The Green Monster

continued from Christmas Night, 188x. Falun.

 

At a table in a coffee and pastry shop on the edge of Falun, Petronella, Solveig, and Dagmar, nieces to Odnar, sat together and fumed about the previous evening’s events.

“Did you see that hussy?” Demanded Petronella.

“Just who does she think she is, kissing our Mr. Tenk like that,” said Solvieg.

“In front of everyone. The nerve of her!” said Dagmar, stomping her pretty foot. Dagmar, the youngest of the three, had spent the entire day fussing with the ribbons and bows she had received for Christmas, and Mr. Tenk had not even looked at her way. All because of … that girl. It really was unfair. She was finally of age and had admired Mr. Tenk from afar these last three years. She loved him so she’d not even had a proper beau, spurning all others.

“Where did she come from? She’s not one of us!” Declared Petronella.

“He brought her. I saw them at the station together.” said Solveig.

Dagmar made a squeak of indignation as she remembered something. “Odnar said he was bringing his sweetheart, but did you see how she was? Oh, it’s not fair. Not fair at all! We must do something.”

“Yes.” Petronella agreed. “She must be made to understand that we won’t allow her to torment our beloved Uncle like this!”

“Yes! Poor uncle Odnar!”

“And poor Mr. Tenk to be led on as she is leading him!” Said Dagmar.

All three sipped their coffee and thought.

“Tunnel snake!” Declared Petronella.

Solveig jumped. “Where?”

“No, not here. The tunnel snake. The men have been saying that after twelfth night they’ll hunt it, so it’s still there. We’ll lead her down the tunnel where it is. We know those tunnels better than some topside trollop, we can get away. It’ll take care of her for us.” Petronella explained.

“Oh, I don’t know…” said Dagmar.

“Do you want to marry Mr. Tenk or not?” Petronella demanded.

Dagmar nodded, reluctantly.

“Then it’s settled.” Petronella said.

And clucking so much as three french hens, as they laid their plan to dispose of little Maggie.