Lost Luggage - Home Work

Like the last elephant leaving the zoo I paused to turn out the lights, scanning the board room for one last time. Seeing the brief case snug under the desk, slightly ajar and totally unattended, I returned to the long table and dropped down onto my knees sliding the case out and lifting it up past my eye level onto the desk.

Without wanting to invade their privacy I quickly decided to see if I could find out whose case it was. I carefully removed the news paper, and manila envelopes spreading those out beside me, and settled into one of the comfy chairs supplied for investors. I noticed for the first time how supple the padding was and how supportive and firm the arms and back are.

The remains of the case were unimpressive, who ever owns it is reading a Dick Francis novel, and they were using a creased playing card (the nine of hearts) as a bookmark on page 34-35. It seems the main character awakes and is unsure where he is. There was a selection of Bic pencils, some with the ends chewed to splinters. Also some sachets of silicone were still in the bottom of the brief case, though the cheep stitching was coming loose inside, and the faux leather showed signs of wear. It wasn't a new brief case. I tried to remember now who was sat either side of where I found it. But all the investors seem to blur into one.

I took another look at the evidence, noticing the crossword puzzle on the news paper, it was almost finished, and had been filled in with a pencil. That's cheating. I flipped the broadsheet over to catch sight of the masthead and date, a two day old copy of the New Your Times. They're not so quick at solving puzzles. New York is a clue, there had been a couple of investors from America. There was a Texan, which I thought was clichéd the minute he walked in, and there was the guy who reminded me of Woody Allan. It could have been either of them I guess. But I figure it's not the Texan, he was all show and bluster, his money nearly sang and danced all through the pitch, he was making such a production of it. There's no way he'd own such a shabby case.

So it was the balding nervous guy. His pencil chewing habits and his nervous twitch were easy to remember, I could imagine him forgetting his brief case. So very much in character given how he'd acted all through the meeting. I snapped the latches shut , and took the case with me as I left the rented function room. Hitting the lights I headed to the supervisors office to see if they had a lost property box. Seeing as the bald guy was too tight to offer to invest I'd leave it to him to come back and fetch his case.

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487 Words

Chat Log

Hovering in mid thought I leave my fingers above the keyboard. I scan his words on screen, and realise I need to say something to respond and provoke a reaction. He intends to go out and eat now and I need to keep him from doing that. I re-read the message log then start typing but before I press enter he posts -

BIGTEETH22: I have to be going

I delete the few words I have ready and respond.

FreeRanger: Wait... Please let me finish what I was saying.

BIGTEETH22: Hurry have to meet someone for dinner,

FreeRanger: I know. That the problem. I need you to stop and realise you can't go through with this.

BIGTEETH22: Don't see why not.

FreeRanger: Well apart from the fact it's wrong, which I'm sure won't sway you. I want you to realise why it's not right. You claim to be an advanced form of the normal human, something greater than the rest of us.

BIGTEETH22: Yes, you all eat meat from other animals, I just draw the line further up the food chain.

FreeRanger: But humans aren't animals. We're your equals.

BIGTEETH22: I've faced the choice, I opted out of your limitations. The rest of the rat racers are all still too timid to try.

FreeRanger: Still look, you pray on these people like some kind of hunter. You say you faced a choice, what choice do they get. And besides why is the decision you made the right one, when you faced that choice should you have chosen to stay with the rest of us?

BIGTEETH22: I live a freer life, how can that be wrong?

I took a second to reply, again my fingers floating over the keyboard.

FreeRanger: You don't live a life of freedom, there's no more freedom in your choice than there is in the one the rest of us made. Come to the group, listen to the others. We understand you and your needs.

BIGTEETH22: I said I'd think about it, alright, but tonight I have a meal to prepare.

FreeRanger: I'm letting you know that this is our final offer, take us up on the invite or... remember we found you. We will take measures. Your actions endanger all of us.

BIGTEETH22: You shit. You think you can scare me? You cowards don't have the balls. Like any other rat racer you think the rules apply. Well I'm outside your control, just accept that.

BIGTEETH22 has logged off.

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413 Words

The curse

Black clad she shifted through the streets toward the battle damaged ruins of the outer wall. Tightly wrapped linens in the darkest of greys and greens provided her with the camouflage the night required and still gave enough to allow free movement. Over her face a cloth covered her lips keeping her breath from forming a frosty mist in the air. She must not be discovered.

Pothkin had listened carefully to her idea last night and agreed it would provide a decisive victory for the Kings forces. But she made him promise not to tell her husband, Pothkin grumbled and spluttered at this request his first loyalty was to King Phillip but the queen was acting in the interests of the whole kingdom. Keeping secrets from his lord could be seen as treason, and if this went wrong he would be better off with the enemy.

