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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Mystery
- Subject: Horror / Scary
- Published: 08/24/2017
Mrs Periwinkle's Love Room
Born 1964, F, from Gordon, ACT, AustraliaTeresa and Simon Tully had been married for exactly one week. Their matching gold rings shone like new in the sun, yet to be tarnished by time.
They were also one week into their honeymoon, and were currently getting giddily lost in the narrow, dark streets and alleys of the city, marvelling at the strange little shops and traders sandwiched between tenements and small factories.
Teresa suddenly grabbed Simon’s arm and pointed in excitement. Simon winced a little, for Teresa was quite strong for a girl, and had a grip like a horsebite. He gently pried her fingers from his bicep and looked in the direction of her pointing finger.
It was an utterly charming little tea shop, complete with blue and white striped awnings, and wooden flower boxes blooming with early daffodils. Calligraphic letters printed on the window declared it to be Mrs Periwinkle’s Tea Shoppe and Eatery.
“Oh let’s have lunch there, I just bet they have scones! With jam and cream, of course, and a nice cup of tea.” Teresa’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Simon smiled fondly at his new wife. At this point in their marriage, he could deny her nothing.
From inside the tea shop, Mrs Periwinkle looked at the newlyweds. It had been such a long time since she had seen such a beautiful couple. She felt a sweetly nostalgic pain as she remembered her own time as a new bride, how exciting and fresh everything was. That feeling of love; it seemed it would last forever. It was both a blessing and a curse that you couldn’t see into the future. Watch the love fade into tolerance, at best. Open warfare or divorce at worst. Her own husband had been gone for nearly ten years, and although she sometimes missed having some help around the place, she had been secretly pleased when he passed on.
She patted her teary eyes with the hem of her apron, and went to greet the couple.
Teresa and Simon stepped into the shop, breathing in the delicious cooking smells underlaid by the faint clean scent of furniture polish. The small room was more than half full with diners, the sound of casual chatter and clinking diningware both familiar and welcoming.
A sturdy elderly lady in a flowery dress and starched apron, presumably Mrs Periwinkle herself, stepped towards them.
“Welcome, dears. Please come in.” Mrs Periwinkle regarded them for a moment with her friendly, twinkling eyes. “You’re just recently married, aren’t you? You’ve got that look about you.”
Teresa blushed and giggled. “One week today,” she declared. “It still doesn’t feel real. Teresa Tully,” she sighed, dreamily. “Oh, and this is my boyfr … husband! Simon.”
Simon smirked uncomfortably and offered a half-wave, half-salute.
“And I am Dolores Periwinkle. But my friends call me Dolly.” She gazed at the beautiful couple in admiration. “I have a special room for couples, if you’re interested,” she confided with a wink. “I call it Mrs Periwinkle’s Love Room. Designed for people in love. And you get a complimentary bottle of champers.”
Simon snickered in embarrassment, but Teresa was completely enraptured. “Oh that sounds lovely!” she said. “Do let’s at least have a look, Simon.”
Simon shrugged and allowed himself to be led through a beaded curtain into a gently perfumed, candlelit room. Private booths were placed for maximum privacy, and Simon could see maybe four other couples in the dim flickering light. Soft background music masked any sounds of intimacy from the other booths.
The couple scooted into the soft plush seats, and studied the menu. They both ordered a Devonshire tea, and Mrs Periwinkle made a notation on her order pad, nodding in approval. “Perfect. That will go beautifully with your champagne!”
She swept from the room, and Teresa dissolved into giggles. “Oh my God, can you even believe this place? We have to get Dolly to take our pictures before we leave! No-one will ever believe us, otherwise.” She ran her hand over the red velvety seat and gazed over at her husband. The candlelight softened his features and she fell in love with him all over again. The look in his eyes told her how beautiful she looked in the soft light, and she wished she could capture and preserve this perfect moment forever.
In what seemed like no time at all, Mrs Periwinkle quietly returned and presented them with a dozen fluffy scones on a crystal plate. Jam and whipped cream were served in matching bowls with silver spoons. An open bottle of champagne was placed to the side in a bucket of ice, along with two crystal flute glasses.
Mrs Periwinkle happily took their pictures on both their phones, and left the couple in peace to check the photos and exclaim over what a gorgeous pair they were.
