Curiosity kills the cat

**Acridrain** · Subject: Curiosity kills the cat Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:34 am

Curiosity kills the cat

The Invitation

It was lying there on the hardwood floor when I arrived home,
this strange looking envelope, stained with age, sealed with wax,
I picked it up, whatever could it be? I went to the kitchen and made a coffee
pondering, sipping out my old well used mug from college days I slowly started to open
the envelope, it felt musty with a strange aroma coming from it.
Slowly I took out the letter from within it, unfolded it and began to read.
Amazement took over me or was it curiosity for in my hand was an invitation to dinner
at the old mansion up on the hill.
Deep thoughts, the owner I never knew, had never met, no signature on the letter,
so why this invitation?
You have been cordially invited for dinner it read, 7 30 pm on Friday, two days away,
should I go? I sipped some more coffee put the letter on my maple breakfast bar
and left.Things to do, people to see.
Returning home later that night the letter again caught my eye, reading it again
my mind was made up, curiosity killed the cat they say, well I was curious,
always had been and always would be.Thursday passed quietly.
Friday arrived and I went about my business anxiously, got home bout 5pm,
had a shower followed by a malt whiskey, looked out my favorite suit, a
light grey one, perfect for any occasion, got ready, one more malt then left.

Arriving

I walked up the narrow path, surrounded by over grown bushes, dark, eerie,
leaves rustling on the ground and there in front of me, the house.Dim lights
shone through its large windows.As I walked up to the door I couldn't help but
notice the state of disrepair it was in.The door was open I knocked, then walked in.
Awe took over me, large chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, obsidean marbled floors
swept through the house, even the staircase was marble, fine oak doors led to the rooms.
I could hear voices and followed them, into a large exquisite dining room.
I stopped and stared, "John, Mary, Beth, Rob, Sue" I said. Tom they replied.
College friends, we hadn't seen each other for seven years. We started mumbling to each other
but each with our own thoughts. Why this reunion? what has brought us together?
why were we here? no one knew.

The Dinner Party

Footsteps came from the stairs, oddly uneven ones, we listened quietly
as they came towards the door. In he walked, our host, a grotesque
figure of a man, you could hear a pin drop as he said hello.
"Don't you remember me?" he asked. The voice sounded vaguely familiar
as we glanced at each other. "Shaun, I am Shaun" he said, we stared in disbelief.
Shaun the outcast, Shaun who tried so hard to join in, we used to humor him,
let him join in sometimes, playing with his mind, before taunting him.
Then casting him aside like you would a discarded toy.
"Thank you all for coming" he said, "please be seated and dinner shall commence".
Silently we sat down a butler appearing with the soup.Quietly we ate but you could feel
each other thinking, wondering why we were here. Roast pork, a medley of vegetables and
boiled potatoes appeared next. We helped ourselves and started to eat. Suddenly he spoke,
Shaun, "do you all remember ?" he said, " remember the pact we made, you promised me life
by giving me yours" we looked at each other, disbelieving our ears. "Well soon it shall be "
he continued "I poisoned the main course". Fear taking over I looked across the
the great mahogany table, suddenly John slumped down, his head in his plate,
an eerie laugh came from Shaun "theres no escape". One by one I watched them fall,
panic took over as I tried to stand but the last thing I heard was "I will feast well tonight"
Curiosity killed this cat.

James Brown

**Tears of Roses** · Subject: Re: Curiosity kills the cat Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:42 pm

I'd say yes it did kill the cat.
Wonderful story.
I loved it from start to ending.
Roses to you
Rose

Teresa

_________________
Smiles Chase away the Tears