A Room To Let.

Grandma put an advert into the local paper. She hopes that the two young ladies who responded might be suitable and not mind that the house is not fully habitable just yet. Perhaps they will see the potential?

But when the two Not-Quite-Hitty girls arrive, there is an obvious problem.

'Errr...,' mumbles Grandma, not quite sure what to say.
The girls are clearly sweet natured, clean, presentable and very friendly, but not at all suitable as lodgers for No. 2, Dolly Mixture Lane.

Grandpa, who was working on the stairs, comes to see who is there. Though never one to be unkind, he just begins to giggle, then laugh and, after a couple of seconds, all four of them are laughing so hard that they almost fall over backwards.

"I'm so sorry," splutters Grandma Jean, " I don't mean to be rude. But we did advertise for a dolls' house person or persons, you know. Do tell me, dear, just how tall are you?"

"We are dolls' house persons." replies Roberta. "I think humans call us 1:10's and we are six and one quarter inches tall. It is quite a problem for us, as humans are a little indecisive. They keep changing their minds as to what size of houses to build for we dolls' house people and, it seems, larger dolls houses are not much in fashion now, so Mary and I have had such a time trying to find accommodation."

"Oh, something will come up, I'm sure. I think the best 1:10 houses might be of German construction and the German humans are famous for sound engineering and house building, you know. You'll be happily housed soon, I'm sure. Do keep in touch and let us know how you get along." Grandpa says, cheerfully. "By the way, humans call us 1:16s, perhaps we should put that in our next advert."

Some time later, Grandma is sure she hears a scuffling noise on the stairs. She goes to investigate.

As Grandpa begins stripping the ceiling paper off in the smaller bedroom, he becomes aware of noises coming from the attic. MICE? RATS? What will Jean say about that! Women are all afraid of rodents aren't they? If those are rats, they must be giant ones, though, it sounds more like somebody doll-sized moving around up there.

He meets Grandma coming up the stairs as he is coming down.

"Roland, I  think I just heard a ...."
"Oh no! Did you hear a ..."
"Sweet little mouse." finishes Grandma.
"Pesky rat?" groans Grandpa.

"Poor little thing, if it is a mouse it will be hungry with nobody here to feed it. The previous owners must have left it behind. That's so cruel!" Grandma says. "Quick, Roland! Go up to the attic and see if you can find it, or at least leave some cake crumbs for it to eat."
It seems Grandma is quite fond of rodents, after all.

Mounting the stairs once more, with Grandma close behind him, Grandpa becomes aware of, not a mouse or rat, but a very small person standing ahead of him. Before he can focus properly, just like a mouse, the small person has vanished.

There is a knock at the front door. Grandma rushes back down to open it. There stand a little old gentleman. He takes her hand, kisses it and smartly clicks his heels together.

"Professor Von Grecon, at your service." he says. "I have come down from our apartment to pay the rent and to ask whether my grandchild has been naughty enough as to invade your part of the house? She is not in our room."

Grandma tries to concentrate. She doesn't want to appear rude, but she wonders where he came from, who the child is, whether they are established tenants, exactly where the apartment is and, most of all, WHY IS HE SO SMALL??? Aren't 1:16 people the smallest dolls' house folk there are?

Professor Von Grecon looks anxious.
 "You wish, perhaps, to have the whole house back for yourselves? You prefer not to have tenants in your attic room? Certainly, little Clara and I must move on again if we are an inconvenience." he says.

"Oh, the attic! I see... but isn't it full of wires ....  and rather cramped? We can't charge rent for that!" Grandma exclaims. "Come in and we'll talk. Does your grand-daughter have a mouse as a pet, by any chance?"

She ushers the tiny old man in, worried about what he will think of the dusty, unfurnished rooms. Grandma is quite house-proud under normal circumstances. But the Professor is just as worried about what Grandma Jean will make of his dusty jacket and frayed trouser hems.

They sit in what Grandma hopes will soon be a bright, warm and inviting sitting room, whilst Grandpa leans against the wall to rest his back, and they come to an agreement. Professor Von Grecon and little Clara will live, rent free, until the attic is renovated. Grandma insists it must be done very quickly as they have been sleeping and sitting on heaps of wound up electric wiring. It isn't as dangerous as it sounds as it has all been disconnected but is not a suitable way for a very elderly man and a small, delicate child to live. Grandma also makes a mental note that she must cook more than she and Grandpa can eat so that they can invite the Professor and Clara to eat with them regularly .... if she EVER has a stove to cook on.

Just as Professor V G is leaving, Grandpa hears a cheerful young voice calling, "Hello!" Could it be  Jonathan, their grandchild who disappeared whilst they were out house hunting, months ago?
He leaps to the window, as the step ladder crashes to the floor. Outside he sees a young lady, a little girl and a boy of about 9 years old. It's not Jonathan but, remembering his manners, Grandpa smiles. After all, like all dolls' house people, he is used to the coming and going of relations and Jonathan will quite possibly reappear one day.

"We came for an interview,"  says the lady. "The Coombe Crafts Housing Agency lady said you had a room to let and we might be suitable tenants.'

The boy steps forward to the window and shakes Grandpa's hand.

"I'm Robert Grey,' he says. "I'm the man of the family, now Daddy is gone and this is my mother, Grace, and my little sister, Janet."

"Robert!" says Grace. Then, looking at Grandpa and hiding a wink, she adds " You really are not in charge of this family, you know!" 

"Jean! Jean! I think dear Ms. Britton at Coombe Crafts has sent us the ideal family to be the tenants in the larger room upstairs!' calls Grandpa. 
"No need for an interview, my dear." he adds, turning back to Grace. "If the Coombe Crafts Agency sent you, then we just know that you will be a perfect tenant. Come in and I'll show you round, though we are little behind with the renovations and I think......"


So, from a two person abode, No. 2, Dolly Mixture Lane has become a potential home for seven small people and, just possibly, a mouse.