The queen's plan was so simple though. Very little could prevent it from succeeding. But every peasant, craftsman and noble loved and adored Queen Aurora and if her attack on the enemy camp left her captured or worse still killed all moral would be lost. The king would be devastated. She knew all this but hesitated at the wall for only a moment before slipping away across the battle field.

Aurora approached the enemies position and watched, crouching low and hiding from their patrols, stealth was her only defense. Two of the enemies soldiers were near by stamping the cold out of their tired legs. She waited for them to move on before slipping past their perimeter. She needed to get close to the center of the camp in order for this to work, she had spoken with Flora, Fauna and Merryweather asking if the enchantment would still be strong enough and they were concerned but thought it would be. Merryweather explained how she had weakened the curse originally and her husband's kiss had weakened it yet more. By now it would effect a much smaller area.

There was no way to know if the spell would take out the whole camp but if she were able to get close enough maybe she could effect the generals and leaders of the army. She could only hope to cause enough disruption that her husband's men would stand a better chance in the morning.

The glint of a small metal pin on her belt catches the eye of a soldier as she sneaks around a camp fire, four heavily armed men surround her in moments and she drops to the floor cowering. One of the men calls for his captain while the others keep their swords drawn and pointing at her prone form.

The captain orders she be frog marched to a more secure location. All six of them move from her point of capture toward an animal pen. There she is placed in a vacant yet soiled animal cage to be dealt with when the generals awake in the morning. As the captain leaves he misses the wry smile on her face. Her guards ponder what she has to smile about.

As the first light of morning begins to break in the open valley the Queen reaches into her belt and removes a sewing needle. Pulling away her glove she looks around at the already drowsy guards and pricks her finger. A familiar feeling of extreme exhaustion sets into her bones, and her eyelids fall closed as she slouches in the cage then begins to snore as sleep takes her over.

Within a blink of an eye her guards drop their weapons and fall asleep. An invisible ripple flows through the military camp as those at the front of the wave slip away in an enchanted slumber. With one simple needle Aurora, once known as Briar-Rose, has left the way clear for her husband and his forces to defeat their enemies.

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646 Words (Idea slightly stolen)

Love Letter

When I see you happiest it shows from the depths of your eyes. Your face glows and your smile melts my spine. I feel proud to know I have brought this joy into your life. But more than anything I feel the love I have for you blossom filling me like the air in my lungs.

Great artists sing of loves conundrums, that puzzle that is solved when two hearts meet. We are that solution, we bring a completeness to life by being together. Like some unanswered question, one neither of us heard, the answer is also as silent. We provide the answer in our embrace. When you hold me in you arms, and when my arms are around you I know all answers. The truth is that all truths are just as mysterious, even our love cannot provide me with an epiphany and make me all knowing, but the illusion comes from the surety and security we share when we kiss.

You are so precious, a true princess in my eyes. As Arthur pined for the grail, and his knights faced their appointed quests, I seek after you. A treasure brought into my life, one I would face all manner of battles and monsters to secure.

I am no shining knight, nor is my steed majestic. I might not have swept you off your feet, figuratively or physically. What I have I offer to you freely. I only seek the brightness of your eyes when I see you happy.

I know you cry, I see tears flow, I empathise when you have pains and doubts. I am aware of how complex or difficult a relationship can be. That is a truth for every couple who ever felt like we do, people have been falling in love for a very long time, it is natural and it is simple. If they can manage it maybe we can to.

Looking into your eyes when we lie together I see love displayed in a vista of emotional experiences. I feel lucky to be the one who is allowed to see that inside you. You've already honoured me so much. Holding you close in those tender times fills the part of me that knows I am only myself. When I hold you, finally, I can be so much more. Those singers and poets say their lover completes them, but I suspect they have it wrong. You make me more than I ever could have been.

I am in love with you.

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418 Words

What time is it?

Dear Sir,

I am writing to ask you what time it is? My brother Bill says its a different time in your country and I wanted to know if he's right. He's usually a stinking liar. He always fibs, like the time he said I spray painted the cat or when he said we could to make Dad new glasses out of bits of plastic bottles and he wouldn't know we'd broke them.

But he was really going on about this. It seems stupid, he's stupid anyway. Do you have a brother? I wish I didn't, you can have Bill. He's 9 years old and he thinks he's the boss in our house. Just cus Dad's not here any more.

My Nan says Dad is overseas. You're overseas too, can you say hello to my dad if you see him. He's very tall and strong and wears glasses. He's really nice, he always brings me a toy when he comes home. My favourite toy is a frog, it goes ribbit when you squeeze it. It makes me laugh. Do you like frogs?

