Flementine Manor

Just a small something for a competition elsewhere. "If I Had A Million Dollars." Visit Flementine Manor and enjoy a Gingerbread Sonnet.

You take careful steps ino the first room of Flementine Manor. The pristine carpet is nearly intimidating. One bit of dirt from your shoes, you think, would ruin it. You romptly remove them and place them soles-facing-up next to the door.

The room reminds you of a palace suite. Plush, expensive-looking sofas are on each side of an ornately-carved coffee table, upon which a jade sculpture sits. Bookshelves line the opposite wall, with volumes of every sort lined up neatly like squares on a plaid dress. A fireplace crackles gently. Two suade chairs sit opposite it, looking very inviting as a place to curl up for a read. Two chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the dangling crystals sending miniscule rainbows over the ceiling from the burning candles they held.

Overtaken by the grandeur, you move on to the next room. Before you even enter, your senses tell you where you're going. The scent of gingerbread makes your tonguequiver. The kitchen's marble cou nters are coered in tall wine baskets full of cookies, cakes, pies, and sweets. You itch to take one, to taste it, but you manage to leave the temptation behind as you move on.

You conclude that the room you're in now must be her study. There are two adjacent maple desks; one with a computer and the other covered in paper and inkstains. More bookshelves standtall against the green walls, filled with novels.

"Good evening," a cheery voice says from behind you. You whisk around to find Lady Flementine there, smiling up at you. She's holding a silver tray. "Gingerbread Sonnet?" she offers, holding the tray higher.

You examine the cookies. They seem to be exactly like a miniature book, besides not being able to open. Each of them had tiny engravings on their "covers." They all read "William Shakespeare" and bear names of his many sonnets and plays. You pick up MacBeth.

You suddenly feel intrusive.

"I'm sorry, miss, the door was open, and you have such a lovely home and you did say you would me to visit..."

"And I'm very glad you came," she says, hushing you.

She invites you back to the sitting room, where you both lounge before the fire eating the Gingerbread Sonnets and sipping tea from dainty china.

"If you don't mind my asking," you begin, choosing your words carefully. "How did you come by the money to create such a magnificent home?"

Lady Flementine leans over the arm of her chair towards you, a wide smile across her face, looking like a little girl about to tell the tale of her latest exciting adventure.

"You would be amazed at what a little ink on paper can do, love."