The Dog Ate My Homework

Paper Trail

You check the mail every day after work. With the keys dangling off your fingers, you open the mailbox and grab all the envelopes. As you walk to open the front door of your house, you come across a letter with no return address. Curious, you open it and are shocked at what it reads.

**

I unfolded the piece of paper and saw two words. Good night.

The two words were written neatly in cursive in the middle of the plain white sheet. I flipped the paper, hoping to see something else written at the back. Nothing. I inspected the envelope thinking perhaps there was something else printed on it, but the back of the envelope simply read Robyn, my name. I raised the paper to the light of the porch, expecting more words to appear against the light. Nothing.

I turned around and searched the street behind me. Perhaps one of the kids was dared to slip the note in my mailbox.

That would make sense. Spook the lady who lived alone.

It's October and it was time for tricks-which I wasn't fond of-and treats. While all the other houses in the neighbourhood were decked with all sorts of Halloween ornaments, I didn't see the point in decorating mine. It didn't matter if it were Halloween or Christmas or any other holiday. I had no time for such festivities or frivolities.

I went home to sleep and unwind. If the children knocked on Hallows' Eve, they could help themselves to the giant bowl of candies I'd leave outside the door.

But it was only October 19th and the street was empty. The culprit who left the note was probably asleep. Granted that it was already past ten in the evening.

It was usual for me to get home this late. I worked hard with the goal to retire by the time I hit 40. I only had five more years to pay all my debts and raise enough funds to live comfortably till I turned a hundred. I doubted I'd last that long though, but it was best to be prepared. Yes, real-world Robyn. That would be me.

Boring pragmatic Robyn.

I would have to admit that some days, I did envy my colleagues.

Especially Francis. He was 25 and he was the blithest person I knew. He went through a workday unconcerned about the future. I guessed he didn't have to worry too much because he was an exceptionally talented graphic artist. Even though he was very young, clients lined up to get his service and visual concepts. I had no such talent.

What I did have was efficiency. While my colleagues wasted a day gossiping, powdering their noses and flirting with Francis, I could get the duties of five people done in under eight hours. But I would only do that if I would get paid five times the amount. And if I told our boss I could cover for the entire team, I'd probably have fewer friends than I did now.

How boring it was to be efficient. Perhaps when I hit the big 4-0, I could learn a different skill. And be as talented as Francis.

Ugh, why did his name keep popping up? He was already vexing me at work-trifling with me because he found it impossible to not have all the girls swooning over him. He should just leave me be. He was but a child. A gorgeous and gifted one, sure, but a child nonetheless.

I went inside, removed my shoes and sat on a stool by the kitchen nook. I placed today's letters and bills on the table and prepared a glass of wine to drink as I went over my calendar of tasks for tomorrow. I opened my Filofax and was surprised to see a folded piece of paper puzzlingly similar to the one resting on top of my mail.

I frowned. How did this paper get in my planner?

I stared at the piece a while, took a sip of my wine, willed the paper to vanish because it was obviously just a figment of my imagination, but when it remained where it was, I downed the rest of my drink and reached for the paper.

I unfolded it and saw two words written in the middle of the plain white sheet. Sweet dreams.

I poured myself another glass.

As I did earlier, I examined the parchment and tried to figure out how it came to be in my organizer.

I poured myself another and after imbibing it quickly, I felt languid. Good. I needed to rest and tomorrow I would find out who had inserted the note in my planner and who had left the other one in my mailbox.

God, I hated Halloween pranks.

I washed my glass and headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed. It was almost midnight and I was eager to get under the covers and have a dreamless sleep till my alarm woke me up to a new day.

I lay my head down when something rather sharp poked the back of my ear. I immediately sat up and was alarmed when I saw another piece of paper sitting on my pillow. I didn't notice it earlier because I was so sleepy, but now I stared at it, glared at it, gaped at it, grasping how it looked exactly like the first two pieces I'd held today.

Terrified but at the same time thrilled-which was an emotion I wasn't accustomed to experiencing-I reached for the paper, opened it and read: See you on the other side.

**
TheIlluminators