The Welle Dressed Eele: A story fragment by Suzy Nees
Edward the Eel arrived promptly at work every day, 9 am sharp, right on the button. Mr. McMurphy was his boss.
Edward worked in a gentleman’s clothing shop known as The Welle Dressed Eele.
Good morning, Mr. McMurphy, Edward said one morning. Lovely weather we are having today, isn’t it?
Splendid indeed, said Mr. McMurphy. That top hat suits you perfectly, by the way.
You are too kind, Mr. McMurphy, replied Edward.
Edward took great pride in his appearance, and he had come to own quite a nice collection of top hats in the course of his career at The Welle Dressed Eele. Customers were often struck with envy to see the perfectly attired young eel on the sales floor. And so many times they would buy not one hat, but two, in the hopes that they, too, could look as elegant as Edward.
Later that day the shop telephone rang, and Edward picked it up.
Thank you for calling the Welle Dressed Eele, said Edward. How may I assist you?
Good afternoon, said the voice on the other end of the line. Do you sell top hats?
We certainly do, replied Edward pleasantly.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally, the caller spoke.
Why?
Edward was perplexed. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. Why would anyone ask something so strange?
I-I-I don’t know what you mean, Edward finally managed to say, but the caller had already hung up.
Eel pondered this strange call all day long, but by evening he managed to put it out of his mind.
The next day, when he arrived at work to open the shop, he found a small sticker stuck to the shop window. Edward took a closer look at the sticker and found that it said EELS DO NOT NEED TOP HATS.
Of course eels need top hats, thought Edward angrily, peeling off the sticker. Everyone knows that eels look ridiculous without top hats. Thank goodness I found this sticker before anyone else did!
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posted by AKA Nantoka at 11:27 AM
