Choose an object which is indispensable (eg: a pen, shoes, an umbrella, a belt,
etc...). Over the course of a set period, keep a list of places where an
instance of this object is present but not in immediate use (eg: a belt in a
store, an umbrella by the door, etc...). Places visited more than once must be
included the number of times they have been visited. Construct a narrative in
which the main protagonists must visit each of the places listed with no
reference or mention anywhere to the object you chose. The narrative must
resolve, however, through the use of this object in its intended capacity. This
text must be prose.
The text produced will contain the spectre of your object. The narrative will
appear in the shape of the object's use-space.
An Example, a backpack:
Period: 1 day (24 hrs)
Object: backpack
Places: Home, the subway, the library, the studio, the streetcar, Home
"The Backpack Heist"
A group of six, having just committed the largest heist in history, has
returned to their base of operations in order to marvel at the loot they have
stolen, a priceless diamond owned by the Princess
Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff and on display at the Metropolitan Gallery.
They soon realize that one of their band has lost the diamond somewhere on
their getaway route. After much humming and hawing, the entire group agrees to
covertly retrace their steps in an attempt to recover the missing, priceless
item. They take the subway back towards the gallery. Noticing a glimmer, the
thieves discover that a neo-bohemian artist type has their loot. Instead of
returning towards the museum, they tail the interloper, hoping to corner him in
the library. They follow him inside and attempt to surround him in the
"mystery" section. Their target, tipped off by the continual presence of six
angry looking individuals, attempts to run. It becomes clear to the reader that
the artsy lad does not realize that he is carrying the thieves' loot. He makes
a beeline for the "weapons and war" section hoping to put up a fight but
realizes that the section marked "escapes" would be more effective. There, he
finds a fire door behind a trolley containing un-shelved books and leaves the
building. The flummoxed thieves attempt to continue their search, but all is in
vain.
But all is not in vain. As the group lunches on street meat hot dogs, our
cultural producer saunters down the street past the crowd. At the last second,
they coordinate a new tail which culminates at a co-working studio in a
renovated factory building in what used to be the "Shmate District." Copious
references to "the old days" must be made by a nostalgic member of the crew.
Little does he know that the old days never were as they have been popularly
remembered. The thieves stake out the building and wait so as to draw less
attention to themselves. Two hours pass before the artiste (with an e) leaves
the building with an enormous load of paintings and two other helpers. The
thieves decide to continue following him rather than draw attention in a
scuffle. They board the streetcar behind our member of the art world. After
five stops the boho bro gets off with his crony's and paintings but leaves the
backpack he wore the entire time on the streetcar by accident. The thieves
clamber to retrieve the backpack and return home loot in hand. They did not
check the bag before returning home. That would be a mistake, since, upon
returning home, they open the backpack to reveal that there was no diamond
inside, but only a book with a highly reflective cover entitled The Backpack
Heist. It slowly comes to dawn on the thieves that the original backpack must
have been swapped with an identical one during the course of their recovery
attempt. After much humming and hawing, the entire group agrees to covertly
retrace their steps in an attempt to recover the missing, priceless
item......... Again.
