Attache Cases
Created | Updated Mar 5, 2002
Although Sean Connery had a black attache case with knives, tear gas etc., the ordinary version - which you can buy for less than ten pounds these days - is still a spectacularly useful thing for the avid traveller to carry with him/her.
Here are the good things about the trusty attache case:
1 - It is small, relatively compact, and very light when empty, and still pretty light when full. You can also be sure that if a fat lady sits on your attache case, the contents are unlikely to be crushed into a pulp.
2 - You can fit a surprising amount of belongings into one: clothes (a whole suit if you're lucky); shoes; pens and pencils; books; travel guides and train timetables; writing pads; wash bags; towels; emergency food supplies; camping stoves; eating utensils; laptop computers; Gameboys; boxes of tissues and portable televisions - although not all at the same time, unless you sit on the attache case lid for a long time.
3 - An attache case has further used. It is very useful for defending onesself from attacks. It can be used to deflect projectiles, held above one's head to hinder falling masonry, and stood upon to escape from a high window. It can also be used to attack back - an attache case can be thrown short-to-medium distances (its sharp corners are very useful in this respect), can be used to make rudimentary swipe and thrust attacks, and it can be used to bash somebody over the head when they're not looking. An attache case can also be a lifesaver when one is called on to wait for a long period of time, allowing one to sit on it and rest one's weary feet. Finally, if push comes to shove, wrap an attache case in your towel to make a comfortable pillow to bring restful sleep.
These are, of course, not all the benefits and uses that an attache case can give. Quick-thinking hitch-hikers may be able to improvise using their 'black, fake leather pal' for other, doubtless brilliant, tasks.
