Make Up a Story
Stories from Around the World
The Mystery of the Open Suitcase
She’s in front of the station. She bought something from the gift shop, and she’s putting it in her suitcase. She’s at the beach, getting ready to go swimming. Actually, I think she is at a station, because there’s a cart and stores. She’s among stores, bikes, lots of people. Her bag fell open, and she’s reaching for something special: a stamp, medicine, a flashlight. Something she needs. She’s looking for jewelry, her wristwatch. She doesn’t have one on. The woman dropped her luggage, and it came open. Her suitcase came undone because it was too full. She’s on overload. Her suitcase is so full, and her purse is open, with things spilling out. Maybe she’s looking for a wrap because she’s cold. She’s looking for warm clothes because it’s cold outside. She wants something warm to wear. There’s a letter next to her purse. She could be looking for a stamp. I said that half an hour ago. How could it be a stamp? She’s looking for a stamp? Looks like there’s a stamp on a letter. The stamp’s not there. She’s looking for a stamp to mail a letter. She’s looking for a book. The Life of Trump. Gone with the Wind. The Life of Hillary. It’s a tourist book. She has a book, but she hasn’t done anything with it besides crumpling paper. She’s in summer clothing, and the guy behind her is wearing shorts. She’s going on vacation. She’s going to Hawaii. She’s looking for her boarding pass. I want to go on vacation with her. She’s going to Hawaii. Bali. Chicago. Australia. Timbuktu. Her name is Janet. Esmeralda. Fifi LeBlanc. That’s her real name. Jane Doe. Irene. Did Hemingway get started this way? Making it up as we go along. Just like myself. She’s alone. Yes, there’s no one with her. She’s going to meet her friend Doris. Her friend Janet. She’s going to visit her parents, and she bought a present for them. A flower vase. Her mother loves flowers. She’s bringing a box of candy. There’s contraband in her suitcase. Cuban cigars. They’re not contraband anymore. They announced it today. A bathing suit. An umbrella. Monday is the date. She’s got something lucky. She doesn’t know if it will be lucky, but something to protect her. A lucky charm for someone. It looks like her bra is hanging on the open side. Yes, it looks like a bra. She may ask for help closing her suitcase. It’s rather full. There’s a Colt 45 in the white box. She might be a secret agent. This is a stakeout, and she’s trying to catch criminals. If she’s a secret agent, her mananger would be there. She doesn’t look a secret agent. She’s innocent, a young woman. That’s why she’s secret. She may be taking photos, especially of the man in the black shirt pulling the cart. As he’s coming close to her, she may close the suitcase as a signal so that other men will come forward and arrest him. What I wonder is: who took this picture? And why? Created at the Watermark at Beverly Hills March 15, 2016
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