A Simple Slip

Overwhelmed with relief, Emily watched as the mimes return to the scene. The crowd parted to let them through as if there was an invisible forcefield around her. Surely, now, these kind gentlemen would help her get her shorts back up! Maybe they'd even take the Ming vase back, and she could walk free!

They walked towards her, smiling. Emily smiled back. She couldn't help herself. It had been so squirmy, standing there with her shorts down for such a long, long time. But now, finally, rescue was at hand. All she had to do was hold the Ming vase in place for just a moment longer, and...

The pole jerked in her hand, exactly as if an invisible string had been tied to it. The Ming vase fell to the ground and shattered into a million pieces.

The mimes frowned.

"Um," said Emily, backing away as they advanced towards her, stern expressions on their faces. Unfortunately, she'd neglected to pull her shorts up first. She tripped over and fell backwards onto her bottom, covering herself with her hands, looking up nervously at the white-painted visages closing in on her. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry! I can explain, I swear! Please don't be mad! Please..."