A Year of Stories (Collection Three)

Instructions On Opening a Package

You will receive the package soon – from where or from who I do not know.

You can be sure that it's not from me though, no matter what the return label tells you.

There is very little else that you can sure of, especially after the package arrives.

That uncertainty is why I'm writing you today.

I hope to provide you with clarity, instruction, with all those things I wish I knew before this all began.

So, let me begin, with this:

Once the package arrives, do not trust your senses, for they will lie to you.

Do not trust your thoughts, for they will not be entirely your own.

Instead, trust these words, follow these directions, and pray to whatever powers you believe in, that you end up better off than I.

Arrival

1. If the package arrives after 2PM, drown it immediately, in the deepest body of water available to you. That is the False Gift, and if you break its seal, all will be lost. Don't worry, the real package will find its way to you sooner or later, at a more appropriate time.

2. If the package arrives anywhere but your doorstep – in a crawl space or under your bed or in some dark and dusty corner of your attic – make the sign I've sketched below, and allow it to sit, unmolested, for at least one hour in direct sunlight.

3. If the package is now gold to your eye, paint it black. If it is silver, paint it white. It's not so important how you do this, but that you do it completely. You may wish to use two coats, just to be safe.

4. By now the package may have changed size, it could be as small as a fingernail, or as large as your wildest dreams. No matter how inconvenient, be certain to take it to the kitchen.

5. At this point, do not open the package, no matter what it whispers to you. If you do, all will be lost.

Handling

6. The package may be hot to the touch, if it is, fill a glass with luke warm water and set it down on the counter nearby. If it black, wait and hour. If it is white, wait two.

7. If the package has moved from where you initially placed it, rebuke it strongly and in a loud voice. Tell it that there is no room for such foolishness, and that it should know better. It does.

8. If the package begins to glow, destroy it immediately, preferably with fire. When you're done with that, scatter its ashes across your backyard, and make the sign I have drawn below. This is the Martyr's Prize, and if you remove its lid, you will wish it had simply killed you.

9. If the package remains still and quiet until the Sun sets, then you know that you are safe, at least as safe as any mortal soul can be in its presence.

10. At this point, do not open the package, no matter what is happening. The ghosts cannot do you harm, and while the other things can, if you stand near the box at all times, it will protect you.

Opening

11. Take a sharp knife and a compass. The compass is necessary, even you have a good sense of direction. If you do not have a compass, you may leave the box for up to one hour in order to get one.

12. Place the compass on the package, you may find that what it shows you, is not what you expect. Regardless, trust it, and mark each side of the box with what provides.

13. On the North side, place a single drop of your blood, and whisper to it of your most recent dream.

14. On the South side, place a tear, preferably one of your own, and tell it of your greatest fear.

15. On the East side, place something precious to you, and confess to it who you most love.

16. Finally, on the West side of the box, offer it a fragment of your soul. You need only make the offer, the package will do the rest.

If you have followed all the steps I've outlined here, the package will be safe to open, but that does not mean that it is safe.

You may destroy it at this point, without consequences, and I sorely hope that you do. However, if the package has found you – I'm certain that you will not – no matter how anyone tries to dissuade you.

I know I didn't.

Even so, I will leave you with this final warning:

When you break the seal, and the thing inside offers you your greatest wish, remember that if I had a chance to do it all over again – if I had ten thousand chances – I would have set that box ablaze the moment I saw it, even knowing it would have cost me everything.

Your friend,

Merle.