LETTER 12
The Handle
A fictional letter from Management.
Written
Management brought the office bag to the mending table. One handle was hanging by a thread.
“Can we leave it with you?”
“Would you like to have a go?”
We had brought some work for the wait. We put the folders under our chair.
She threaded a needle and showed us the first stitch.
We made a second beside it. On the third we caught the back of the bag.
The bag wouldn’t open all the way.
“It won’t hold as much,” we said.
She showed us the stitch to take out.
“Just that one?”
“The other two are doing all right.”
We eased it out.
She held the back away while we tried again. Then we held it ourselves.
Our stitches went up and down.
“Does it have to be straight?”
“Try it.”
We took the folders from under the chair and put them in the bag.
We lifted it by the repaired handle. It held.
She put the scissors on the table between us. We picked them up.
Management