a/n:Holmes and companions do not belong to me.

Written for a live journal challenge, a fic containing original characters.

Mrs Hudson vs two door-to-door salesman.

Gosh, who do you think will win?

Clean Sweep

A knock disturbed her nap, she rose;

Peered out at two strange fellows.

One held an odd contraption,

One, a tube and pair of bellows.

They smiled, one cried, "Dear customer,

Today's your lucky day!

Our patent labour-saving carpet sweeper's

Here to stay!"

~0~

"I don't think...", but her protests

Were abruptly turned aside;

They barreled in with shiny suits,

And smiles, a tad too wide.

~0~

"Your lovely hands were never meant

For hours of fighting grime;

Our patent carpet sweeper

Takes a fraction of the time!

And, if by chance, you're not convinced

We've made the cleanest sweep;

This brand new shiny half a crown

Is yours, dear girl, to keep!"

~o~

She looked the salesmen up and down,

Then shrugged, "Please be my guest;

I think I may have just the thing

To give your claims a test.

There is a set of rooms

I'd love to see all nice and clean.

The first door on the landing,

Up those stairs, all seventeen."

~0~

They gathered up their strange device

And up the stairs they sped:

A gasp or two, then silence,

As they saw what lay ahead.

She heard the bellows wheezing

And a hand crank start to turn.

They seemed quite optimistic;

Undoubtedly, they'd learn.

~0~

A startled exclamation,

Then a sizzling, tearing sound.

Presumably the broken

Vials of chemicals were found.

Smoke billowed,then a roaring

Type of gurgle filled the room;

The noise a carpet sweeper makes

When faced with certain doom.

~0~

Two salesmen, fast retreating,

Told a dismal tale of woe;

They stumbled down the flight of stairs,

Destroyed machine in tow.

~o~

And as they quietly left the house,

Smiles gone, and heads bowed down;

She held her hand out as they passed.

They owed her half a crown.

~0~

End