmes can solve your case
No matter the time and no matter the place.
Robbers beware,
Don't you dare.
All he needs to find you is a single hair.
You'll be written in the stories
You'll be published in the Strand
He's the greatest detective in all the land!
One of the girls tripped at that point, and they both burst out in peals of laughter.
For his part, Wiggins had never grinned so much in his life. Just as he'd hoped, they started up again after a minute or two, and he settled down unobtrusively to listen.
He just had to have this memorized by the time Mr. Holmes got back.