A Missing Piece

Rattle, rattle, rattle.

“Ouch”

“Hey”

“Stop it”

“Quit pushing.”

“Get on your side.”

“Whose on my knob?”

“You’re breaking my outie.”

“Get out of my pocket.”

“Everyone quiet!!!!!” The TLC commanded and all fell silent. “Thank you,” they sighed in relief.

“What’s going on?”

“Why are we being shaken like a bag of beans?”

“Quiet.” The BLC snapped in annoyance.

“Obviously, it’s our season and we’re being brought out to be built again.” The TRC explained, “Now stop whining and prepare yourselves to be organized.” 

Thunk. The box landed on a hard surface.

Then a blinding bright light appeared as the top of the box was lifted off and the bottom was slowly tilted sideways. Everyone began to tumble out, they crashed into one another as they slid onto the smooth glass surface of the coffee table.

And that’s when the trouble started for me…

I collided with my companions and started to roll, I continued to do so until I surpassed the edge of the table and fell to the floor. Several of my comrades joined suit and we lay there until a set of hands began to collect us, incidentally leaving me behind.

I sighed as I waited for them to notice I had gone astray but instead received an unexpected kick that pushed me below the base of the table, completely out of sight from above.

In the hours that passed I watched as my friends were sorted, arranged and pieced together like the links they meant to be. Slowly they began to form various parts of the image we all made together; the tree with ornaments, the stockings and the winter scene outside.

All were slowly being completed except my section, the fireplace. I watched in anxiety as only a few more pieces remained and my absence would soon be noticed.

With one last click, “Hmmmm.” I heard a low voice grumble, “We’re missing one.” They proclaimed with an unsettled tone.

“Oh shoot.” The female’s voice commented, “Well maybe we just dropped it.” She suggested and a set of hands began to tap the floor in search.

I was all a flutter as I eagerly awaited for them to find me.

Feet shuffled back and forth, hands searched below the table but fingers never reached my edges.

“That’s weird, I swear we had all the pieces last year.” The deeper voice commented in disappointment.

“I did too.” The female agreed, “Maybe it’s under the table?” She suggested.

“I just looked there.” The man dismissed.

“But maybe it’s in the middle and we just haven’t found it?” She insisted, to my delight.

“We could lift the table and look.” He finally agreed.

“Okay.” She spoke and the shuffling of their feet rumbled the floor beneath me.

Suddenly I was bathed in the same blinding light as before this disaster.

“There it is.” The female exclaimed as the table was set down with a thud and I was scooped into her hands.

Then with a final soft click, I found myself placed in the fireplace section among my comrades and I am all the more grateful to be home again.

A note from the Author:

Just in case you were wondering, outie, knob and pocket refer to different parts of puzzle pieces, in reference to their shapes. Also TLC = Top Left Corner, BLC = Bottom Left Corner, TRC = Top Right Corner.

I hope you enjoyed my story, thanks for reading.

Donna Fox (HKB)