The Adventures of Shakespeare’s Bust
Malachi, Year 5
I looked in longing agony at Lord Fairfax’s guests strutting down the stairs of black and gold. Jealousy, Isaac had pointed out, was my condition. He identified every emotion as an illness. Well, it was only natural, him being a scientist. I longed to write more plays.
“I say, Fairfax,” declared a guest, “what use are William Shakespeare and Isaac Newton without their bodies?” What use were we? Stuck on a perch in a barely used staircase. Both men seemed to read us telepathically for, in the morning, I overheard a conversation between Lord and Lady Fairfax.
“Look, I have come to a conclusion. The busts must have a body and limbs,” said Lord Fairfax.
“Alright, darling, we’ll take them in the morning,” agreed Lady Anne. We were hauled onto the carriage roof and the whip cracked and the carriage set off.
Midway through the journey, the carriage took a turn and we were tossed from the roof into a cart full of vegetables. Isaac, being a positive man, pointed out that we were still going in the right direction. On arrival, we were discovered in a crate, and taken to the stationmaster. The Fairfaxes soon found us and everything was normal (well, it was easier to write).