August 2011
Now what would I want an old cardboard box for? And where would I get one from? I suppose I had better pop over to the shop over the road.
'Hello, Amy,' I said, 'have you got an old cardboard box?'
'Oh, hello Jill, erm, what size and kind of box?'
'Well, Amy, any size will do.'
'Well, Jill, what's it for?'
'It's not for anything, Amy.'
'Well, erm, why do you want an old cardboard box?'
'I don't really want an old cardboard box at all, Amy.'
'Well, Jill, why did you come into my shop and ask for an old cardboard box?'
'Well, Amy, I have to write a story about an old cardboard box.'
'Well, Jill, why does it have to be an old cardboard box? Why can't it be a nice cardboard box, a nice strong box perhaps that you could keep something in.'
'Well, Amy, what kind of things could I keep in a nice strong box?'
'Lots of things – maybe some books?'
'No, Amy, my books are kept in my bookcase.'
'Well, Jill,' she sighed, 'who told you to write a story about an old cardboard box?'
'Some bloke called Pete, Amy.'
. . . Sorry, Pete, I couldn't write a story, because I couldn't find any old cardboard box.