I saw a frog once. But it was dead, I didn't kill it. I think maybe Comet might have bitten it. Comet is our cat. She's normally orange but she was purple once. She brings things into the house and my mum screams. She's a good cat, she lets me pet her when I don't pull on her tail. She doesn't have baths, I watched her clean herself, she uses her tongue. Boys can't do that, my dad said its cus I can't lick my elbow. Did you know you can't lick your elbow? Dad says its the same for everyone.

Do you live near Disney land? That's overseas too. Dad says we can go when he comes home. I have seen in on a DVD. It looks brilliant, even Bill said he thought it was cool. I suppose it will be brilliant enough still even if he comes too.

It is nearly six o'clock now and I have to go and get ready for tea. I can lick my hands clean like Comet does with her paws but mum makes me use the sink. Even though I have to use a step. There's a frog on my soap bottle, but he's a picture not a real frog.

Mum said she'll post my letter while I'm at school tomorrow. And anyway its six o'clock now, what time is it where you are?

Thank you.

Peter. Age 6

-- --

419 Words

What time is it?

Dear Sir,

I am writing to ask you what time it is? My brother Bill says its a different time in your country and I wanted to know if he's right. He's usually a stinking liar. He always fibs, like the time he said I spray painted the cat or when he said we could to make Dad new glasses out of bits of plastic bottles and he wouldn't know we'd broke them.

But he was really going on about this. It seems stupid, he's stupid anyway. Do you have a brother? I wish I didn't, you can have Bill. He's 9 years old and he thinks he's the boss in our house. Just cus Dad's not here any more.

My Nan says Dad is overseas. You're overseas too, can you say hello to my dad if you see him. He's very tall and strong and wears glasses. He's really nice, he always brings me a toy when he comes home. My favourite toy is a frog, it goes ribbit when you squeeze it. It makes me laugh. Do you like frogs?

I saw a frog once. But it was dead, I didn't kill it. I think maybe Comet might have bitten it. Comet is our cat. She's normally orange but she was purple once. She brings things into the house and my mum screams. She's a good cat, she lets me pet her when I don't pull on her tail. She doesn't have baths, I watched her clean herself, she uses her tongue. Boys can't do that, my dad said its cus I can't lick my elbow. Did you know you can't lick your elbow? Dad says its the same for everyone.

Do you live near Disney land? That's overseas too. Dad says we can go when he comes home. I have seen in on a DVD. It looks brilliant, even Bill said he thought it was cool. I suppose it will be brilliant enough still even if he comes too.

It is nearly six o'clock now and I have to go and get ready for tea. I can lick my hands clean like Comet does with her paws but mum makes me use the sink. Even though I have to use a step. There's a frog on my soap bottle, but he's a picture not a real frog.

Mum said she'll post my letter while I'm at school tomorrow. And anyway its six o'clock now, what time is it where you are?

Thank you.

Peter. Age 6

-- --

419 Words

What time is it?

Dear Sir,

I am writing to ask you what time it is? My brother Bill says its a different time in your country and I wanted to know if he's right. He's usually a stinking liar. He always fibs, like the time he said I spray painted the cat or when he said we could make Dad new glasses out of bits of plastic bottles and he wouldn't know we'd broke them.

But he was really going on about this. It seems stupid, he's stupid anyway. Do you have a brother? I wish I didn't, you can have Bill. He's 9 years old and he thinks he's the boss in our house. Just cus Dad's not here any more.

My Nan says Dad is overseas. You're overseas too, can you say hello to my dad if you see him. He's very tall and strong and wears glasses. He's really nice, he always brings me a toy when he comes home. My favourite toy is a frog, it goes ribbit when you squeeze it. It makes me laugh. Do you like frogs?

I saw a frog once. But it was dead, I didn't kill it. I think maybe Comet might have bitten it. Comet is our cat. She's normally orange but she was purple once. She brings things into the house and my mum screams. She's a good cat, she lets me pet her when I don't pull on her tail. She doesn't have baths, I watched her clean herself, she uses her tongue. Boys can't do that, my dad said its cus I can't lick my elbow. Did you know you can't lick your elbow? Dad says its the same for everyone.

Do you live near Disney land? That's overseas too. Dad says we can go when he comes home. I have seen in on a DVD. It looks brilliant, even Bill said he thought it was cool. I suppose it will be brilliant enough still even if he comes too.

It is nearly six o'clock now and I have to go and get ready for tea. I can lick my hands clean like Comet does with her paws but mum makes me use the sink. Even though I have to use a step. There's a frog on my soap bottle, but he's a picture not a real frog.

Mum said she'll post my letter while I'm at school tomorrow. And anyway its six o'clock now, what time is it where you are?

Thank you.

Peter. Age 6

-- --

418 Words