The Grandfather Clock

The grandfather clock struck 5pm and what happened next was... unexpected.

Nothing happened. The door to the drawing room didn't open. The famous German detective did not walk in, take centre stage, sum up the case and name the murderer of the Duchess of Northwich.

The Duke and his guests continued to wait patiently but after a couple of minutes the nervous coughs and fidgeting started. The first person to speak was the sleuth's friend and confidante Henry Bromyard who said: "Well this is most out of character. I've known him 15 years and he hasn't been late for anything."

At five past five the exasperated Duke shouted: "Where is the awful man?" His next outburst was directed at the butler. "Channon, find him and bring him here at once. I will not be kept waiting in my own house." The butler bowed and left the room.

Ten minutes later the butler returned, alone. "Where is he then?" spluttered the master of the house.

"I have been unable to find Herr Bonhof your Lordship", replied the butler. "What do you mean, 'unable to find' him?" the increasingly-irritated Duke fired back.

"Sir, the gentleman appears to be missing."

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(Write Club homework based on the phrase 'The grandfather clock struck 5pm and what happened next was')

The Passenger

Three minutes late, the train hauled itself slowly out of the station. She settled back into her seat, thankful that no one had joined her table. 

As the lights of the town disappeared into the night her mind drifted to think of the early women train passengers. The 'experts' had said that women were too delicate to travel by train. That if they went over 50 miles an hour their insides might fall out. 

How did those women feel when they travelled safely for the first time? The men who'd always made the rules, cowering behind a screen in case a woman exploded as the train hit a certain speed, were wrong about that - so what else were they wrong about? 

Was it this simple act of rail travel, that we now take for granted. that empowered women to begin to challenge the established ideas that had been imposed on other areas of their lives? 

She wanted to believe it. Needed to believe it. Their strength would fuel her strength.

As the train gathered speed she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She knew what she had to do.

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(Writing challenge on the words - 'As the train gathered speed')