In the corner of Mr and Mrs Broadbottom�s back bedroom, stood a very old wardrobe. There was nothing in the wardrobe, apart from some very old newspapers and a few dead flies ! On top of the wardrobe, covered in dust, sat Savannah Suitcase.

�Oh Webster,� she cried as the wardrobe creaked in the heat of the day, �will I ever see outside again, do you suppose ?�

�Probably not Savannah,� said Webster with a yawn, he had enough problems of his own; years and years of standing in the corner of a room, feeling miserable and neglected. Webster would have given anything for a rub down with wax polish and a duster. He could not remember the last time Mrs Broadbottom had opened his doors and made proper use of his delightful interior.

�I saw Verity the Vanity Case being taken out the other day,� Savannah sniffed, remembering how jealous she had felt when she had caught a glimpse of Verity through the bedroom window. The lady with the bright red hair who lived opposite, had lifted Verity into the back of a taxi. Savannah had been green with envy, almost as green as her leather handle, �Mr and Mrs Broadbottom never go anywhere these days,� Savannah moaned to herself. The only time she had ever had any fun was in 1975 when Mr and Mrs Broadbottom had taken a coach trip to Blackpool for a long weekend. She remembered how excited she had been when Mr Broadbottom had lifted her off the top of the wardrobe and dusted her down. Mrs Broadbottom had spent forever, packing her full of freshly ironed clothes and at least six pairs of walking shoes. Mr Broadbottom had complained bitterly about the shoes, but Mrs Broadbottom had insisted, �you just never know William, you just never know.�

�Thinking about Blackpool again,� snorted Webster

�I might be� replied Savannah

�It�s all you ever think about these days,� he groaned, as Savannah shut her eyes and tried to remember the smell of the salty sea air, fish and chips and the sound of squawking seagulls.

Mr and Mrs Broadbottom were sitting downstairs, having a cup of tea, watching the television, something they had been doing together every night for years and years.

�Just suppose we won the Lottery tonight William,� said Mrs Broadbottom, as she helped herself to another biscuit, �what would you do with all that money ?� William put down the newspaper he was readinmg and rubbed his eyes. He smiled at Mrs Broadbottom and sighed.

�Remember Blackpool Rosemary ?� Rosemary nodded, it was the last proper holiday they had had, �well, if we win tonight, I�ll do better than that, I�ll take you round the world and back again !� Rosemary laughed,

�Well I�ll cross all my fingers and toes then.�

The following morning Mr and Mrs Broadbottom were still reeling from the shock of it all. Their eyes had nearly popped out of their heads, as their numbers had appeared on the television screen, almost in slow motion, one by one.

�I don�t believe it !� Mr Broadbottom had shouted so loudly, that Puss, their ginger and white cat had dug its claws into Mrs Broadbottom�s legs, before leaping off her knees and disappearing behind the back of the sofa. Upstairs in the back of the bedroom, Savannah and Webster could hear the commotion and wondered what had happened.

�Too much television I expect,� yawned Webster, who was not at all happy about having his sleep disturbed. Mr and Mrs Broadbottom did not sleep that night, they were far too excited. Yesterday they had nothing and today they were millionaires. Mrs Broadbottom had keep pinching herself to make sure she was not dreaming.

It was a few weeks later, when Mr and Mrs Broadbottom rushed into the back bedroom.

�But I don�t want a new suitcase William,� said Mrs Broadbottom with a big smile on her face, �this one will do us just fine�. Mr Broadbottom lifted Savannah Suitcase down from the top of the wardrobe and sneezed loudly, as the dust caught in his nose, �she just needs cleaning up a bit William, you�ll see.� Mr Broadbottom laughed.

�She, Rosemary, how do you know it�s a she then ?�

�Well isn�t it obvious ?� replied Mrs Broadbottom as she set about Savannah with a steaming bucket of hot water and washing up liquid. Mr Broadbottom just shook his head. As Savannah began to dry off, Mr and Mrs Broadbottom went downstairs to answer the front bell for the tenth time that morning.

�More photographers I expect,� grumbled Webster as he creaked, first on one side and then the other.

�Well what do you think Webster ?� said Savannah with a smile, �I�d almost forgotten what a lovely shade of green I was,�

�Very nice I�m sure,� replied Webster with a sniff.

�We�re going to France tomorrow Webster and I can hardly wait.� At that moment Mrs Broadbottom appeared at the door with a luggage lable in her hand and Mr Broadbottom followed closely behind, his arms full of freshly ironed clothes. Webster groaned silently, it was happening all over again.

The following morning, Mr and Mrs Broadbottom and Savannah arrived very early at the Airport. Savannah Suitcase had never seen so many bags and cases. Whilst Mr and Mrs Broadbottom were busy standing in a queue at the check-in desk, Savannah looked around the Airport lounge and hundreds of eyes stared back at her.

�Is this your first time ?� said a voice with a funny accent. Savannah looked round to see an enormous tartan suitcase with shiny wheels smiling back at her.

�We�re going to France,� Savannah said, unable to take her eyes off his wheels

�And so are we lassie,�

�It�s Savannah actually,� she laughed

�And I�m Robbie,� the tartan suitcase just managed to say before Mr Broadbottom lifted Savannah up off the floor and put her down at the check-in desk.

�Don�t you worry Savannah,� called Robbie from somewhere, �I�ll see you later !� Savannah felt a bit better knowing she had a friend around, after all she had never flown on a plane before and despite her smiling face, she really was very nervous. A few moments later, Billy the baggage handler, who had one eyebrow higher than the other, picked up Savannah in one hand and Robbie in the other.

�Looking forward to your holidays suitcases ?� Robbie and Savannah looked at each other in amazement. Billy could actually talk to them.

�We are,� Savannah said as Billy walked towards the plane, the noise was deafening and Robbie could hardly hear himself think. Billy had headphones over hsi ears to shut out the noise and at that moment, Savannah wished she had some too. There were five planes sitting waiting to leave the Airport, all of them revving their engines and everywhere, hundreds of suitcases and bags stacked one on top of the other, sat waiting to be loaded onto the planes. Billy put Robbie and Savannah side by side in the hold of the plane that was taking them to France and he stopped for a moment to say goodbye. Savannah and Robbie were surrounded by a sea of cases, some of whom were very rude, pushing and shoving their way to the front of the queue and others like Savannah, very quiet and just anxious for the plane to take off. As its engines began to roar, Robbie shuffled closer to Savannah as he saw the worried look on her face.

�Here we go then lassie,� he smiled, �once you�ve done it once, you�ll not be able to wait until the next time.� Savannah was not so sure.

Copyright (c) Michelle Bennett, 2000. All rights reserved.