“You did sign the book, didn’t you?”

“Oh yes.”

“That’s good, Because later on, if I happen to forget what you were called, then I can always come down here and look it up. I still do that almost every day with My Mulholland and me … mr…?

“Temple,” Billy said. “Gregory temple. Excuse me for asking, but havent you been any other guest here except them in the last two or three years?

Holding her teacup high in one hand, inclining her head slightly to the left, she looked up at him out og the corners of her eyes and gave him another gettle little smile.

“No, my dear, she said. “Only you.”

 ***

As I walked to bed that evening down through the hallway and up the staircase that led to my small but comfy room, I should have been thinking about how utterly privileged I am to stay with such a nice old lady, in such a nice place. But my mind wasn’t on that. Something was bugging me. Only me?… how could that be? In the end I decided to conclude it as a coincidence. But over 3 years..? I finally reached the top step that led to my room when I started to feel sick. My hands were all red and my skin was swelling. And that’s when it hit me. The tea she gave me tasted like almonds… and the way I was reacting, I realised that Mr Muholland and Mr George Gregory were in fact not quite so alive as I thought but stuffed just like all her ‘little pets’