The Snoop

Lesson 1 PART 2

THE SNOOP

Alice had just rose from a deep sleep to the sound of the lady of the house Mrs. Parrish frantically ringing her bed side bell for assistance. Shuffling along at a pace she could tolerate due to her aging arthritic body; she placed her disfigured hand on the door handle and turned it to see Mrs. Parrish who has been bed ridden for five years, wide awake pen and paper in hand working herself into an absolute flurry.” Alice my dear as you know I have arranged the morning tea in the tea room and have gone to a great deal of effort and thought as to the guest list” she said hurriedly “yes misses” Alice replied.  “Now I need you to go down to the tea room as quickly as you can and not be seen by the guests. You must also take note of who is in attendance. Go now you must rush, hide out of sight quietly where you can eavesdrop on what is said and report back to me” she said as she handed Alice the guest list.

Alice. Surprised by the request turned and hurried as fast as she could toward the tea room and find a suitable place to hide. In her rush to get into hiding she forgot that she missed her daily morning. trip to the rest room for a wee twinkle. She thought for a split second and concluded she wasn’t that desperate and could hold on. Thinking of the timing she thought, this small request from the Misses should not take long to fulfil.so she could be in and out in no time. Everyone was busy admiring the portrait of the master of the house, this gave Alice time to slip inside the room and behind the large ceiling to floor maroon velvet drapes.

Only minutes into the task she was given she started to look around the hiding spot when she noticed the build up of dust on the door skirting boards hidden by the bulky long drapes providing her cover. The drapes due to the movement from her entering the hideout , Alice could see dust in the air as the sun shone through the glass doors. Taking out her fine lace handkerchief, placing it over her nose, she thought oh no I am so allergic to dust, don’t move and it will settle. Today was not her lucky day, more ladies entered the room, then another then she saw Gwen in all her glory enter placing her umbrella at the door. My goodness she is a beautiful woman, shame about the polio leg, Alice thought. She could smell and feel the dust getting up her nose. Oh no not now, please not now hold it in.

Gwen and the house maid Joy were standing close enough for her to hear and see through the small gap in the curtain. They were talking about the portrait and who the painter was and that it was A WOMAN that is still spending a lot of time with the master of the house, even after the painting was complete and hung. Alice’s s mouth dropped open as she saw a look of pure anger come over Gwen’s face. Why would she be so angry, unless…..she was she seeing Mr. Parrish also.  Then Alice could not hold it in any longer, pressing hard with the handkerchief on her nose and mouth ATCHOOO  she thought, I don’t think anyone heard it but the curtain did flutter. Alice peaked through the curtain as joy was helping Gwen to a seat. Alice was screaming in her head to herself, she thought NEVER and I mean NEVER sneeze at your age with a full bladder. Everyone was fluffing over Gwen when Alice saw an opportunity to escape and she took it as fast as she could, not straight to the misses but to the rest room to evaluate the damage to her underwear.