“Attention passengers,” the flight steward chirps through the intercom, “We’re arriving at our destination within five minutes. Each attaché case is doing well inside their compartments. Please read the step-by-step procedures on each of your screens as we descend towards the airport. We hope that you and your assistants have a wonderful time in Tinge and we’re looking forward to serving you again.”

“Finally,” one of the prestigious passengers’ sighs in a compartment, “I’m looking forward to this.”

The moment the people leave, they each open a compartment, take out, and cradle an attaché case like a newborn baby. Tightly clutching the clients to their chests, people shuffle out one by one towards the exit.

Luxurious vibrating cushions greet each attaché case on a conveyor belt and gently massage their corners and flat backs. Their carriers await them in the airport’s lobby, unsure of what to do next.

The attaché cases roll through the roundabout. Each person grabs theirs and is given a task to complete thanks to an automatic note giver within each case. The dread previously filling the people quickly evaporates as each person hurries to call a cab or rent a car to their next destination. Soon, only one man is still waiting. A small attaché case rolls on the roundabout and a ping notifies the man that a note is inside. He takes the note and sees that it reads, “Charlie, are you ready?”

“Yes Mr. Kingston, I hope you are doing fine.”

Another note pops out.

“Very much Charlie, but please call me Frankie.”

“Yes Frankie, of course.” Charlie smiles, then picks up Frankie and leaves the airport.

The sun peers through thick clouds, observing the people scurrying below on the city streets. Charlie carries Frankie through the unnoticing crowds. Some ask their cases for their next assignments, sounding like their lives are depending on it. Cases quickly answer back with notes spewing out. People ask questions while walking or driving.

Charlie and Frankie stop by a small café and order espresso coffee and two muffins; banana for Frankie, blueberry for Charlie.

As he eats in the booth, Charlie, waiting for another message, glances towards Frankie, who is silent. A sudden ping causes him to nearly jump out of his seat. Charlie remembers his manners, dusts himself off, and pulls out a note from Frankie that reads, “I always wonder what bananas taste like. They smell delicious, but do they taste nice?”

Charlie smiles and says, “They’re nice mostly, but tart and bland when too ripe and green. Good bananas are creamy and mildly sweet.”

Another note from Frankie reads, “Thank you for telling me this. Blueberries are your favorites correct? How do blueberries taste?”

“They taste scrumptious, especially in muffins and cobblers. Sometimes you must wait to pick them or they’re sour, but it’s worth it to be patient.” Charlie replies.

Frankie’s new note pops out and reads, “Thank you, that’s all I need to hear.” With a smiley face at the bottom.

Charlie smiles at Frankie, then finishes his blueberry muffin.

Once breakfast is over, Frankie pings again. Charlie reads the note and his heart stops when he reads, “I want to go today.”

Charlie nearly vomits out his breakfast, but swallows it back down and nods to Frankie with a small smile. He leaves a tip and hurries out of the café with tears starting to roll down his eyes.

The lake’s calm waters sit beside the small stone bank where Charlie sits Frankie on a large rock. Charlie looks out at the water, reflecting each object on the land. Frankie pings yet again, and Charlie looks at the case’s reflection sitting beside him. He reads the note that says, “Charlie, thank you for everything. I am truly grateful for your kindness and support. It’s because of your devotion that I want to become like you, a human being.”

Charlie’s eyes fill with more tears as he reads on. “This is a momentous step for both of us, but I want my true self to shine. I no longer want notes or other people to decide either of our futures. Being an attaché case makes me realize that I have only words which can only do so much. I want to have movements to match my words, a voice to speak with, a body to cherish, and someone to share them all with. Charlie, I love you! No notes hold us back now! Let’s begin with our new lives together!”

Charlie wipes his eyes, nods and, holding Frankie, tosses him into the lake. A sudden burst of energy flows through the water, trees, and into the sky. Charlie falls to his knees, praying, and then looks up at a man with joyful tears in his eyes. Charlie stands up and faces him with wonder.

“Thank you, Charlie. I love you so much!”

“Frankie, I love you too! You’re wonderful!” Charlie happily exclaims.

Frankie flings his arms around him, and they embrace for the longest time.

At last Frankie asks, “So, do you still have that banana muffin?”

Charlie laughs and gives him a handful of muffin crumbles.

“It’s fine.” Frankie laughs and eats it up.

The two men sit on the bank of the lake, holding each other close and eating pieces of banana muffin.