MSS21-Zhang Wanyi

1. That Christmas was one of the coldest day of the year. Usually, the people would go around the neighbourhood singing carols or decorating the Christmas trees by the side of the streets, but that year, Christmas just seemed to be a curse that enveloped the whole state in a creepy silence that seemed to have formed a thick layer of ice over the houses, making the weather extremely cold as well .
2. A warm glow came from one of the houses on St Karen Street, making the house look ever so friendly and inviting in the cold and silent street. 5 people occupied the whole 2-level house. In the kitchen was a plump lady in her 50s, singing along to the carols in the radio. In her hand was a egg beater, and her fingers were covered in gooy muck( which were actually eggs and dough). Upstairs, an old man aged about 80 was lying on the bed, waiting for the his daughter, Ms Carruthers, the plump lady, to bring his dinner up. He had broken his leg 1 or 2 months ago, and had not fully healed yet. In a connesting room, an old lady, his wife, had fallen asleep on her rocking chair, her undone knitting lying on her lap.
3. The other 2 occupants, a Mrs Pooly and Mr Pooly, were in the guest rooms, cleaning up the mess they had made during the day. Mrs Pooly was Ms Carruther’s sister, and she and her husbsnd had came for a short- term visit for the Christmas holiday. Mrs Pooly had long, thick, blue hair which was piled on the top of her head, was strong and built, while Mr Pooly was the complete opposite, with only a few strands of hair on his head and a thin and reedy figure.
4. After cleaning up, the Poolys went downstairs to taste the cake that Ms Carruthers had just finished baking – the strong scent of cake told them that the cake was ready. The Poolys and Ms Carruthers a nice time chatting and eating the cake. It was then Ms Carruthers suddenly remembered that her father was still waiting upstairs for her to deliver his dinner. Quickly apologizing that she had to go upstairs for a while, she quickly snatched up the tray of food and was about to go upstairs when she heard Mrs Pooly say,” I feel so full! Well, if anyone is looking for me, I’ll be outside taking a walk.”
5. “Sure. Go ahead,” said Ms Carruthers, and went upstairs. As Mrs Pooly stepped outside, a gust of cold wind hit her face, and she shuddered. It was uncommon that the streets would be so quiet and cold. It was almost like it was a sign that something bad was going to happen.
6. “Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” A blood-curdling scream pierced through the whole neighbourhood. In the house, Mr Pooly had such a fright that he was only a tiny bit away from fainting. Upstairs, Mr Carruthers flinched slightly. Mrs Pooly came running back. After calming down her husband, she went upstairs and stuck her nose into Mr Carruthers’ room. Mr Carruther’s room seemed fine except for the fact that Mr Carruthers was in a state of shock. “ What happened? What happened?” Mr Carruthers shook his head after he came out of his daze. “…I…I don’t… know… It’s so loud… the scream… seemed like it came… from next… door…do… go… and… check… if… something… is wrong…” Mrs Pooly comforted the old man like she was soothing a little child, and after making sure he was okay, strode into the room next door. The room Mrs Carruthers was in.
7. A weird sight greeted Mrs Pooly, but she let out a little gasp. On the floor lay a horrified Ms Carruthers, her eyes wide open, her hands grasping at her face. On her mother’s rocking chair, Mrs Carruthers was still asleep. “ What is the matter with you? I think the scream I heard was let out by you, wasn’t it? What were you thinking about? Waking the whole neighbourhood? Notheing is the matter and you’re screaming like this…” Mrs Pooly would have nagged on and on if Ms Carruthers had not stood up shakily, slapped her, and said,” Shut up. Look at mother carefully. Don’t you see?! She’s… she’s…” Unable to continue, Ms Carruthers broke down, crying wildly. Mrs Pooly walked over to her mother and shook her several times. Nothing. Again. Nothing. As if she suddenly realized what is happening, Mrs Pooly turned around to face her sister, her knees suddenly feeling weak, her head spinning. Her sister had came out of her hysterics, and seeing her expression, nodded slowly.
8. Now, Mrs Pooly was one to take action as soon as possible when something extraordinary happened. Shaking herself out of her daze, she said briskly,” Now, the police is on holiday today, being Christmas, so we can only go to the private detective in town. I should say he hsn’t gone for a holiday.” Pulling on her fur coat, Mrs Pooly took her husband and Ms Carruthers by their hands and dragged them along with her, to the house of the famous detective, Mr Tood’s house.
9. At Mr Tood’s house, Mr Tood was having his supper, curled up in his old but comfortable sofa seat. All of a sudden, ” DINGDINGDINGDINGDING!!!” the doorbell rang several times continually, and before he knew it, the door slammed open. “ Mr Tood! What were you doing? And I rang the bell so many times!” Mr Tood looked hard at the threesome before him, and recognized them as the Carruthers and the Poolys. “ Well, what is it?” he asked, surprised that they had came at such a late hour. Rapidly, Mrs Pooly, being the most collected one of the three, told Mr Tood the story. “ What?! Mrs Carruthers died!”
10. Mr Tood decided that although it was very late now, he would investigate. There were 4 suspects. Mrs Pooly, Mr Pooly, Ms Carruthers and Mr Carruthers. However, all of them seemed unlikely. Ms Carruthers could have been a suspect if she had not claimed that she had been downstairs with Mr Pooly all the time after she delivered Mr Carruthers’ food to him, and had only gone up after hearing the scream, her being the braver of the two. Mr Carruthers could also have been the suspect had not his leg been fractured for the last few months. Wait. The last few months. From what he knew, fractures heal in about 3 weeks. So, Mr Carruthers was not injured.
11. Mr Carruthers was the murderer.
12. Once this was revealed, everything made pretty much sense. He had used the knitting needle that was left on Mrs Carruthers’ lap and stabbed her somewhere on a vulnerable spot. Mr Carruthers would get all the money that Mrs Carruthers had left at her side of her family, and the insurance of her death too!
13. When the police investigated the next day( The Poolys and Carruthers had been asked to leave everything in place)they agreed with the detective’s statement. It was uncommon that such an old man would do this, but then, anything these days can happen… (1198)