NOAH HOLLINGER - PROFESSOR SCWDENGER IN: THE BOX MYSTERY

Noah Hollinger is a student of Full Sail University online Creative Writing program. He currently resides in Ladd, IL. Aside from writing Noah is also a tour guide at the Hegeler-Carus Mansion in La Salle, IL.

Professor Scwdenger in: The Box Mystery
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​It was another quiet day in the study of Professor Scwdenger. Despite the title Thomas Scwdenger wasn’t actually a Professor of anything. He was deemed this by his friends and colleagues throughout the years. You see, Thomas was something of an eccentric; a mystery chaser being his main hobby now a days. On this particularly calm sunny afternoon the good Professor was sitting in his favorite red velvet chair smoking. Waiting for opportunity to present itself. He admired himself in his antique Victorian mirror and adjusted his monocle, which he didn’t need. “Dare I say today is a fine day for a mystery,” he said with his bad imitation of a British accent. “I do dare,” he continued “let me see, where to start looking, hmm yes that is the first mystery of the day.” He placed one hand to his chin and with the other he stroked his perfectly curated white curly mustache. Suddenly a ringing was heard from the parlor room. Thomas rushed over stepping around piles of books and old wooden trunks nimbly with his long legs. When he opened the door there was no one present. He twisted his head from either side but saw not a soul. Instead his eyes fell on a simple package wrapped in brown wrapping paper at his feet. “What have we here?” he picked up the oddity that lay at his feet and brought it into his study. Setting it down at his desk he began unwrapping the paper. Inside was a cube adorned with all sorts of carvings some familiar and others not so much. Pacing about Thomas picked up the cube and began fiddling with it. From his inspection he noticed that the pieces with the symbols slide in different directions.
“Most ingenious! Whatever could be inside?” he pondered “and who left it at my door?” he set it down again and pulled a large magnifying glass from his jacket pocket. With it he inspected the type of wood that was used to craft the box. “hmm yes, maple.”  The symbols on the box ranged from Christian and Jewish religious symbols, Chinese characters, Norse gods and Mesopotamian. The exited eccentric placed his glass back in his pocket and rushed off deeper into his study. He then returned with stacks of books. “Ready or not! Dare I say! Go!” he shouted then flipped through his many books. Hours passed and the desk became covered in notes and more books and crumpled paper and even more books in that time. At around dinner time Thomas wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He placed his trembling finger tips to the box and began sliding the pieces. One after the other they twisted and turned faces of ancient winter gods met with animals of the Nile and Christianity and Chinese Buddhism merged into one ideological mess. Even when the moon hovered full in the sky he spun it and shook it and continued toiling away until day break.  A ringing came from his parlor and Thomas snorted when he awoke notes sticking to his forehead. He stumbled knocking over books and answered. It was his sister Denice. “Oh hello DeDe, and how are you this morn,” he yawned
“Just Fine Tom, say have you been getting any sleep? You look like the living dead!” she responded.
“Well you see I’ve been up all night attempting to decipher this enigma that I received.”
“Enigma?”
He brought her into his study. She poured the two of them tea and sat with her elder brother as he tried to keep his eye lids from falling.
“So can I see this enigma?” she asked sipping on her tea
“Here it is,” Thomas said scraping away all the notes and books 
Suddenly as Thomas placed the box in her hands his sister began laughing. “What is so humorous, is my struggle that pitiful that you should burst into such a display! Oh woe is me” wept Thomas “Steve was right! I am just a hack!”
“No! No! Tom this was the present I sent you, for your birthday.” Denice could hardly breathe.
“m-m-m-my what?” the professor stuttered losing his fake accent.
“Yes! It’s a paper weight I found at and home goods store,” she said giving him back the box. He held it in one hand then put it in the other looking down at it.
“You got this. For me?” the bewilderment on his face shown very clear.
“Yes Tom, I thought you might like it since it’s very mysterious.”
“Th-thank you, it really is a thoughtful gift, why don’t I look silly.”
“Tom you really shouldn’t take everything so seriously all the time.” Denice giggled patting him on the shoulder. “Everything isn’t such a big mystery.”
“It’s the little things I suppose.” Thomas put the box back on his study desk
“That’s right, stop and smell the roses or whatever they say.”
“Perhaps I should give all this up” said the professor stifling a tear
“No! Tom look it’s not that you have to change who you are, just that you could lighten up a little.” The professor looked perplexed at this then slunk into his armchair with his hand to his brow. He laughed a little then a lot and his sister joined him. “You love all these little mysteries you think you see all around.” Started Denice
“I do I really do” said the professor
“Then why don’t you write about them! Make a mystery novel.”
“Eureka! Why didn’t I think about that!” shouted Professor Thomas Scwdenger soon to be author Thomas Scwdenger.
“Well I can’t wait to read what you have, dear brother”
“And I can’t wait to show it to you, dear sister”
The two chatted a bit finishing their tea. Thomas excitedly going through what stories he might write. Then they hugged and Denice had to go. As she left she said: “Happy Birthday dear brother! And Good luck!”