The Bagman

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Craig answered the door for his panicked best friend, Franklin.

CRAIG: Yo.

Franklin walked in before uttering a single word. He was squeezing the top fold of a brown paper bag.

Franklin: Dude?

That unique fearful shiver rattled his boyish voice.

CRAIG: What's going on man? Why didn't you just call me?

Franklin: Dude!

The severity in his voice was like a sobering slap.

Franklin: What is this?

Craig: How the heck am I supposed to know?

Franklin: No. Come on dude don't play with me! You're doing this right? This is is a trick. It's FAKE RIGHT?!

Craig: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!!!

Franklin: HERE!

The bag made a thundering crackle as it collided with Craig's sternum. The bag was weightless yet the bottom held a definite form. Craig peered inside then slammed the bag shut. His attention bolted to the ceiling then to his friend.

Craig: Franklin where did you find this?

Franklin: I don't know. I can't remember what I was doing before I opened the bag. I don't even remember walking over here.

The two young men looked flu ridden. Both of them drenched in sweat stared at the bag for an infinite moment. Craig, once again looked at his ceiling then began to open the bag. Inside the brown paper bag he could see the layout of his house, only miniature and it was only the first floor. In the miniature living room were two miniature young men, one looking into an extremely miniature bag and the other looking at his companion. It was obvious who these figures were based on, but how could something like this exist without some sort of extreme preparation? Even if Franklin was behind this, how would he know what Craig would be wearing today? Craig, at the very peak of doubt, began to speak when the tiny Franklin looked up at him from the bag. Craig snapped his head up to see Franklin glaring at the ceiling. Craig looked up and nothing was there. He went back to the bag and now there was another figure in the house. This one was standing in the kitchen by the open back door.

Franklin: What's going on Craig? CRAIG, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BAG??!!!!

Without looking at his friend, Craig whispered.

Craig: Something just walked in the house.

Franklin: What do you mean something?!

Craig: Is there someone in the kitchen?

Franklin: You're scaring me man!

Craig: Is there someone in the kitchen?

Franklin: No?!

Craig breaks eye contact with the bag.

Craig: Stop! Yelling! I have just as much idea about what's going on as you do. What ever questions you have, you can be certain the answer is I DON'T FUCKING KNOW!

Craig looked in the bag again.

Craig: Where'd it go?

Franklin: Look down.

Craig quickly removed the bag from his sight. He was standing in the center of a paper bag held by these brown wrinkling fingers. Crouched at Craig's feet holding the top folds of a rolled up paper bag was a decrepit creature with mismatching teeth. The creature looked at Franklin and snatched up his giant brown paper bag and out the door he went with his snack.