the town, the heavenly voices of the choir could be heard as they prepared for the Christmas day celebration, directed by the newest choirmaster, Mr. Tartar. Grewgious strolled into his room, gently closing the door behind him. The new Christmas sun cast a bright ray of light through his window, leaving a glowing through the dust suspended in the air and creating a dark shadow across half his face. Sitting at his great wood desk, he leaned down and opened a deep bottom drawer. From this, he heaved up a small safe and set it upon the desk as quietly as he possible. Quickly turning the dial several directions, he unlocked the small door, then dug into his deep pockets producing a key. Holding the key before his face, a single ray of light hitting it, sent a sparkle to the man’s eyes. Then reaching into the dark metal box, unlocking and then pulling from it a small object cradled in his hands with the most delicacy. Opening his hands in the pure unadulterated sunlight, he revealed a bright sparkle, the immaculate ring of diamonds and rubies, which had been presented to Drood several years ago. Holding the ring as one would hold a delicate egg, Grewgious whispered to it, “The boy did not deserve my Rosa. He did not hold her in such high regards as I. She has come to me as a resurrection of her mother, who did not receive what she deserved in life. Young Drood’s mere existence would have tugged at my dear’s heart. I freed her. Jasper, oh what a dark, evil shadow on this town and on my dear Rosa he was. A brighter place Cloisterham is today, as well as Rosa.” Following these words, he gently replaced the ring deep within the small safe.The door slowing creaked open, and into the room stepped a divine silhouette. Grewgious’s heart clenched momentarily as he saw the fleeting image of Rosa’s mother. The beauty radiated from the mature curves of the woman. The smell and memories of her beauty flooded the...
