Read Morris Hollett and St Vernon’s Ward for Strange & Unusual Diseases Page 5

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  Morris hadn’t realised he’d fallen asleep but the knocking at his door interrupted his disturbing dream about a short man with bright orange dancing hair who was floating like a balloon and being pulled along by a piece of string by a mammoth nurse with no voice.

  ‘Hello!’ he said thickly.

  Morris heard the ‘click-click’ of the lock and a small, old, incredibly thin man peered around the door and crept in as if he was walking on eggs.

  The man stood looking very sheepish and distinctly uncomfortable and nervous.

  ‘Urm –,’ started Morris after several seconds had passed with the man saying nothing – he seemed worried about something.

  ‘I’m very sorry,’ the old man blurted out all of a sudden. ‘I was meant to bring the menu…for your dinner…for you to choose…but…’ He fell silent and looked to his shoes and shuffled a bit.

  ‘…but?’ said Morris.

  ‘…I forgot…I forgot to bring the menu…I really am very sorry Master…’

  ‘Morris…I’m Morris, and don’t worry about the menu, what was on it?’

  ‘Ah…Master Morris,’ his eyes lit up and he broke into a smile. ‘You don’t mind about the menu? That’s very kind…but…er…’

  ‘Yes?’ The old man was very humble and friendly thought Morris, and he reminded him of his Gran who was a bit forgetful as well.

  ‘Oh,’ the old man started to wring his hands nervously. ‘I can’t remember…the menu…what was on it, you see…it’s a problem I have, I can’t remember things like I used to…I’m Marvin by the way,’ said the man offering his hand and shaking Morris’ enthusiastically, before saying,

  ‘You’re special, you’ve got…’

  ‘Yiddle’s,’ said Morris.

  ‘Yes! Yiddle’s! You’re special!’ Morris thought the man was going to break into a bow but he only lowered his head, which made Morris feel better as he wasn’t used to being bowed to.

  ‘But why am I special?’

  Marvin looked at Morris as if teetering on revelation then slumped and sat on Morris’ bed defeated.

  ‘Oh I wish I knew!’ he cried.

  Morris didn’t know what to do. He was special, apparently, something to do with his illness. He knew it was pointless trying to ask Marvin any more as he was now holding his head and mumbling to himself – but he was intrigued and although he didn’t want to get Marvin into trouble he realised that he might be the key to finding out more.

  ‘Er…Marvin?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I’m happy for anything off the menu, really I am…anything nice will do,’ said Morris. ‘And I’ll write that down so you can’t forget!’ Morris reached for a teacup coaster and started to write.

  ‘Oh Master Morris thank you! Thank you so much, I’ll make sure you get something really special I will.’ Marvin turned, his depression lifted and he crept out of the door.

  ‘Click – click.’

  ‘He didn’t forget that time,’ sighed Morris as the door was locked and he wondered whether Marvin would remember to come back…Morris hadn’t written that down.