EDENVILLE

The Wake

By @lyttlejoe

Jethro Woodnick was ecstatic. The Tiki Room was jammed. Ted . . . Ted the not so shrunken head anymore, since Twila overinflated it to the size of a child's balloon, bobbed lazily on a string behind the bar, taking drink orders. Corky sat on one end accepting praise and copious drinks from the grateful citizenry that their beloved DJ hadn't expired, just lost a step.

Morag sidled up to him and handed him a gaily coloured chain strung with his ten missing toes all painted in Christmas colours.
"Made it myself," she boasted. Corky's eyes crossed as she looped her phalange lei over his head with a cackle.

Flourida Crown DDS, she of the purple afro and tartan tights, daintily consuming Cuffy's proffered dill dip, offered to make a cast of Corky's foot and from that a set of podiatry dentures. For a little extra she would make a set he could wear with sandals.
Cuffy showed her his with a well turned ankle.

Japonica was tasked with taking a flagon of Madeira to the clinic for the doc where he was tending those citizens having experienced the vapours when Corky made his appearance. Fudge also gave her a tray of remembrance scented smelling salts she could sell to swooning victims.

FayeDe Way, Pop Cloggs and Wilfred stayed at the church enjoying Cuffy's generous spread and the continuous song styling of Edith and Frank. Even Agnes Pedderforth tossed her cockles in exchange for the cheese and pineapple sticks. They were too busy to notice Syd Schwinn make off with the wicker casket.

In an effort to salvage his fee, Clyde Pawro claimed he knew the victim wasn't dead and was just waiting to gather everyone together and tell them how incredibly clever he was in solving the case when the music started and spoiled his speech.

Inspector Fellow and Constable Breem escorted him to the bus and waited until it left.

Bianca wore a sandwich board through town as part of her public service sentence that advertised Schwinn's Moses River Rides in an authentic wicker basket. Seniors and children under ten half price! Includes a bulrush flavoured cone, swaddling clothes and miniature wicker lapel pin.

As the sun set on the quaint village and the bats and mosquitoes came out to play, those still upright wended their cautious way home from the Tiki bar. Those that couldn't were dragged from the bar to the hotel lobby where Jethro taped a bill on each of them for a night's hotel accommodation.

Corky's wake had come to an end and he found himself happily back in his reeking office with his turntable and 8 track player.