The Innes Family of Stockton Street were excited. They were sponsoring a distant cousin from England. Tommy was eighteen years old, had no brothers and sisters, and his parents had passed on. Mr and Mrs Innes had met him (years ago) on their trip to the Old Country. How would he like to live with us and start a new life in New Zealand?
Tommy was more than capable. He organized everything possible from his end. Meanwhile, the Innes Family repainted the spare bedroom, made new curtains, and generally made his room as welcoming as possible.
Oh the excitement among the Innes children as the day drew near!
“We don’t want to rush things,” said Mrs Innes. “Just take things slowly. Tommy will need time to adjust to his new country.”
He arrived! It was as if he had been part of the family all his life! It was a perfect arrangement!
On the first Saturday (with grandma as well) they packed a picnic, crammed into the old car, and headed for the river.
“A picnic at the river, a swim, fresh air, will do us all good,” said Mr Innes.
And Tommy drowned.
I may as well wear black every day, as long as I read your posts. Poor Tommy.
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Black suits you, and it’s both becoming and fashionable.
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This is true. Thanks, BA. Keep up the gloomy work.
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Tomorrow’s gloomy story is especially for you!
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What a gut punch, well done.
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Murder most foul, as in the best it is. But this most foul, strange and unnatural.
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I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was I meant to be… I THINK that’s Eliot?? !
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I guess so.
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You’re at it again – just can’t do that happy ending! They should have asked him if he could swim, I guess.
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They probably did ask him, but he had a very strong cockney accent…
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What a wicked plot to lure the poor, unsuspecting boy to his death…
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I added the drowning myself to spice up an otherwise humdrum narrative…
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He was more sink then swim
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Do you really sink so?
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Turn that smile upside drown
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