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Friday 31 January 2014

A Virgin Case - Sepia Saturday


I struggled to find anything appropriate for association with a suitcase until I remembered a story, 'A Virgin Case,' written about my journeys to Mexico some years ago. Let me introduce you to Anita, the case in question.

'Anita' Antler
This isn't actually Anita but a more recent model. Not that Anita's shy; it's just that I can hear her sobbing inside her black plastic bag up there in our loft. Her sobbing is not so loud as it used to be before the extra 4 inches of insulation was added to aid to reducing our energy consumption

My acquaintance with Anita began when I was looking for a larger case in which to carry Mexican training course material. She was to replace a smaller relative who had done sterling service in Europe and the Middle East. As you can see Adam is looking rather tired as a result.

Adam Antler

The last thing Anita was told before she left a North East department store was to beware of anyone trying to undo her zips!

She was to share her trips to Mexico with Sam Sonite, a small shoulder bag.

Sam Sonite

Sam was always bragging about his superiority which earned him the right to travel in the warm cabin of the planes while Anita had to resist the attentions of loads of luggage down in the cold hold.

These days Sam would have been accused of sexual harassment for all the things he said he would like to do to Anita when he got her alone

On early morning in a Mexico City hotel bedroom the earth moved for Anita. 

No - not due to Sam; just a little 'trembolo,'  an earthquake to you and me.

Note: 'A Virgin Case' is much too long a story to tell in full. You will just have to be satisfied with what appears above.

In case that is not enough then I suggest you take a look at what other Sepians have to say this week at Sepia-saturday-213.



19 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds like a docu-drama, made for TV, rated R (slightly risque content); every character is a suitcase! You're a genius, Bob!

Éire Historian said...

I second what Deb said. Absolutely brilliant! Now, I'm off to name my luggage.

La Nightingail said...

If not a docu-drama, certainly a series! It would surely be more fun & interesting than the stupid reality shows now crowding the channels! A really fun read. And now, like Jennifer, I must go name my luggage. Very clever!!!

Postcardy said...

I have a Sam Sonite shoulder bag that I bought in Mexico in 1976 to bring home some of my souvenirs. I used it for more than 20 years and it looks OK, but I am afraid the zipper or stitching would be rotten and fall apart if I tried to use it now.

North County Film Club said...

That's hilarious. I've never thought to name my luggage. That opens up a whole new world.
Nancy
Ladies of the Grove

Unknown said...

Very well done....and I do shudder at what my cases would say, particularly those that went flying with me in career days back & forth between CA & Washington, DC. Clever and why did I not name mine?

Anonymous said...

Absolutely delightful. What more could I say. Absolutely delightful.

Kristin said...

I think my suitcases all left home in a huff to travel with my children.

Barbara Rogers said...

Most enjoyable post...now I've got to figure out names for my old suitcases and new!

21 Wits said...

Bob struggle? Hmmm it seems to me those times that you find yourself at a struggle are often the posts I enjoy most from you. But while I'm on the subject of you and posts, like I have begged, just kidding, asked before, a ghost story from you is well desired!

Jackie van Bergen said...

My husband has a Sam Sonite and I am never allowed to use it - it is for his work trips only.
After your blog, I think maybe all this time it was Sam he didn't trust, not me at all!

Colleen G. Brown Pasquale said...

I'll never look at my luggage in the same way again. ha!

Lisa said...

This was so charmingly written. :) What a fun read! So glad I stopped by.

Mike Brubaker said...

A good suitcase or a bad pack are like servants. Sometimes they perform their work perfectly without your even knowing, and sometimes they fail to do the simplest tasks.

Alan Burnett said...

Great story (well great quarter story). I have a collection of old cases up my back passage (so to speak) victims of passing fashions and a lack of wheels.

ScotSue said...

You have begun a series here, so tell us more about the adventures of Anita and Sam! it could be the start of a new career in children's literature too! It made me think of all the luggage we have upstairs in the loft and where it has been. A very inventive and enjoyable take on this week's theme.

Little Nell said...

So funny Bob; I have always enjoyed the idea of luggage with personality and I would love to have had the luggage from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.

Monica T. said...

I've named a lot of things in my day (my computers among them) but never a suitcase. Hmm...

Wendy said...

HA -- this was fun reading.