Once in land, like a dessert or a forest, near a great river of salty or sweet water. Two paired particles, M and M, lived in a stylish cottage with a lovely view. Looking out at the cruel world they felt apprehensive. They saw the universe from both sides. The left-hand side where it was warm, and the right-hand side where it was less so.
M and M checked in the fridge; it seemed that they were running out of milk. No one can tell them apart. I will away to the shop, said M, or was it M, I’ll be back in a moment.
Unfortunately, the shop owner could not detect M, as his time of light equipment was not sufficiently sensitive. M got shut into the freezer compartment of the fridge by mistake, whilst choosing whether to buy full or half cream milk. M was calling out repeatedly to let it out, but to no avail.
M waited and waited and waited for M to come home with the milk, so that they could make the bechamel sauce. After some time, M realised that it was feeling colder and colder and soon began to shiver.
M must be trapped in a very cold place, thought M, that is why I’m shivering, I shall search for M.
M searched the north pole where it is known to be cold, the south pole where it is colder. M scoured the glaciers, the frozen wastes and the icy cocktails, the draught under the door and the curling arms of the north wind. M looked into the cold heart of a tyrant and followed a great iceberg south until it melted away, still no M to be found. Next, M searched up high in the atmosphere where the snow machines live and down in the depths of the ocean where no light can reach. M looked in the ice cream, in the cold grave, in the cold kiss of a marble statue. M looked in the frozen peas, in the cold sweat and in the cold hard stare, in the cold light of day and in cold comfort farm. In the icy blast, the cold compress, the cold war and the cool of a cucumber sandwich, under the cold feet and beside the cold fish. No M anywhere.
The Paired Particle Search and Rescue Team searched the summit of Mount Tall and the depths of winter, no M to be found.
The PPSRT returned to base and stowed their gear in the racks, feeling disappointed but professional.
Hmm, this is trickier than I thought, thought M. So M asked the Ice Giants, but they knew nothing as per. M asked a Snowman and interrogated Jack Frost, but to no avail.
M put up posters, showing M’s likeness, around the town. M started an online campaign and webpage with click here options for all options.
A missing particle report was distributed to all police chiefs and cars and other concerned departments, who scoured the area, scanning the street with automatic imaging recognition. Interpol was contacted but didn’t care. This is a local issue, they said in a deep voice. Aerial and satellite photos were captured. Thermal imaging, radar and lidar made pinging noises without any returns. Roadblocks were put up and taken down regularly. A house-to-house search became crucial although there were not enough.
My search has drawn a blank canvas, thought M, I shall try a different approach.
I shall stand in the flame, which is already lit, in preparation for the sauce making, and M will feel the heat and be warmed, wherever M is. So, he did stand in some flames without harm and soon felt much, much warmer.
At the shop, in the refrigerator, where M was shivering in an icy place, next to the choc ices, M began to get warmer with no explain. The Frigidaire alarm went ping, ping, ping. The shop keeper opened the fridge to see that the choc ices had melted, and M was finally able to escape.
On the way home M, carrying a litre of half cream milk, fell into a puddle right up to his middle, but struggled out and continued on the way.
At home M made the bechamel sauce and finally finished the spinach and ricotta lasagne.
I’m so glad that you are home said M to M, me too said M.
I have to say, said the head White Coat, for whose now washed children this story was intended, this does not seem to be a very good bedtime story for our young ones. The characters and content are all very intricate and difficult to relate to. We would love to have a story that takes a sympathetic character on a tricky narrative arc that overcomes difficulties in life and relationships to land at a happy ending that can allow our young ones to drift off to sleep in a positive and supported frame of mind.
Perhaps a story with a cute furry hero who overcomes a downturn in its fortunes would be more apt?
I’ll see what I can come up with, said the Blue Knight.
The Guardians of the Cave 