Teresa split open a soft, warm scone and spread it with jam and cream for her husband, before doing the same for herself.
Simon poured the champagne, and they raised their glasses to their one week anniversary. Another toast to their future lives together, and another one to their continued good health.
By the end of the bottle, Teresa was feeling a little dizzy. The feeling intensified until she thought she might pass out. Simon was also looking a little pale. He laughed uncertainly. “Boy, this stuff really goes to your head, doesn’t it! Come on, I think we’d better go get some fresh air.”
They stood unsteadily and made their way out of the booth. “Simon, I think you’d better get someone to go fetch Mrs Periwinkle. I don’t think I can walk.” To prove her point, she sagged heavily back onto her seat. Simon nodded and staggered over to one of the other couples.
“Excuse me,” Simon tapped the man on the shoulder, but the man didn’t react. His female partner’s frozen gaze remained on her husband and she didn’t acknowledge Simon at all. He frowned in bewilderment and tried again. “Excuse me,” he said louder, and grabbed the man’s shoulder. The man’s only reaction was to tilt a little to the side. His girlfriend continued to smile and stare unblinkingly across the table.
Simon’s pale face went still, and he walked around to stare the man in the face. He looked over at Teresa who had passed out in the booth, and found his own knees giving way, spilling him to the floor. His world went black.
Dolly Periwinkle saw the last of her customers out, then took the trolley through to the Love Room. She straightened up the male exhibit in his chair, as he had been knocked slightly askew when Simon grabbed his shoulder. She then loaded the trolley with the two bodies, and took them through to her late husband’s workroom. His taxidermy tools lay ready for use, among a variety of stuffed birds and animals that she had used for practice.
The latest additions to the Love Room were finished five weeks later, and were returned to their booth in the Love Room. Mrs Periwinkle fussed with their poses until she was satisfied, then stepped back to admire her handiwork.
Mr and Mrs Tully gazed adoringly into each other’s shiny dead eyes in the flickering candlelight. Beside them on the table sat a bottle of champagne propped in a silver plated bucket half full of plastic ice cubes.
Their perfect moment, captured forever.
Mrs Periwinkle's Love Room(Hazel Dow)
Teresa and Simon Tully had been married for exactly one week. Their matching gold rings shone like new in the sun, yet to be tarnished by time.
They were also one week into their honeymoon, and were currently getting giddily lost in the narrow, dark streets and alleys of the city, marvelling at the strange little shops and traders sandwiched between tenements and small factories.
Teresa suddenly grabbed Simon’s arm and pointed in excitement. Simon winced a little, for Teresa was quite strong for a girl, and had a grip like a horsebite. He gently pried her fingers from his bicep and looked in the direction of her pointing finger.
It was an utterly charming little tea shop, complete with blue and white striped awnings, and wooden flower boxes blooming with early daffodils. Calligraphic letters printed on the window declared it to be Mrs Periwinkle’s Tea Shoppe and Eatery.
“Oh let’s have lunch there, I just bet they have scones! With jam and cream, of course, and a nice cup of tea.” Teresa’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Simon smiled fondly at his new wife. At this point in their marriage, he could deny her nothing.
From inside the tea shop, Mrs Periwinkle looked at the newlyweds. It had been such a long time since she had seen such a beautiful couple. She felt a sweetly nostalgic pain as she remembered her own time as a new bride, how exciting and fresh everything was. That feeling of love; it seemed it would last forever. It was both a blessing and a curse that you couldn’t see into the future. Watch the love fade into tolerance, at best. Open warfare or divorce at worst. Her own husband had been gone for nearly ten years, and although she sometimes missed having some help around the place, she had been secretly pleased when he passed on.
She patted her teary eyes with the hem of her apron, and went to greet the couple.
Teresa and Simon stepped into the shop, breathing in the delicious cooking smells underlaid by the faint clean scent of furniture polish. The small room was more than half full with diners, the sound of casual chatter and clinking diningware both familiar and welcoming.
A sturdy elderly lady in a flowery dress and starched apron, presumably Mrs Periwinkle herself, stepped towards them.
