EDENVILLE

New Years Day

By @silenttomorrows

Wilfred Bodger, Edenville's foremost authority on pest control, poured himself a cognac from his crystal decanter and walked towards the stairs that descended to his cellar.  He switched the light on and listened to the scratching sounds, a broad smile moved over his face. 'This will shake 'em up', he said to himself. 'Christmas is a difficult time of the year with the price of everything, time to drum up a little more business'

Wilfred looked at all the rats in their cages; his breeding stock.  But he was more interested in the earth mound behind the bullet proof glass.  Wilfred Bodger's hybrid super moles, although no one would know they were his.  They could tunnel a subway  line if you wanted them to. 

His father had helped plan and create all the drains in the village and they crisscrossed under his house.  The family business had always been able to release rodents at will and trap them for money.  Pepe was his favourite and most lucrative rat as he'd caught and released him thirty six times.   But Wilfred hadn't released moles for a couple of years. 

Carefully Wilf pulled leavers that opened trap doors until the glass cage door opened into the tunnel to the local park. Wilf tapped on the glass and the giant mole shot off.

Edenville park was in winter now.  It was a pleasant enough paradise for villagers to walk about in, although it had over the Christmas period got a bit of a reputation for some fella walking about and .... surprising women.  The women seemed to be in two camps, those who were shocked and wanted him arrested and those who were pleased and wanted his home address. 

Anyway there would be plenty of cover for going's on when the giant mole hills started to appear.  The Mayor would be on the phone and Wilf would negotiate a good price. 

Of course if the moles were able to breed then it would become a stampede to save people's gardens; Frank was growing a lot of asparagus in a poly tunnel at the moment he wouldn't want that sabotaged, and the people would want the matter sorted out before they grew their cucumbers. 

Wilfred drained his glass and said to himself.  This year is going to be a good year.  He went upstairs for a refill. 

At the same time Bianca Woodnick was walking in the park talking about old flames with Agnes Pedderforth the Chandler. 

'My New Years resolution is to be more picky with the men I sleep with' Bianca said thoughtfully.

'You mean you're going to pick more men? Agnes asked.

They both laughed.

'Well it's ok having an open marriage but my New Years resolution is to give more attention to my husband Jethro; he's a good and loving man'.

At that moment Bianca's phone rang. 'Oh hi Hudson.... yes that should be ok.  I'll meet you in the ice rink store room at about three then... yes we can call it our New Years itch solution.'  Bianca switched off the phone with a smile.

'You were saying....' Agnes said with a grin.

'Er, Hudson is more of a close friend.' Bianca said in her defence.

'Very close and getting closer by the sound of it' Agnes chipped in, then she said, 'Look what is that odd looking man doing, I wonder if he's the one they've been talking about'

'My god, look what's in front of him? Bianca exclaimed astounded, 'it's getting bigger and bigger'.

'It's erupting' shouted Agnes.

They watched as the giant mole burst through the ground, creating a large molehill in its wake.  In the same instance the tall, well dressed man jumped behind an oak tree and then ran off towards the park gates.