The Bearskin Rug and the Sophomore Jinx

Did I say it was a bright, sunshine-drenched February day last issue, when I first encountered the Sherlockian memoirs of the bearskin rug? Well, here we are in the second issue, the bearskin is back, and the day is now a snow-packed April mess of unbelievable anachronisticness. Some residents of my fair city are claiming that Hell has indeed frozen over, and we now stand amid the fallout.

With the improbable becoming the norm in the world outside, it only seemed natural that the bearskin rug from 221B Baker Street should slip another manuscript under my door. I had hoped he would return the work he spirited away two months ago, but it was not to be. His newest effort, while quite revealing, turned out to be a sequel of the penultimate magnitude, which is the very nature of sequels.

I read it over twice to make sure I was reading it correctly, penned a few kind words on a piece of The Holmes & Watson Report note paper, and slid it back under the door. From the low growl I heard through the door, it was apparent he had waited for my reaction. As bearskin rugs are known for having the emptiest of bellies, I left the door closed until it seemed safe to go outside again.

After facing the bearish sequel, I knew that I just couldn’t produce a “second” issue of The Holmes & Watson Report. Sequels are never as good as their predecessor. And so, regardless of any numbering you may see on the inside cover, I hope you will consider this issue a continuation of the first issue — a supplement, if you will. By next issue we will have found some state of grace allowed for continuing projects, I’m sure, and I can arbitrarily start calling it a “third” issue. For now, however, I hope you enjoy our first issue, part two.

— Brad Keefauver, Editor-in-Chief