The Holmes Trio - Prequel of The Holmes Brood

THE ESCORT

'Hello little sister.' Mycroft smiled (trying to look less creepy than he did for the benefit of the kid) from his 6"2 height down to Darlence's 3"7. And the latter looked back up with an impassive face.

'To London, then?' he asked finally.

'To London it is.' answered the small voice.

In the car that was supposed to escort them to the city Mycroft asked, 'How do you like school, Darlence?'

'Boring.' The answer popped out pat, 'They are teaching us addition and subtraction.'

'What else do you expect?' he asked smugly.

'Algebra, fractions and decimals in the least. Or squares and roots if possible.'

'You alarm me.'

'And the other children love to call me a-a-ummm....something. Well, none of them use their brains anyway.'

The brother chuckled, 'I had an inclination you'd think like that. Well, what do you think about Sherlock?'

'Swell headed bore. Wallows in himself all day.'

'Not really.'

Darlence shrugged, 'Believe what you will.'

'You are going to live in 221 B Baker Street.'

'No I am not.'

'Yes, you are.'

'What for?'

' "What for?" Because I say so.'

'Why?'

'You can't stay in a hostel.'

'Why can't I?'

'Mummy will never allow it.'

'Why not? You went to a boarding school yourself.'

'I was quite big by that time. I could stay safely in the hostel.'

'And why can't I?'

'Do you even know how old you are?'

'Of course, I'm six.' she said with such pride that suggested that six was the oldest age to be achieved ever by mankind.

Mycroft scrunched up his face, 'You changed the subject altogether...........'

******

Mycroft Holmes stood on the front porch of 221 B Baker Street with his small sister. He solemnly knocked with his umbrella on the door and then rang the bell. An elderly lady opened the door.

'Oh Mr. Holmes, your brother is shooting the walls down.' she said in a terribly scared voice.

Mycroft kept a soothing hand on her arm, 'That doesn't seem to be very uncommon with old Sherlock does it? Now I suggest you retire, I'll see to that fool myself.'

The two siblings headed their way to the top of the stairs.

'Hello brother dear.' said Mycroft in his mockingly pleasant voice.

'Mycroft, how nice to see you.' Sherlock returned in the same tone his back turned towards them.

'I see you are bored.'

'Very bored.'

'Then I'd like you to meet someone.'

Sherlock turned around with a bored face which turned quickly to one of surprise. He quickly kept the gun in the drawer,' Darlence!'

'I want you to take care of her, she is going to stay here from now.'

'Mother sent her?'

'Precisely. And since she can't possibly stay at a place where there is no one for almost the whole day; my place isn't very ideal.'