280: Tante Clara's Purse

This very large handbag is about 2 feet tall and long and about nine inches thick with a wide shoulder strap and a flap that buttons. It is made of soft leather with intricate stitching and embroidered floral patterns.

It always weighs ten pounds no matter what is put in it or removed. If the holder knows what she wants and it is inside the bag she need only reach in and it will come to her hand. Rummaging around will produce the item's contents one by one.

But there is a difference between this and any other magic bag, sack, or hole: a living person who is not obese can climb down into the sack and find herself in a tiny 12 foot cube with the walls lined with shelves and cabinets which contain the items placed inside the purse. There is a rocking chair with a floral patterned cushion and a tea service table holding a variety of teas, biscuits, and jams, along with six matching plates, cups, saucers, and a teapot which dispenses an unlimited amount of boiled water, one cup at a time. A matching sugar bowl and cream carafe and a dozen silver spoons complete the set.

The most striking thing is that three walls have a window and the fourth has a door. The windows look out on a well groomed garden and the door opens into it.

The tiny cabin sits in the center of a 240 foot cubic pocket dimension which appears to be a noble's private garden in a forest under a warm blue summer sky with no sun. The only way in or out is to climb the ladder on the back wall of the cabin up into the dark swirling grey where its attic should be and crawl back through the opening of the purse. If the purse flap is buttoned one is effectively a very comfortable prisoner.