Lord Edward Ayr–Gray, an eccentric chap with a passion / compulsion/ obsession for 1930s bicycles, suddenly grew tired of the winding lanes he’d had built in the vast Yelby Estate.
“Rip them all up!” he commanded Giles, his groundsman, one summer morning. “I want a square lane that runs around the edges of the estate, and two that cross each other in the middle.”
“But, your Lordship,” Giles protested, “that won’t be a quick job. The lanes make up part of the maze through the enchanted garden, and Yelby Manor is dead centre in the estate. And,” he added, “the estate is circular in shape.”
“Do they… is it… is it?” Edward wasn’t really paying attention as he watched a white butterfly flutter by.
“Yes,” Giles sighed, “and there already is a lane that goes around the very edge of the estate. In fact, because the estate is so large, you wouldn’t even realise you were on a circular lane.”
“Wouldn’t I?” Edward realised what Giles was saying. “I suppose it would be a titanic job to rip up all the lanes. Especially by lunchtime.”
“Lunchtime?” Giles looked at his watch: 11:15, “bit of a tall order, that one, my Lord.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Edward conceded. “It was just an idea. I’ll cycle up there and pretend to be on a straight road.”
Edward honked his horn, rang his bell, and set off along the only straight section of the estate’s long and winding road.
“Very well.” Giles smiled.
The Unicorn Challenge. A weekly challenge from Jenne Gray and C E Ayr to post something up to 250 words, based on a photo prompt. The links to Jenne and C E’s sites are in the first paragraph. The other links go to previous responses to the challenge, some more obvious than others!
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The Mansionic Perspective 
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