Prompt from cjnwriter: "Watson practices deduction."
"John, what have you got there?"
I started guiltily, instinctively putting the hat behind my back. "Nothing, Mary dear."
My wife's knowing smile made me blush, and I brought out the hat to show her. "I'm just trying to practice my deduction skills. I'll never be as good as Holmes, I know, but I would like to not look such a fool next to him."
Mary sat beside me and kissed me on the cheek. "You know you're not a fool, John, even if you sometimes write yourself that way. Show me what you can do."
"Alright, but it won't be as good as Holmes," I warned her. "This was a hat left in the waiting room of my practice today. I know it belongs to an older gentleman, because the style is out of fashion by several years. He had a wife at some point, as there are some signs of mending around the brim, but there are also some tears left untended, so he doesn't have a wife anymore. I can also say his hair is black, but slowly turning grey, but that's all." I slumped back in my chair, staring at the hat. "Holmes would be able to say what happened to his wife, how much of his hair turned grey, what he did for a living, where he lived, and probably his favourite colour."
"Whereas I could only have told you that the hat wasn't the current style! John, you underestimate yourself." Mary placed a hand over mine, then winced, drawing it back.
"Mary, what happened?" I took her hand in mine, gently moving her wrist around. "You sprained your wrist this afternoon. Was it the snow on the steps? I told the maid to sweep them this morning, but she must have forgotten."
"Yes, it was the steps!" Mary laughed. "You're comparing your deduction skills against Sherlock's, my darling, but when it comes to medical matters, you're already excellent."