Holiday Home

Tom fitted the key into the lock and turned it with a flourish. Released from its lock, the door swung open. 'Your palace awaits!' he declared, sweeping Alice off her feet and stepping over the threshold.

In the hallway, he set her down and they both took a moment to view what they could see of their new home. 'You did check this place out before you put down the deposit?' asked Alice.

He swallowed. 'I... er... yeah. I looked at the pictures on the internet...'

'They put pictures of this on the internet?'

'Er... no... actually. This isn't what I saw.'

She rolled her eyes. 'Really? You do surprise me.'

'I don't understand...' He fished in his pocket, pulling out a sheet of paper. It was headed with the logo of the company that had arranged their 'holiday home swap', a scheme that allowed people to use someone else's house as their home for a short period of time. Alice peered over his shoulder and they both read the address.

'Number Six, Westfield Drive.'

They returned to the front door, which was still open. On it was a number six. Alice nudged it to make sure it was not a loose number nine. It did not move and she turned back to her husband with a shrug.

'Looks like this is the right place,' she said with a laugh.

'Then let's make ourselves at home!'

The place that Tom had viewed on the internet had been an ordinary suburban semi. But it was no over-statement to call this place a palace. Why the owners would hide it was a mystery but Tom and Alice were determined to enjoy their time here.