Report to Mr. Murphy

As much as Alex would like to pay a visit to Elaine, he knows that duty demands he put his responsibilities before pleasure. As soon as he has completed his morning routine, he hurries to the workshop and finds Mr. Murphy already attending to business.

“Ah, there you are, Alex,” says the older man. He retrieves a parcel and hands it to Alex. “This is the part I need you to install at Häzadertroth’s Academy. It attaches to the back of the wood stove in the first floor kitchen. I had the devil of a time removing it. You’ll need to crawl under the stove, otherwise you won’t be able to get to reach the blasted area where it needs to be attached. Maybe you’ll have an easier time of it than me, since you’re smaller boned than I am. That’s the sort of thing I would have sent Jack to do, but he was more interested in fitting his bones where they have no business being.”

Alex took the package, while silently observing that it wasn’t the comparative size of the men’s bones; it probably had more to do with the difference in size of bellies. He also glanced toward the area on the workshop floor where he and Elaine had their first passionate encounter the night before. He tried not to think what Mr. Murphy might do if he had a clue that Alex’s “bone” had boldly gone where so many others have apparently gone before.

Mr. Murphy gave Alex a few more instructions about how to complete his task and then handed him a tool belt, filled with various implements that would assist in the work. Pleased to have something to do that would get him away from the weirdness of the Murphy home, Alex set off on the road into town.

As he walks, he ponders again the strange events of last night. Who was that girl who crawled into his bed? He was grateful for the unexpected blowjob, but he’d really like to know who she was. And what’s the deal with Jack? Alex figured anyone living in a house with a nymphomaniac like Elaine would be getting all the sex he needed without having to have some other girl climbing into his window in the middle of the night. He began to wonder how Jack ever found time to get any work done for Mr. Murphy.

It wasn’t long before he found himself standing in front of Häzadertroth’s Academy. He had expected some sort of small, private institution, not much bigger than a home. Alex’s educational upbringing to this point certainly did not involve anything like the impressive ivy-covered, multi-storied building that dominated that portion of the community. As he approached the front door, a number of people his age and younger entered and exited the building. With their arms filled with books, they all seemed so much more knowledgeable than Alex. He began to feel self-conscious and wondered what they might think of him as a common workman, unschooled and unsophisticated.

He entered through the front door and looked around for someone who might have some kind of responsibility for this place. He found an older man, carrying a mop and a bucket. Alex explained the purpose of his visit.

“Well, it’s about time,” muttered the man. “I’ve about had it having to carry food and dishes up and down two flights of stairs. When we hired Murphy to fix the stove, we didn’t imagine he’d have to go and raise the new part from a seedling.”

Alex didn’t know what to say in response to this, so he held his tongue and followed the cantankerous man to the first floor kitchen.

“There it is,” he says, gesturing toward a large wood stove against the wall. “I’ll let the headmistress know you’re here.” Without waiting for any response, the man leaves Alex to his task.

Alex studies the stove and realizes why Mr. Murphy had such a difficult time removing the damaged part. As close as the stove is to the wall, the only way to reach the area in question is to hang over the top or approach it from below. He kneels down and looks under the stove. He is confident he can fit under it, but as dusty and confined as the area is, Alex feels a wave of claustrophobia settle in as he contemplates the task.