Writing Challenge -- Day 19

The instruction for Day 19 of the 30-Day writing challenge: 
“… Write a story that includes: a gingerbread house, a stolen key, and a surprising phone message…”

Wow, this challenge is certainly a challenge. If I were to surrender now and not continue, then that would be an admission of defeat. Defeat is not an option for a writer, defeat is not an option for an author, defeat is not an option for me. The unlikely combination forming today’s instruction has drawn a total blank for me, but let’s give it a go anyway…

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It was back in the early seventies when I first encountered Gabriella Brunetti whilst on a skiing holiday in Switzerland.  On the second day of my stay, my handbag was stolen from the seat in the crowded bus, but I only became aware of my loss when I wanted to get off at my destination. Strangely enough, the only contents in the bag were a pack of twenty cigarettes, a box of matches and the key to my room at Villa Gryon.

When I arrived back at the villa, Gabriella was on desk duty. She was the on person who had a decent command of the English language at the private hotel. She was most understanding and kindly arranged a duplicate key for me. We got talking, and I learned that, in addition to being so fluent in our language, she was also a master confectioner.

Gabriella’s speciality was the artful production of intricately designed gingerbread house and other structures. A gingerbread house is a type of cake made from a spicy dough similar to the material used to make gingerbread men (and women).

As I was grateful for her helping me with the key, and not giving me a million words about my carelessness and demanding that I pay for the lost key, I felt obliged to listen to tales of her exploits as a gingerbread cake expert. Whilst she was showing me some photos of her winning entries in the recent bake-off competition, the phone rang.

“Hotel Villa Gryon, allo,” she greeted the caller.

“Mmm  , uuh…, oK, ciao,” her contribution to the conversation was minimal, and sounded official. She hung p, and turned to face me again.

“Mister Johnson, you are in number 42, yes?”

“Yes, why?” I enquired.

“Mister Johnson, that was the depot manager of the bus company,” she explained, “They have found a handbag with a pack of smokes and a key to Room 42 Villa Gryon. It was under the seat of the 12:15 bus…”

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The instruction for Day 20: “…Write a story that will make your reader afraid to turn off the lights at bedtime tonight…”