The Longest Story Ever by Andrew Wooding - Day #14

(You can join this epic story at any time, but have fun browsing the archives if you want to dip into past instalments or even start from the beginning. Feel free to leave your comments as well. Cartoons by Mychailo Kazybrid.)


Charlie the Dog, the world-famous detective, was currently paying a visit to his local tree centre. He was also digging into his pocket.

He wasn't reaching for cash to pay for one of the trees. No, he was fishing for an impressive electronic device. He had reason to believe that one of the trees was some sort of spy in a clever disguise.

Charlie's maid, Ethel, was peering over his shoulder.

'What's that, sir?' she asked as Charlie examined the small but high-tech device.

'It's my special international spy beeper,' said Charlie. 'It always beeps when there's a dangerous international spy in the area, and it's beeping right now.'

'Beep – beep – beep,' it beeped.

Ethel gulped.

'D-dangerous spy?' she said, a little nervously.

'That's right, Ethel,' confirmed Charlie. 'No doubt it's that person dressed up as a tree that you pointed out to me. Maybe he has a special world-famous poodle detective beeper and he followed me here. He probably wants to kill me, and you too, Ethel. Exciting, isn't it?'

'Exciting?' Ethel was fuming. 'I'll give you exciting, sir!'

Ethel bashed poor Charlie round the head a few times with her handbag.

'How dare you put me in a dangerous situation like this!'

Bash! Bash!

'Ow! Oof! What are you doing, Ethel?' asked Charlie, surprised at his maid's sudden outburst.

'What do you think I'm doing, sir?' screeched Ethel as she continued with her savage assault. 'So much for your famous powers of deduction. I'm bashing you round the head, of course.'

Ethel's handbag was very painful. That's because she had much of her treasured false teeth collection in there, which weighed quite a bit. But the handbag soon became lighter when something dropped out of it.

In between all the bashes, Charlie saw what that 'something' was and smiled.

'Fantastic, Ethel! You're a genius!' cheered Charlie.

'I am?' Ethel stopped bashing him round the head.

Why was Ethel such a genius? And what exactly dropped out of her handbag? Guess what – you're going to have to read tomorrow's exciting instalment to find out!


Today’s total: 345 words (Total so far: 4,617 words)