Sherlock gave off a soft sigh as he sat at his lounge chair with head between his knees. The way he sat in his usual depressed manner showed that he was in a state of doubt. It had come to my attention that my friend felt that he was out of practice in his study of deduction and was in need of a good case. It was sad to say that I couldn't provide for the poor lad, although I wish I could've. I really didn't like to see him cooped up the way he was.

Mrs. Hudson soon came into our room her tea cart and gave us a motherly glare and an affectionate smile as she began to pour some tea into a pair of beautiful, shiny porcelain cups. With her raspy yet affirming voice, she spoke: "Oh you boys look so bored all stuffed up in this dull apartment. Haven't you nothing better to do but sit around and stare at the ceiling?"

I smiled in reply. "I'm afraid so, Mrs. Hudson. And to be frank, I don't think that Sherlock is taking the peace rather well."

"If you would both kindly shut up, I would be most grateful."

Immediately Mrs. Hudson scoffed at the sleuth. "My word! Haven't you any manners by now Sherlock? That is no way to treat two people concerned for your well-"

"If you truly are concered about my well being, then you will allow the ability to transcend into my mind palace so that I may train my mind properly and not disturb the lot of you from your daily activities."

Once Sherlock had finished his statement, Mrs. Hudson found herself hushing up and taking a step back. He had surprised her. She wasn't sure what a "mind palace" could be, but it sounded rather important to her. She smiled once again and turned to me before speaking: "Oh John. Do watch out for Sherlock for me, would you? He seems to be in an important place of tribulation."

As she spoke Sherlock was slowly bending at his knees into a frog-like standing position on his seat, and cocking an eyebrow with his eyes closed and arms folded. I would've asked out if he was having a mental breakdown, but then I remembered: he's Sherlock Holmes. Instead I smiled up at the loving old woman and nodded to her firmly. "Of course, Mrs. Hudson. You can count on me."

With another grin, she soon left the room, and my friend and I were once again alone. As he sat in his deep thought, I began to wonder about what it was like to have a so called "mind palace." To think that it was possible to have a literal catalogue and residence within your own mind to peruse whenever you saw fit was just awe-inspiring. Real food for thought If I did say so myself. However, I felt I lacked the imagination to think up such a place.

Suddenly, Sherlock sprang from the chair and landed on his feet, to which he then sat in the very center of the room and looked at me. "Watson, I am in need of your assistance."

Quickly I prepared myself for any situation. With Sherlock, it was best to expect the unexpected. "What is it, Holmes?"

"I am going to close my eyes, and once I do, It would be nice of you to quietly remove a single, small item from this room. I am practicing my observational skill, obviously."

Immediately I grinned. Once again, we would be able to see Sherlock in action. And this was also a great chance to test just how clever he really was. As soon as his eyes were closed I quietly walked over to the windowsill and plucked away the plant we kept on it and moved it outside of the apartment. I chuckled, satified with my work.

The plant in question was not easily visible from the chair he sat in for most of the day, so if he noticed it to be missing, it would,prove his skills to still be intact. Besides, it was my plant. He couldn't be that well acquainted with it, could he?

He smiled and stood in the very center of the room, looking around in a circle. He glared, he tapped, he listened, he smacked his lips, and after a few moments of brief analyzation, he stopped at the windowsill. "I didn't know you kept a plant there..."

Immediately I gasped. "How could you tell it was what was missing then? Did you cheat?"

"Oh heavens, Watson. I never cheat at my own games." He smiled as he sniffed again. "Eucalyptus I presume. It has a very distinct scent. Without it, the air of the room smells different... less.... minty, for lack of a better term."

I smiled as I retrieved my plant from outside the room and returned it to the windowsill. "My, Sherlock... how do you do it?"

"Elementary, my dear Watson. Now, we should be off. Garfield Lestrade should be arriving at any minute now, and we wouldn't want to keep him waiting."

"His name is Gregory, Sherlock."

"That too!"