Mary went upstairs to get her big green jug in which she kept water for the night time in hot weather.
She was carrying several things down the stairs so she threw the jug over the bannisters into the hall
Never throw a jug over the bannisters
Blindly not aware of what was going to happen later Mary went on her merry way
Suddenly the back door opened and came Annie her next door neighbour and friend.
Where is Emile? she demanded nervously
He’s gone to the optician to have his eyes tested.
I didn’t know cats’ eyes needed to be tested I have never seen a cat wearing spectacles.
Well A thousand years ago you probably wouldn’t have seen a human being wearing them yet you are quite right I am telling lies. Emile is asleep upstairs on my bed as he seems to be feeling very tired at the moment. Can we have some coffee and then maybe he will come downstairs.
They sat down on the pink and grey sofa. Then Annie said
What is all that green plastic in the hall?
Oh my God shouting Mary. My jug. Don’t tell me it has broken into fragments.
Yes it has and we were to get the vacuum cleaner out to gather it all up.
The last time I threw it down the stairs it bounced and then flew into the dining room about four feet from the door so that night when I was going to bed I couldn’t find it
There is an answer to this said Annie. Don’t throw things down the stairs.
It’s all very well for you Mary told her angrily. I need to hold on to the banisters I am in a lot of pain at the moment and I don’t want to have to go up and down all the time.
Is there an answer for this problem?
Well if you drank a lot of water before you went upstairs then you wouldn’t be thirsty in the night time. And if you had your medication in the cupboard downstairs you could take it before you went to bed
That is very logical but somehow I seem to need that big green jug of water near me.
Well if it has no lid Emile might be drinking out of it.
Flies might sip from it
I think I’ve got the answer Mary said cleverly
It’s a bag. If you have to carry something down the stairs in your hand it leaves you less able to hold the rail and more likely to fall but if you put it into a bag then that leaves your hands free.
How brilliant and Annie said you are quite right. And if you are carrying anything dirty a plastic bag is probably best.
On the sofa the two women relaxed and stared out of the window at the big red maple tree when in came Emile.
What have you two ladies done this morning,the cat enquired humorously.
We have just reinvented the bag Mary told him with a hint of laughter in her voice.
I wonder how long it is since the bag what actually invented?
That was one thing we did not learn at school. I’m sure it would be more interesting than quadratic equations were. And so say all of us
History of Bags
- Early Examples:Egyptian burial sites (circa 2686–2160 BCE) have yielded early bags made of leather with straps or handles.
- Ancient Greece:The Greeks used leather, papyrus, and linen purses called “byrsa” for coins, which is the origin of the word “purse”.
- Ötzi the Iceman:A handbag was discovered with Ötzi, who lived between 3350 and 3105 BC.
How my heart sings 