Alternative ending to Roald Dahl`s The Vicar’s Pleasure

Clara Ahunchain Da Silva, 2.º EMS

It didn’t take long for Mr. Boggis to find his car, so he drove it to the house expecting the precious commode waiting for him at the doorstep, but he wasn’t greeted by that when he parked his car; there was no one at all actually, so he wondered what on earth was taking this family so long? Carrying a commode outside wasn’t the most tiring job, right? Or probably it was just his excitement speaking for him…he couldn’t wait to sell that piece of art, so he took the matter into his own hands and entered the house, looking for it.

He went to the room in which the commode was originally staying, but instead found its place empty, the floor below with the visible marks of the base of the furniture. Mr. Boggis got confused and found Mr. Rummins in the kitchen. “Pardon me, Mr. Rummins,” he said, slightly raising a hand, “but where’s the commode, if I may ask? I’m a busy man, you see.”

Mr. Rummins turned to look at him. “Oh, right… go get it at the garden, second door to the left. Claude and Bert are preparing it for you.”

Preparing… such a strange word. He never asked for such “preparing.” He needed that commode right now; he wouldn’t accept anyone else touching it now that it was his. He didn’t respond and quickly ran to the garden, having a bad feeling from this, and the sight before him left him in deep horror, all pale and trembling, like he had just seen a ghost. Claude and Bert looked at him, confused by his state, and left the axes stuck onto the broken piece. They approached him. “Uhh… sir? Is everything alright? Should we get you a glass of water?” they asked, the destroyed commode in the background blurring everything else on Mr. Boggis’ sight.

“You… idiots, monsters!” Mr. Boggis cried out, rushing to the commode and trying to put all the pieces together with trembling hands. like a puzzle. The men were taken aback by his behaviour. “’Excuse me? We were just making your job easier, a “thank you” would ´ve been nicer…”

Mr. Boggis went mad and got inside the house, breaking and shattering everything in sight! The men tried to stop him, but before they could, a vase with ashes shattered on the ground, leaving everyone shocked.

“No.. those are our grandmothers’ ashes!” they yelled, to which Mr. Boggis responded by stomping on the remains angrily. “These? Your granny’s? Really? Well, she´ll  pay for that, disgusting sin you just committed! That crime…!”

The men were horrified, shouting at him, not understanding him, and so he left the house, furious. “Keep the damn money and the broken thing!” He stormed out while they tried picking up the ashes, closing the door so hard the handle fell off.