an experimental story

1. A story of artifacts
By Kevin Hodgson

2. Phone Conversation:
The Daily Gazette Newspaper
“Hello? This is Sam Lead.”
(whispering voice) “Mice.”
“Excuse me?”
“Check the mice.”
“I’m sorry. What mice? Sir, can you speak up, please?”
“Mice at the warehouse. Check the mice.”
“Which warehouse are you talking about, sir? What
mice?”
(click)
“Sir? Are you there, sir? Hello?”

3. To: Techfred@warehouse.com
From: Samthewriter@dailygazette.org
Subject: Rodents?
Dear Mr. Winkle,
My name is Sam Lead, and I am a reporter with the Daily
Gazette newspaper. I heard from a source about some rodent
problems in your warehouse and I thought it might be worth a
look for a story. Please contact me as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Sam Lead
reporter
Daily Gazette
www.dailygaz.com
555-3232

4. Instant Messaging Records
fred: now what do we do?
profmoriarty: just ignore it.
fred: and if this reporter don’t go away?
profmoriarty: don’t worry. he doesn’t have a
clue. rodents?
fred: right.
profmoriarty: good. now, when does the next
batch come in?

5. To: Techfred@warehouse.com
From: Samthewriter@dailygazette.org
Subject: Rodents? A Follow-up
Dear Mr. Winkle,
I sent an email to you earlier this week. Perhaps you did not get it?
I’d like to ask you a few questions about the rodent problem at your
warehouse. Can you spare me a few minutes of your time to
answer some questions?
Sincerely,
Sam Lead
reporter
Daily Gazette
www.dailygaz.com
555-3232

6. IM Records
fred: he’s at it again.
profmoriarty: who?
fred: the reporter. asking question.
profmoriarty: ok. Plan B. make up a
story. just keep them off track.
fred: story?
profmoriarty: he thinks rodents. give him
rodents.
fred: ok.
profmoriary: see u tonite. our friends
from roofmart r anxious.

8. IM Records
profmoriarty: cats? that’s what you came up with?
fred: best i could do.
profmoriarty: what will you do with the cats now?
fred: don’t know. let them loose, i guess.
profmoriarty: fine. has our shipment arrived?
fred: tonite.
profmoriarty: same time, then.
fred: ok.

9. Transcript: Live at 5 Local News
.... but the president says that the Middle East peace process once
again shows signs of progress. Sometimes, you just need to bring
people into the same room. Isn’t that right, Sandy?
Correct, Stew. In business news, there are more concerns about the
ability of companies to deal with the shortages in the technology field
as the holiday season approaches. The sudden closing of the large
copper and plastic corporation known as Boolean Inc. last month has
meant that many of the basic supplies for computers and equipment,
such as keyboards and other associated devices, are in high
demand across the world. Many department stores are getting ready
for disappointed customers, Stew, and shoppers should be prepared
to pay a high price for the most common computer-related
equipment.

10. To: Techfred@warehouse.com
From: Samthewriter@dailygazette.org
Subject: What about the Cats?
Dear Mr. Winkle,
Thank you for your time. I hope you saw the article. Today, I
received an angry phone call from a Mrs. Smith, who wants to
know where the cats came from and what will happen to them
now that the rats are gone. Can you give me some details of your
plans for the cats, please. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sam Lead
reporter
Daily Gazette
www.dailygaz.com
555-3232

11. Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I cannot believe this story in the newspaper about the cats
eating rats at that warehouse. Is that anyway to treat a
cuddly animal? The rats were just living their lives and
certainly did not deserve to get eaten by cold-hearted cats.
And tell me: what will happen to the cats now? This issue
needs a full investigation by your staff. I have been a
dedicated reader of your newspaper for 45 years now and I
expect some answers.
Yours truly,
Elsie Smith

12. To: Samthewriter@dailygazette.org
From: eyesearsnose@shush.com
Subject: Your Cat Story
Mr. Lead,
You got that story all wrong. There were no rats. They brought in
them cats just to cover up the real story. It’s about mice. Check it
out. The mice are what you wanna be looking for.
A source who knows

13. To: Techfred@warehouse.com
From: Samthewriter@dailygazette.org
Subject: Mice?
Dear Mr. Winkle,
I wonder: is there also a mice problem at your warehouse? I have a tip
to check it out. But it would seem to me that if the cats got rid of the
rats, they would just easily get rid of the mice, right?
Sincerely,
Sam Lead
reporter
Daily Gazette
www.dailygaz.com
555-3232

14. IM Records
fred: now he’s asking about mice.
profmoriarty: mice? he knows?
fred: naw. he thinks it’s more rodents.
profmoriarty: easy enough, then. remind him you
have cats.
fred: i did.
profmoriarty: good. the delivery went well. check
your bank account.
fred: will do.

16. Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I cannot believe that cat issue is unresolved. Are you or
are you not a newspaper? I implore you to send your
best investigative reporter to that warehouse and
expose this issue for what it is: cruelty to animals!
Yours truly,
Elsie Smith

17. Conversation, The Daily Gazette
“Sam.”
“Yes, Mr. Starr.”
“Come here for a minute. Weren’t you the reporter on that
rodent story? The one at the warehouse?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ve got this woman ...”
“Mrs. Smith?”
“That’s her. She’s complaining that we are not doing
enough on this story. Do me a favor? Head down to that
warehouse and see if anything looks odd. Then give this
woman a call and get her off my case.”
“Certainly, sir.”
“It’s OK if you don’t find a thing. But we can at least say
we did our job.”
“Got it.”

18. To be continued …
Note from the author: this is an experimental
work in progress …