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Abandoned
After years of servitude, Zipper was banished to a dark place. He knew he couldn’t escape as he had no limbs. In his youth, he could sustain sixty-five litres in weight, but over time, his strength had diminished. He wondered about his fate. If he was to be destroyed, he hoped to be re-incarnated into something greater.
His colouring was once a rich carmine. A prominent black nylon zip sealed his form and located at his base, he was branded with an emblem of a silver eagle. On previous trips, he had been left outside in monsoonal rains and endured the sun’s searing rays for days.
That morning, he had slipped on his side when his owner, Ross, returned carrying a new, slick S21 model with ergonomic support features, expansion pockets and reinforced buckles. Zipper’s flap fell open and his frame vibrated. Ross had difficulty fastening him up again and tossed him into the spare room cupboard. The backpack was used to be being stored in confined places, but never before in this room. Usually, he resided under Ross’s bed. From inside his top inner pocket he felt a jabbing pain.
A muffled voice said, ‘I felt movement, are we travelling again? Where’s Ross and my new refill, this one’s almost empty?’
Zipper realized that Blot had been left inside him by mistake. ‘No, we’re not going anywhere. I’m in exile, substituted by a hi-tech design. I can’t believe how ungrateful Ross is. All those years of hard work lugging his things around. Plus, I was his portable backrest when he was tired.’ Zipper shook. ‘The next time I’ll refuse to be unzipped and lie flat in protest.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Blot.
