A Mansion Groans V

They needed to meet as far away as possible from Thomasina so as to avoid her overhearing what they were saying. They decided upon the old Dining Room, over in the East Wing. Although dusty and unused now, it was a perfect place for them.

Tomette sat at the head of the table, beneath the portrait of an ancient ancestor that was hardly visible due to the dusty cobwebs covering it. She’d glammed herself up to look like Joan Collins in Dynasty from the 1980s. She saw Tombie looking at her and quickly said, “My one chance to out-glam Thomasina – I’m going to take it.”

Tombie smiled. He sat at the foot of the table, still holding his left ear in place.

Going around the table, to Tomette’s right, sat Tummy, in gleaming white bandages. Next to Tummy, Fingers sprawled himself across the table. Opposite Fingers, and to Tombie’s right, sat Tomelangelo, and next to him sat the Honourable Tom. In the corner, scribbling on a whiteboard that he’d brought from his lab in the Basement, stood Tombert Tomstein.

“Did you haer taht srcaem this mrnonig? Fingers asked. “It was ohwtrleroldy.”

“I smudged my burnt sienna.” Tomelangelo said.

“I laddered a stocking.” Tomette added.

“And I ruined two perfectly good experiments.” Tomstein moaned. “But according to my calculations, I sink I know vhat has happened.”

The Honourable Tom turned around and looked over at the whiteboard. “So, please tell us what those scribblings of yours mean.”

“And don’t keep us waiting. We don’t have all day.” Tummy quipped.

Tomstein became animated. He ran his fingers through his unruly hair, and using a long pointer, he tapped on a particular scribble that he’d circled in red. “Ya,” he said, pausing for dramatic effect and tapping the board again, “Zhere can be no doubt. Zhe time is right. Every tventy years, zhe soul of zhe great Tom Tootee walks our plane, choosing one person to possess, to cause havoc and nonsense in our very domain. It vould appear he has possessed Thomasina.”

Tomstein walked over to the portrait behind Tomette and used the pointer to clear away the bulk of the cobwebs. The eyes of the Victorian looking Tom Tootee stared back at the group ominously.

“Ve have but von choice. To exorcise Thomasina.” Tomstein tapped the portrait.

“Exercise… Thomasina? That’ll be a first.” The Honourable Tom’s argument caused the group to groan.

To be continued…