The old suitcase tucked way up high in the back of the closet. Behind the funeral suit, used on rare occasions thankfully, under the wool blanket and the light coating of dust.
Leaning out and balanced on the creaky step stool. Pull it down. Easy now. One wrong move and the whole pile will come down with it.
Drop it on the bed. Hand sweeps across the old tweed fabric releasing a cloud of dust into the air. Fingers running across the worn leather binding. Latches sprung with a satisfying click.
Ahh, there is that missing bathing suit. Sniff test. A little moldy-smelling but not bad. Oh the adventures this case has seen!
Well, truth be told, it was relegated to trunk of the taxi, the belly of the plane, and the hotel closet but it did get some excitement going around and around on the conveyor belt at the airport.
It’s been a long time since the last trip. Lots of excitement and anticipation. New clothes. New travel-sized toothpaste. A new luggage tag adornment and a bit of duck tape to cover up that gash made by some gorilla in a baggage handler’s uniform.
Maybe this will be the last trip with the dad’s old suitcase. But then again, that was said many trips ago.
Vintage Suitcases by Edward Fielding 
sample Canon EOS RP photos