Rough Writing

Mr. Fox was on his weekly wander down the streets of London. His red fur peeked out above a smart black vest and his ears pointed snuggly around a short top hat. His white throat was highlighted by a stylish purple cravat and a golden crane pin kept it all in place. He carried a short walnut cane topped with a small brass foxhead.

Mr. Fox walked along the cobbled streets watching carts tied up with burlap sacks of wares. His ears twitched with each cry of an infant or the crack of a whip over an unruly steed. As he tested the air with his nose above the pungent smell of the quarter he caught the faint scent of something he did not recognize. Curious he started tracking the scent. He hurried through the crowds chasing the edge of mystery.

The scent lead him to a small alley that couldn’t fit a cart as the sun started to go down. With some caution he stepped into the alley and continued to follow this strange unfamiliar smell. The cobblestones were torn up and bare mud was exposed despite the lack of rain for weeks. Little hovel doors led to aging tenements raised on either side. After walking into the darkness Mr. Fox noticed the smell was coming from the most curious of doors. Carved into the thick wooden door were strange complicated symbols that looked asian but even more ancient.

With a soft rap of his cane on the door Mr. Fox stood back and waited. His bushy red tail waved back and forth. The door was opened by a small mouse with enormously long whiskers and greyed fur. The mouse had a pair of small round spectacles and demanded in a gruff voice “What do ye want?” Mr. Fox replied courteously “I’m investigating a curious scent coming from within your building, may I come in?” The mouse looked him up and down suspiciously and snapped “For two pence you can do what you want but I won’t be having you bother the missues if yer not going to pay”. With a simple movement Mr. Fox dropped two pence from his coin purse into the waiting mouse’s hand and stepped inside. His hat touched the worn rafters and the floor was in complete disrepair. The steps wound up to the other apartments.

Deep sage wallpaper peeled back and plaster worn through to the slats showed in places as they stepped into the main hallway of the apartment complex. “Well, don’t go bothering too many folk and get yerself out of here right quick you here?” The older mouse snarled and then snapped back into his room. The smell was upstairs. Mr. Fox was driven to continue along the creaking steps til he reached a dark wood door that had light flickering through holes. He knocked softly and a hoarse voice called out “Ye can come in”.