“Welcome, dears. Please come in.” Mrs Periwinkle regarded them for a moment with her friendly, twinkling eyes. “You’re just recently married, aren’t you? You’ve got that look about you.”
Teresa blushed and giggled. “One week today,” she declared. “It still doesn’t feel real. Teresa Tully,” she sighed, dreamily. “Oh, and this is my boyfr … husband! Simon.”
Simon smirked uncomfortably and offered a half-wave, half-salute.
“And I am Dolores Periwinkle. But my friends call me Dolly.” She gazed at the beautiful couple in admiration. “I have a special room for couples, if you’re interested,” she confided with a wink. “I call it Mrs Periwinkle’s Love Room. Designed for people in love. And you get a complimentary bottle of champers.”
Simon snickered in embarrassment, but Teresa was completely enraptured. “Oh that sounds lovely!” she said. “Do let’s at least have a look, Simon.”
Simon shrugged and allowed himself to be led through a beaded curtain into a gently perfumed, candlelit room. Private booths were placed for maximum privacy, and Simon could see maybe four other couples in the dim flickering light. Soft background music masked any sounds of intimacy from the other booths.
The couple scooted into the soft plush seats, and studied the menu. They both ordered a Devonshire tea, and Mrs Periwinkle made a notation on her order pad, nodding in approval. “Perfect. That will go beautifully with your champagne!”
She swept from the room, and Teresa dissolved into giggles. “Oh my God, can you even believe this place? We have to get Dolly to take our pictures before we leave! No-one will ever believe us, otherwise.” She ran her hand over the red velvety seat and gazed over at her husband. The candlelight softened his features and she fell in love with him all over again. The look in his eyes told her how beautiful she looked in the soft light, and she wished she could capture and preserve this perfect moment forever.
In what seemed like no time at all, Mrs Periwinkle quietly returned and presented them with a dozen fluffy scones on a crystal plate. Jam and whipped cream were served in matching bowls with silver spoons. An open bottle of champagne was placed to the side in a bucket of ice, along with two crystal flute glasses.
Mrs Periwinkle happily took their pictures on both their phones, and left the couple in peace to check the photos and exclaim over what a gorgeous pair they were.
Teresa split open a soft, warm scone and spread it with jam and cream for her husband, before doing the same for herself.
Simon poured the champagne, and they raised their glasses to their one week anniversary. Another toast to their future lives together, and another one to their continued good health.
By the end of the bottle, Teresa was feeling a little dizzy. The feeling intensified until she thought she might pass out. Simon was also looking a little pale. He laughed uncertainly. “Boy, this stuff really goes to your head, doesn’t it! Come on, I think we’d better go get some fresh air.”
They stood unsteadily and made their way out of the booth. “Simon, I think you’d better get someone to go fetch Mrs Periwinkle. I don’t think I can walk.” To prove her point, she sagged heavily back onto her seat. Simon nodded and staggered over to one of the other couples.
“Excuse me,” Simon tapped the man on the shoulder, but the man didn’t react. His female partner’s frozen gaze remained on her husband and she didn’t acknowledge Simon at all. He frowned in bewilderment and tried again. “Excuse me,” he said louder, and grabbed the man’s shoulder. The man’s only reaction was to tilt a little to the side. His girlfriend continued to smile and stare unblinkingly across the table.
Simon’s pale face went still, and he walked around to stare the man in the face. He looked over at Teresa who had passed out in the booth, and found his own knees giving way, spilling him to the floor. His world went black.
Dolly Periwinkle saw the last of her customers out, then took the trolley through to the Love Room. She straightened up the male exhibit in his chair, as he had been knocked slightly askew when Simon grabbed his shoulder. She then loaded the trolley with the two bodies, and took them through to her late husband’s workroom. His taxidermy tools lay ready for use, among a variety of stuffed birds and animals that she had used for practice.
The latest additions to the Love Room were finished five weeks later, and were returned to their booth in the Love Room. Mrs Periwinkle fussed with their poses until she was satisfied, then stepped back to admire her handiwork.
Mr and Mrs Tully gazed adoringly into each other’s shiny dead eyes in the flickering candlelight. Beside them on the table sat a bottle of champagne propped in a silver plated bucket half full of plastic ice cubes.
Their perfect moment, captured forever.
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