Mr Halley enjoyed travelling. The trouble was that no one else enjoyed his travels. He carried two suitcases, three large bags, a duffle bag containing shoes, an overcoat, an umbrella, a flask and two hats. In addition, he had packets of food and juice. He believed that he should be ready to face any kind of weather and should also have a few spare clothes, just in case he got wet. Besides, he must have something to read and his medicines for all kinds of possible illnesses!
One day, Mr Halley decided to travel by air. All his friends and neighbours tried to tell him that he must learn to travel light. But Mr Halley found it very difficult to decide what he could leave behind.
There was a lot of debate. Then his friend, Mr Coker, asked him where he was going. “To Brazil,” said Mr Halley.
“That’s going to be warm. Now Mr Halley, you won’t need woollens there,” suggested Mr Coker.
“But it will rain, and I will catch a cold!” exclaimed Mr Halley in a plain tone.
“No, you won’t,” said Mr Coker firmly, “Get a raincoat. Don’t take an umbrella and several hats. And just one pair of spare shoes will do. That way you can carry one suitcase, a bag and a small packet of food.”
“But that’s terrible! It’s nothing at all. How will I manage?” wailed Mr Halley.
After much shoving and pulling, his friends got him packed. They saw him off at the airport, looking sadly at his two pieces of luggage.
When the plane landed, Mr Halley went to collect his luggage from the conveyer belt on which the luggage arrived. He had gone to sleep on the flight and when he awoke, he had forgotten that he had only one suitcase. So when he got his suitcase he continued to stand at the belt waiting for the other suitcases and bags to arrive!
All the passengers had gone, but Mr Halley kept standing there. The conveyer belt stopped. An officer from the airport came to him to help.
“Where’s my luggage?” asked Mr Halley.
“Sir, you have your suitcase and a bag. Did you have anything else?” asked the officer.
“I always have two suitcases, three bags and several other things. So, where are they?” demanded Mr Halley.
The officer asked for Mr Halley’s ticket. It had only one label for the suitcase. He showed it to Mr Halley, who remembered everything! He laughed with the officer and decided it was good to travel light.