Brown Paper Packages

Erica sat the overloaded paper grocery bags down on the kitchen table. Why did she insist on getting paper bags? Was it some sort of Wonder Woman challenge to see how much she could fit into the larger bags and then see if she could carry the inconvenient bags without handles? Erica turned to go get another load of impossible groceries from her car. As she turned, something else covered in brown paper caught her eye. Erica stopped and looked at the odd shape that did not match the brown paper bags full of groceries on her kitchen table.

Interesting. There was no name, no address, no postage, nothing to indicate what the strange box was or who it was from or anything. And, it was sitting in the middle of her kitchen table like someone had put it there on purpose. She couldn't remember anyone mentioning they would be stopping by with anything. And she had had been at the grocery store all morning fighting old ladies for the last can of cream of mushroom soup and searching endlessly for the brand of green beans that had been on sale this week which meant nobody should have been in her house while she was gone.

She thought through her morning to make sure she had locked the door before she left. She held her keys in her hand. She had definitely unlocked the door because she had to struggle to hold the two cumbersome grocery bags without dropping anything and get the key in the door and turn it to unlock it. So how did this package get here?

Erica took a cautious step towards it. The brown paper had been wrapped very neatly, with tight folded corners and crisp folded edges. Very unassuming but drawing all of her attention at the same time, mostly because she had no idea how it could have gotten there. She reached out to touch it but stopped. Maybe she shouldn't touch it. As she stared at the mysterious package, an unnerving thought entered her already overthinking mind. What if whoever left the package was still in her house?

Erica reached for her phone in her back pocket, but it wasn't there. She must have left it in the car. Would she and her house be ok if she ran out to get it? Or should she just make a run for it and get in her car and go? Erica shook out her leg nervously, and bit her lip. What should she do?

Erica stood there for a few paralyzing minutes rationalizing the safety of the mysterious package and her unknown visitor. She wasn't a spy or a detective or anything outlandish like that and she hadn't mistakenly witnessed any murders or crimes recently so that ruled out potential death threat--she hoped. Erica took a step towards the paper covered box. It wasn't her birthday or any special occasion so that ruled out potential surprise present. She bit her bottom lip and kept her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as she tried to decide if she should open it or not. She finally mustered enough courage to reach for the box but quickly chickened out and reached for the other paper bag. The one holding her groceries, not the one covering a strange box on her kitchen table.

Erica fished out a couple of the colder items and put the cheese and heavy whipping cream in the fridge. She pulled out her pint of indulgent caramel cored ice cream and walked over to the silverware drawer to retrieve a spoon, all the while watching the box. She leaned against the counter and popped the top off the overly expensive ice cream and scraped a thin layer off the top, turning the spoon over in her mouth so she could taste the delicious ice cream. She took a couple more bites. After her last bite, she tapped the spoon to her teeth contemplating whether she should open the box or not.

Erica stepped towards the box. She set her ice cream down and pulled the ominous box towards her. She fingered the small opening where one of the folded edges had been taped down and gave the brown paper a quick tug. She closed her eyes and held her breath, unsure if that was the trigger that would set off the possible explosive inside. Her left eye opened while her right eye remained clenched shut. She let out her breath. Nothing happened. Erica pulled the detached flap away from the box and pulled the other side open as well. Once all remnants of the brown paper wrapping were removed, she stood there with her hands on the box, still unsure if she should open it.

Deep breaths. Ok. Here we go. Erica sliced the tape that held the flaps of the box closed with the keys she had set on the table and slowly opened the box. Nothing jumped out at her or shot her in the face with glitter or anything so it must be safe. Erica peered into the box and was surprised to find a small camera and a few random items. She pulled out the camera and set it on the table. Then she pulled out a yellow leaf, a small square of plaid material, and a felt box. She opened the hinged felt box but was surprised to see nothing inside. She picked up the camera and powered it on. A picture of a park sign came up on the display. She arrowed through a couple of the other pictures and smiled when she came to the last one. A picture of her smiling boyfriend in front of their favorite picnic spot in the park holding a sign that said "Come Find Me."