Open & Shut

Missions include

• The Study Safe The study safe has been reset, and the house rules folder says only the Duchess knows the code.
• The Family Arms The Ashgrove arms hang over the fireplace, and the gift shop sells copies. Which are the true ones?
• The Seating Plan The birthday dinner’s place cards blew off the table, and some of the party can’t sit together.
• The Scrambled Note A note was found pinned to the billiard table, every word with its letters jumbled.

Overheard

• I am not a voice assistant. Please stop asking me the weather. Jenkins, the Butler
• In my day, people brought a present. Not a hen party. Margot, the Duchess
• Did I ever tell you about the regiment? Well. Hugo, the Colonel

At night

An owl calls out in the grounds every so often, and stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Purser’s Safe The Purser’s safe was reset in the night, and everyone’s valuables are inside.
• The Galley’s Orders The galley is feeding a full ship tonight, and the chef’s recipes only serve a handful.
• Deck Shuffleboard The shuffleboard tournament is getting heated, and the Cruise Host is keeping score.
• The Fancy Dress Parade The fancy dress parade starts in ten minutes, and the order has been lost.

Overheard

• Steady as she goes. Ambrose, the Captain
• I never lose my bearings. Tobias, the Navigator
• Everything aboard has a receipt. Mr Finch, the Purser

At night

The ship’s foghorn sounds out across the dark water every so often. It stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Kit Room Lock The kit room’s lock was reset overnight, and the match kit is inside.
• The Pre-Match Meal The whole squad is in for the pre-match meal, and the chef’s list only covers a handful.
• The Wage Bill The Chairman wants the wage bill checked before the window shuts.
• The Post-Match Interview The new signing doesn’t speak football yet, and the cameras are waiting.

Overheard

• We go again. Frank, the Gaffer
• The Gaffer’s right, as always. Phil, the Assistant
• We stick together. Danny, the Captain

At night

The groundsman’s sprinkler ticks its way across the empty pitch every so often. It stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Boot Room Locker The boot room locker has a new code, and everyone’s boots are inside.
• The Table-Top Dance-Off The bar held its dance-off on the tables last night.
• The Avalanche Board The risk board by the gondola has lost half its flags.
• The Hot Tub Rota Someone has been in the hot tub since lunchtime.

Overheard

• No plan. Just, if people were to meet at the gondola at nine. Harriet, the Organiser
• Technically it’s the snow that’s wrong. Giles, the Ski Bore
• Is it pizza for stopping? Or chips? Nisha, the Beginner

At night

A piste basher grooms the slopes through the night, rumbling past now and then, with the odd reversing beep. It stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Seating Plan Eight round the table, and some of them mustn’t sit together.
• The Advent Calendar Every door on the calendar is open, and the chocolates are gone.
• The Wrapping Paper There’s one roll left, and a lot of awkward boxes.
• The Sprouts Every sprout needs a cross cut in the bottom, and there’s only one knife.

Overheard

• The turkey’s on schedule. The schedule is wrong. Linda, the Host
• I’d like to say a few words before I carve. Graham, the Carver
• I’ll just have a small one. A small one. Nana Joan, the Gran

At night

Sleigh bells pass somewhere over the rooftops now and then, never quite near enough to be sure. They stop when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Server Room Keypad The server room’s keypad was reset overnight.
• The Org Chart The org chart went through the shredder by mistake.
• The Jargon Buster The new starters can’t follow a word anyone says in meetings.
• The Fire Drill The alarm went off mid-meeting, and now the wardens’ counts don’t match.

Overheard

• Let’s take that offline. Richard, the CEO
• The numbers never lie. Gillian, the CFO
• And I say that with the greatest respect. Sandra, the Head of HR

At night

A phone rings somewhere in the empty office every so often, and nobody answers. It stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The Cash Box The Treasurer has changed the padlock on the cash box, and the float is inside.
• The Big Bake The Baker’s Victoria sponge feeds a handful, and the whole village is coming.
• The Prize Marrow The Marrow Man weighs her every morning and wants to know what she’ll weigh on show day.
• The Casting Vote The committee has voted on everything, and the Chair is enjoying the casting vote far too much.

Overheard

• Through the chair, please. Marjorie, the Chair
• Could you say that again, slower? Gerald, the Secretary
• The float is short. Derek, the Treasurer

At night

The church clock strikes the hour over the sleeping village every so often. It stops when morning comes.

Missions include

• The PTA Cupboard The Treasurer has changed the code on the PTA cupboard, and the float, the bunting and the card reader are all inside.
• The Hot Cross Buns The School Cook’s hot cross bun recipe makes one tray, and the whole school is coming to the fair.
• The School Photo The photographer has twenty minutes for the whole school, and wants the benches set out now.
• The Choir Risers The Choirmaster has borrowed the risers for the Easter service, and wants every child where the parents can see them.

Overheard

• Let’s circle back on the bunting. Fiona, the PTA Chair
• Does anyone have change for a twenty? Nadia, the Treasurer
• Hugo is very gifted, actually. Tamsin, the Pushy Parent

At night

Somewhere in the dark school, the handbell group rings down the scale every so often. It stops when morning comes.