If People Were Bags...

If people were bags, Claudia would be a Gucci clutch, straight from the factory, delivered straight to the store, handled by stuck up shop tenders. Claudia was a princess, she was treated that way, she expected to be treated that way, her name was never shortened, it was kept regal. Her life was tenderly and delicately treated. Afternoons after school would be a limo ride to the spa for a quick manny petty, or maybe a laze in the pool while tended on by two of her twenty servants. She was of course beautiful; Her looks were complimented with the latest fashion trends from all around the world. She was the epitomy of perfection.

If people were bags, Samantha would be a Nike backpack. It would be big, enough to keep a bottle and clothes, but stylish enough to bring it around. Samantha was like that, thin, large, lanky, sportswoman of the year (every single year), all round achiever. Although not exceptionally stunning, she was popular and had a large group of friends. It was hard to find time for herself, because she was endlessly occupied with social events and parties. All in all, Sam was your typical popular girl.

If people were bags, Tracy would be that unbranded slingbag, made from China, Brazil or God knows where. Quiet and shy, Tracy silently lives her life under the radar, doing her school work, going home to her house of five siblings, taking care of her younger siblings. Tracy had no time for unneccesary matters; She was too busy working a part-time job to support the hungry mouths in the house, as her parents did not have high paying jobs. She was just your other girl next door.

One day, a shopkeeper took out three bags, a Gucci clutch, a Nike backpack and a slingbag with no name. He was trying to make a sale to a customer who wanted to buy a bag for his girlfriend.

"What'll be, young man?" The store keeper asked. "I chose these three bags because they fit the discriptions you gave me on the phone earlier."

The 19-year old smiled at the shopkeeper. "They'll do perfectly. But I can only get one."

"Only one? My, that's sad. But anyway, how about this Gucci piece? It's all the rage with girls these days."

"That may be true," the boy said, "I'm sure she'd be absolutely happy if I bought her the bag. She'd gloat at all her friends that she owned it. But realisticly, the clutch is too small to hold anything, and I'm not going to pay so much money just so she can ask for another one a few months later. Besides, I don't want her to love me just because I buy her expensive gifts."

The shopkeeper put the clutch away. "How about this Nike backpack then? It's large enough to hold more things than that small bag just now."

The boy nodded. "That's for sure. And I like how it's design is very mordern too. But I don't think she'd use this anywhere, because my girlfriend doesn't really do so many sporty stuff, and I don't think she'd bring this bag with her anywhere, because there wouldn't be any need to. Besides, if she had too much activities to do, she wouldn't have any time for me." The boy laughed.

The shopkeeper sighed and kept the penultimate bag. He crossed his fingers under the table as he pushed the last bag towards the young customer. "Well, what about this one?" His voice had more than a hint of desperation.

The boy studied the bag. "Hmm, it's not as big the backpack, nor is it as fashionable as the clutch. It's got no brand either. But," the boy paused for a moment. "But, it's far more practical, and I know that she'd appreciate it more than the other two. Eventhough it's unbranded, it doesn't matter, because I know she knows that it's from the heart. That's why she's my girl." He smiled and gave the shopkeeper the money for the bag.

"By the way," the shopkeeper asked as an afterthought, "What's your girlfriend's name?"

The boy turned around and smiled. "Tracy. Why?"

Editr.