The Suitcase

The Suitcase

An original by Susan

“Of course, Dr. Kerry, I’ll bring him over right now.”

Carolyn Winters hung up the phone.  She shook her head.  What was she going to do now that her dog Beeky was dead?  She couldn’t believe it, not after sixteen years. There was no sign of illness or anything. At least that’s what the vet said.  She had just brought him for a check up yesterday. She thought he was asleep when she tried to rouse him this morning. 

“I should have known when he didn’t jump all over me to go out this morning, Carolyn told her veterinarian, Dr. Archie Kerry, earlier that day. “Well, at least he died in his sleep, no pain at all,” was his answer.   “Bring him over and we’ll take care of him for you.”

Bring him over, she thought.  Now how was she going to do that?  Of course it wasn’t far at all, just five blocks from her apartment downtown, around a corner and you’re there.  No sweat.  She’d walk. But what could she take the dog in?

Dr. Kerry suggested a box, but she had nothing big enough.  So Carolyn rummaged through her closet and had come up empty handed.  In desperation she called the office and spoke to Dr. Kerry’s assistant, Barbara. “I don’t have any boxes,” she cried over the phone.  “At least not big enough.”   So Barbara put Dr. Kerry back on.  

“Barbara told me that all you had was an old suitcase,” he told her.  “Why don’t you bring him over in that?”

A suitcase?  She couldn’t believe her ears.   How could he even suggest that?

But how else was she supposed to get him there. 

Carolyn placed Beeky in the suitcase, all nice and neat.  No blood, no broken bones.  He had been small, a tiny teacup Chihuahua. It was an old suitcase and wouldn’t be missed anyway.  Dr. Kerry could do as he pleased with it.  

She placed the dog inside and zipped it up. She picked up her burden and almost dropped it, not realizing how heavy it was.  Beeky was a small dog and hadn’t been this heavy when she was alive.

She opened the door, suitcase in hand and shut it behind her, locking it.  She entered the hallway, approached the steps and walked slowly down them.  Carolyn was glad she was just one flight up.

When she reached the bottom step, she opened the front door to the brownstone she lived in and stepped outside on the stoop.  It was a beautiful clear day, not a cloud in sight.  She made it down the front steps and began to walk.

The streets were packed with people as Carolyn made her way to the vet’s office.  She was so involved in transporting the dog there that she didn’t notice someone lurking in the shadows waiting and watching her every move.  She had her suspicions though, turning around every once in a while to see if anyone was in back of her. 

When nothing did happen, the feeling subsided and she was no longer anxious or aware.  She had let her guard down.  After all, why would anyone be following her?  She had nothing valuable in the suitcase anyway so what was she worried about?

Smiling now, she turned the corner.  Not very far to go anymore, just two short blocks away. She quickened her step, almost anxious to lose this burden when a man steps out of the shadows, grabs the suitcase and disappears again into the crowded sea of people. 

Carolyn stood there in shock and disbelief. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  What had just happened here?  She wasn’t sure.  On the one hand, she had been violated and her property stolen, while on the other hand, it was only the body of her beloved pet, Beeky.  What would someone want with the body of a dead dog?

Well, no matter, she thought, laughing a little to herself.  It was over and her burden was gone.  Now all she had to do was explain this whole thing to the vet and go on from there, which is what she had intended to do.

She sighed, looked at her watch and continued on to the vet’s office, which was still two blocks away.  She couldn’t wait to get there and share this story with everyone in the office.  She smiled suddenly and walked on wondering just what that man would think when he finally opened up the suitcase and discovered what he had actually taken from her hands moments ago.