At the last Island Writers meeting, I gave you the assignment title, The Mysterious Box. And the only stipulation was that the box should NOT contain the traditional sort of treasure, i.e. gold coins, jewels etc.
Our treasure-themed meeting had already produced several variations on the idea of a box found in the attic after someone had died, so perhaps we can come up with some other ideas.
It doesn’t need to be an ancient wooden chest, of course. It could be a battered old biscuit tin, a plain cardboard box, a pretty gift box, a filigree metal casket or an elegant china trinket box.
Perhaps your box is mysterious simply because it’s an unexpected parcel, or a strangely-wrapped gift.
Or maybe the box itself looks peculiar, hinting at some unusual contents?
How did it come into your (or your character’s) possession?
Did it arrive by postal delivery, or was it given as a present, or was it hidden there, unnoticed, until it was found?
Was it meant for you, or have you accidentally received an item intended for someone else?
Will opening the box bring pleasure or sadness, interesting knowledge, special power, disappointment… or danger? Or will what you find inside start an unexpected chain of events?
So – if it’s not a personal question – what’s inside YOUR box?
We’ll find out at our next meeting on Tues 2nd April.
