Self-Review – The Lost Luggage of Time

Finding the Lost Luggage of Time

The Lost Luggage of Time has a truly strange vibe to it, but it is also easily one of the better stories I wrote at, heh, the time.

I wrote this story during the fourth quarter of 2016. And then I mainly forgot about it. So, it was more or less lost for about a decade. This seems fitting.

Background

I wrote this story for an anthology on Wattpad, The Wattpad Decameron. However, I am not so sure the actual posting is still there. Good thing I keep everything I do.

Given that I have been a road warrior, airlines have ‘lost’ my luggage more than once. And so, I got to thinking about whether time travelers could actually lose their luggage.

Plot

A storyteller sits at a bar and tells what seems to be a fantastical tale about time travel and cleaning up older messes.

Finding the Characters in The Lost Luggage of Time

The characters are Keiran Shapiro, Steve Riley, Elsbeth Mayville, and Miss D’Angelo (I never give her a first name).

Memorable Quotes

Time traveling involved getting into a booth which resembled an ancient voting booth and it really did have a lever. A shepherd would adjust the date, time, and spatial information on a virtual board and then pull the lever. The lever was clunky but rather satisfying to pull. Plus all other methods were fraught with errors and issues. The lever was simply more reliable.

The shepherds’ several booths were overseen by Chief Engineer Steve Riley. Riley was as big as a house and couldn’t even fit into a booth anymore – and those booths were built for up to four people.

“You planning on sowing discord again, Shapiro?” asked Riley as he fiddled with controls.

“When do I not?” Shapiro held up the freeze gun. It was about the size and shape of the palm of his hand. He declared, “Hark, one freeze gun.”

“Got it. I see you had to change your ’do. And your outfit.”

“1066. I don’t think they knew about Mohawks then.” His hair had been shorn to nearly nothing, to get rid of the green. Plus Kieran’s normal outfit, a study in black leather and denim, had been swapped for chain mail. He had a quiver of arrows and a crossbow slung over one shoulder. He almost looked like Robin Hood crossed with a knight.

“Probably not. You gonna meet some Saxon honey?”

“Heh, doubtful. Didn’t they just bathe once a decade or so?” Kieran asked.

“I don’t know from history. I just fix the machines.” A soft chime emitted. “Looks like D’Angelo is about to arrive. Happy trails, Key.”

Genre and Overall Mood for The Lost Luggage of Time

The genre is science fiction. The mood is mostly light although Kieran does have a somewhat messy end.

Rating

The story has a K+ rating. As I often write time travelers, these folks are a little rough around the edges, but are also hyper-smart. Sometimes that means swearing. Although in this instance, it does not.

Takeaways After Finding the Lost Luggage of Time

Rereading this one, I was rather pleasantly surprised that it is actually pretty good! Within it, I can see some of the seeds for works like Time Addicts, The Obolonk Murders, and Lizzie Borden is Vital to the Timeline. Plus, there is even a Shapiro!

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.