Prompt: Mrs. Hudson's meat cleaver is missing.
From: Stutley Constable
Enjoy!
...
Mrs Hudson placed the beef on her counter, ready to make roast beef for Mr. Holmes and Doctor Watson for their supper. It was a cold winter's night, and they would need something hot and filling- especially the doctor, as he had been busy with patients and home visits.
And as Mr. Holmes had nor eaten for a few days, she decided to make one of his favourite dishes – roast beef, and she had made some Winifred pudding for afterwards.
She reached for her trusty meat cleaver... only to find it was not in its usual place. She stared, blinking in disbelief. After all, it was not often she misplaced things... and the few times she had, she was usually either tired, overwhelmed, or recovering from illness.
And besides, she had a feeling that a certain someone took it without her permission...
Lips pursing into a displeased grimace, Mrs. Hudson marched out of her kitchen, and up the 17 stairs leading towards the shared rooms of Doctor John Watson and Mr. Sherlock Holmes...
...
"MR. HOLMES!" she bellowed, throwing open the door to confront the detective. As fond as she was of him, she did not approve, nor appreciate him: a) trespassing in her kitchen, and b) taking her utensils without permission, especially sharp, deadly ones.
To her surprise, it was Doctor Watson holding her cleaver, looking very sheepish and... disgusted?
"Oh, good evening, Mrs. Hudson," he said politely.
"May I ask, Doctor," she began, not even in the mood to return the good Doctor's greeting. "Why you are holding my meat cleaver?"
His brow furrowed. His hands slowly went up in surrender, and he said, "I know how it looks, my dear lady, but I did not take it."
"I know, sir," she said warmly, softening at his honesty. After all, the good doctor had many talents, but deception and "borrowing" were not in his nature. "I know you'd ask me if you needed it, God forbid you do." She spoke.
The doctor chuckled.
"I appreciate you understanding, Mrs. Hudson." He said sheepishly. "I found it on Holmes' desk," he nodded to where the chemistry set sat, bubbling away innocently.
She looked over to see a hunk of meat on the table, surrounding a heart... buried in the heart was...
"isn't that your scalpel, Doctor Watson?" she asked, quite confused as to what exactly was happening here, but no less angry for it.
Doctor Watson looked at the heart, and frowned. "So it is, Mrs. Hudson," he answered, rubbing his moustache thoughtfully. "He has a lot to answer for."
"Quite." Sniffed the good landlady.
...
Sherlock Holmes only learned his lesson when Mrs. Hudson gave him a slightly smaller portion of roast beef, and only permitted Doctor Watson some of her Winifred pudding.
He did try to pretend he didn't care, but when dear Doctor Watson decided that he would like to retire to his room and read, did he eventually relent and apologise for being so discourteous.
"I do wish you would ask before you borrow anything, Mr. Holmes!" Said Mrs. Hudson, haughtily. "Especially using my meat cleaver to carve a heart!"
"It was only a cow's heart, Mrs. Hudson." Holmes replied, putting up his hands in surrender.
"Holmes," Watson gave a polite cough, and a warning glare, at his friend.
"Regardless, I can see why I should ask before I borrow anything of either of yours again." He acknowledged sincerely.
"Thank you, Mr. Holmes." Said Mrs. Hudson, graciously. "I will go and warm up your pudding." She swept towards the door.
"I am hardly a child, Mrs. Hudson, there was no need for that," Said Holmes.
"I beg to differ, sir!" Mrs. Hudson retorted, and as she left their rooms, she smiled at hearing the good doctor burst out laughing, and there was no doubt Mr. Holmes may sulk (though he would deny it!) But she wouldn't have her tenants any other way.
Although, she preferred being the only one to be wielding a meat cleaver…