Whad'you got in that English bundle of yours ? she asked.

I hesitated for a while. I wasn't sure it was big enough to be unwraped now. But she had asked, and I couldn't linger any longer, lest she should turn her back on me and get away. I was pretty sure  she wouldn't come back before next year or so. Maybe she wouln't be coming back at all this time. I nodded coyly.

My bundle was pretty full indeed, although I could have supplied it better with a little more practice. I untied the lace and watched the bag gaze, as if it were eager to show its countless treasures. I had stuffed it for the past two months ; it was high time it ransomed my cares with some well deserved requital. 

At first, neither I nor she could see anything, as the content seemed entangled in thick creeping weeds. I had to trim through the boughs, wielding my machete, loping that unwanted jungle into little bits. When I was finally done with the noisome pruning, I had efficiently botched my garb, which was dripping vegetal blood. I wiped the sap on the turf. She was sneering at me from the bottom of the clod, averting her eyes when I looked toward her direction.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. It was too late to recede, though. We already slithered into the bundle.

V'you lost your teeny tiny bundle on the road ? she flung in an obnoxiously sultry tone. 

Of course, she knew we were already within it. She spurned the evidence with stupendous waywardness. I could not help myself from frowning and grunting, albeit I'd rather not chafe because of her.

I was wrestling against the yearning of giving in to my anger, when suddently a giant hearse revved from the corner of the bundle. The vehicle was full of paunchy swindlers, hawkers and garish harlots spouting with mirth, lewdly jeering at us, while playing tabor and spinet, and throwing around dead pilchards and herrings. Their shotten faces betokened nothing good for us : one could pinpoint the very look of rascals of the worst kind, assassins without remorse.

Useless to say we were both a bit baffled by this unexpected venture. I might be nonplussed, this was not the right time to blunder. I uttered an intricate magical formula an abbot once taught me. Avaunt ! I cried out with a lofty euphuistic tone. 

The enemies' determination faltered as the ground drooped before them. They braked straight away. But they couldn't expect the other effects of the spell : the hearse raised into the air, then soared like a mad rocket stabbing the sky. They disappeared in a matter of seconds. 

I myself was pretty impressed by the extent of the bundle ; I'd better close it now, otherwise we would easily get lost in such a mess. I pushed the girl back in reality, tied the bag, and smiled.

That's all you've got ? She said, overly disappointed.

Did you expect to see even more words than that ? I cried out. Those weren't twisted enough ? Would the whole dictionnary make a consistent box to you ? I store words of all kinds until I choke, even foreign words. I learn day after day to please you. Will it ever be sufficient ?


She doesn't answer, she leaves every time without a thanks, without any sign of encouragement. She surely won't come back before next year. Maybe she won't be coming back at all this time.

You're so hard to catch, Satisfaction.