As soon as the hour hand and the minute hand of the clock hug at the midnight mark, an unheard bell goes off inside the mind of Mr. Hickory, the caretaker of the Dickory Dock hotel. It is an unusual hotel, to be sure, and requires a special kind of person to run it. Mr. H is one such person. The Dickory Dock has been in his family for generations and it is not a small feat that out of the seven brothers and sisters, Mr. H was chosen for this honour.
Mr. H leaves his room that is actually an attic. He finds comfort among broken and forgotten things. The people who come here are much like this attic. You see, the Dickory Dock hotel is a way place for the retired and extremely dangerous individuals.
He arrives at his desk and to no oneβs surprise, there is already a line forming. Though there are chairs for the individuals to sit, they prefer to stand in a queue. It gives them the illusion of control. Control that is missing from their lives, unless they’re involved in an extremely dangerous activity.
He clicks a sign on his desk and it changes from weβre closed to weβre now serving. The queue, that had until now been quiet, starts to hum in anticipation. Mr. H opens his ledger and takes his feather pen. He dips it into the blood red ink bottle and says, βAh Ms. Emily?β
Ms. Emily is a thirteen year old person who killed her parents because they wanted her to wear a pink frock and pink earrings. βLike a bloody cotton candy Mr. H I swear to youβ¦β
He does not even blink as he takes her in. Sheβs indeed wearing a pink frock, which is rather pretty he must admit, but currently blood splattered. βWould you like the usual Ms. Emily?β he asks.
Mr. Hβs voice is nothing like you would have heard before. It is flat, like a still room, but it is also soft, pliant, like a newborn babeβs skin.
Ms. Emily nods and Mr. H directs her to floor thirteen, room fifteen. Another unusual thing about Dickory Dock hotel is, it knows exactly what the person needs, without having to use words. Itβs one of the reasons that the individuals flock to its premises every midnight. You see, it is not easy to be inside your own mind sometimes. And sometimes you need a face like Mr. H and a place like Dickory Dock, to take care of you.
Mr. H deals with fifteen more names before he arrives on his favourite. βAh monsieur Mont Blanc. How may we serve?β
Monsieur Mont Blanc has been coming to Dickory Dock since he was eighteen after he had robbed his first museum and killed his first security guard. Now, he had a veritable harem of thieves, cutthroats and degenerates to do the work for him. After all, at seventy-five, with snowy white hair and in an impeccable grey suit, he had a respectable establishment that was in the business of procurement and distribution.
βThere may be an associate of mine coming through. A mademoiselle who goes by the name Orange. I will need you to detain her, here, for a fashion.β
Mr. Hβs blank face gathers around the forehead. He knows not if this is a request Dickory Dock hotel can fulfil. Before he can say yes or no, the monsieur opens his mouth.
βOrange is my daughter. Do not fret Mr. Hickory, I will not ask for something that you cannot give.β
The gathers do not smoothen. If anything they deepen. βIs she a threat to you?β
The anger that flashes on monsieur Mont Blancβs face is there and gone. βTo herself. She has developed a conscience it seems.β
All in the room, right from Mr. H to the last person in the line, shiver.
βIt shall be done.β
There is no handshake. There is no need. Word is bond here.
Mr. H continues to go through the line and when the hour hand reaches one, a mouse runs across his table, clicking the sign back to weβre closed. He places his pen back in its place and closes the ledger carefully. He gets up from the chair and goes back to the attic. He’ll be back at the devil-hour of 3:33 AM.
The queue disperses, the individuals settling into the chairs and rugs scattered in the lobby of the Dickory Dock hotel. Much like the attic, it is a place for worn, forgotten things.
Connecting this post to #BlogchatterA2Z. To read other posts, check Theme Reveal 2022: Without Prearrangement.
PS: If you like how I write and would like to read more, I have 2 ebooks on Kindle – both free if you’re on Kindle Unlimited. You can read more about the ebooks here.
‘He finds comfort among broken and forgotten things’
I liked him right away at this line. This hotel is a scary yet intriguing space, all thanks to your narrative.
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What a kind thing to say, thank you!
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I’m very picky about short stories because I think that not many people are able to build characters and a storyline in so little space.
But this was really great! The idea behind it was original and the writing was evocative.
Is Hickory Dickory Dock also a reference to the same work by Agatha Christie or is that a coincidence?
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Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s a coincidence. The title was a suggestion from my mother while I was brainstorming for AtoZ π
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Wow!! The Dickory Dock hotel seems like a place nightmares are made of.
A riveting narrative…kept me wanting more!
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Thank you so much for those very kind words Priyanka!
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“You see, it is not easy to be inside your own mind sometimes” isn’t that the bottomline? and outstanding tale again Suchita. Do wish that you expand this one more.
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Thank you so much! I have a similar tale as a WIP so I’m thinking of going back to it π
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Hooked from the 1st line and hooked till the last, to be sure! Such a quaint tale. Loved the mouse running up to shut down business for the day! ππ
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Thank you Radhika!
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A haunting pang just struck me when a 13-year-old killed her parents. You have a unique way of narration and I love it.
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Thank you so much Chinmayee!
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Elegant style. 13-year-old Emily who killed her parents for the sake of a frock is still haunting me.
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I don’t think it was for the sake of a frock. I think it was for the sake of not being given a choice. Thank you Tomichan!
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What criteria to deny a soul entry into the hotel! I couldn’t stop marvelling at the folds of your grey matter Suchita. Brilliant story.
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Such kind words. Thank you Anagha π
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I adore your technique. Well done!
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Thanks so much βΊοΈ
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What a delightful style of writing you have, Suchita! I can’t wait to read more connected with this post!
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Thank you so much for saying that π but this will have only 1 story. For now π
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