#24hourcontest: A lonely man develops the ability to see through walls.

Mr. Dodd had always been perceived as being somewhat odd.

From the moment he’d stepped off a train carrying a plastic bag with a gold fish inside. That happened to be the first time anyone in town had seen him. That first impression leaving a lasting impression, so much so, that people still asked about the gold fish to this day. Only he moved into town nearly 20 years ago.

He’d moved into a nice place on the edge of town. Some might call it a villa. Hidden behind well maintained shrubs, brick walls covered in ivy, and large windows that light radiated from at the most peculiar times.

Some people in town thought he might be a scientist. Others thought of him as a writer, or maybe a musician. No one really knew for sure since he didn’t report anywhere for work. People brought things like food to him. “So he must have some money,” some of the ladies said during their usual town gossip.

Never married, no children, not even family visiting on the holidays. Yes, a most rare type of man. No one could really guess from whence he came. He spoke perfect English without the slightest accent. He really proved to be a question, always in question?

So when he walked down Main Street wearing his usual suit and tie, and looking rather chipper, people thought it seemed odd. Only that’s the norm with Mr. Dodd.

“Good day sir, how’s the gold fish doing?” Asked a young man standing at the news stand.

“Fine my boy, only would it trouble you to tell me what you see in front of you?” Asked Mr. Dodd.

“A wall?” The boy said and they both laughed. Only why the young man could not understand.

“Well, where you see a wall, I see a bird in a cage.” Said Mr. Dodd.

“That’s funny, Mr. Hamilton lives in that townhouse and keeps a bird in a cage.” Said the young man.

“Really, I didn’t know that!” Said Mr. Dodd.

“Well, most people do . . .”

“Hmmm, that won’t suffice.” Mr. Dodd said rubbing his chin. “Excuse me, Mr. Constable.”

“Yes, Mr. Dodd, how may I assist you?”

“Well, I’m not entirely confident how to propose my proposal, as this new insight still puzzles me I must agree. Only recently, you see, I must have stumbled or hit my head, for I now believe to see through walls as most people see through windows.” Said Mr. Dodd a little embarrassed.

“You can see through walls, Mr. Dodd?” Asked the Constable amused.

“Well yes, sounds rather odd I know, only it seems to be true as I look around me,” Mr. Dodd said with eyes wide looking around the town square.

“Ha, ha, well if I were you, I’d think of it as a magic trick. You’ve been living here for a while without knowing people in a familiar way. My wife told me there might be love for you in the flower girl, Victoria. You can see her across the way, easy on the eyes. Heard she’s got a secret for you. Why don’t you see what she thinks of your surprise?”

The Constable watched as Mr. Dodd walked right over to Victoria and began a conversation. His curiosity turned to shock as Mr. Dodd moved to the center of town and announced: “Ladies and Gentleman, please, if I may have your attention!”

And he did, for the town had always been rather small, and Mr. Dodd always commanded the attention of the people with his strange ways.

“Victoria has agreed to marry me, and I shall buy a rose for everyone here as a witness, if only I can guess the secret color of her favorite knickers. She will go into her home here, stand behind this wall, and hold them up. Upon her return, I shall announce what I see to the world!”

“Like the sound of this magic trick,” laughed a man as his wife hit him in the rib with her elbow.

“Yes, well, without further ado I shall go inside.” Victoria’s cheerful voice rose above the rest of the onlookers. All of town truly captivated now.

As the time passed, Mr. Dodd’s face turned red, and he looked to the sky. Finally Victoria returned with a smile like a beam of sunlight.

“Well?” Victoria asked.

“Lime green, only instead of holding them up, you’ve put them on.” Mr. Dodd said as the town square began to erupt in laughter.

Mr. Dodd married Victoria and they lived together happily. She later founded Victoria’s Secret.

Thank you,
Cyrus Emerson

Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B079R5KLPN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_GsURAbAVDYNEM

They Might Be Giants – Climbing the Walls

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