The Climax

"Whatever’s happened Charles, you look crushed. Has the world ended?"
 
"It has for me. My novel, five year's work. Gone! I might as well kill myself."
 
"Gone where?"
 
"Changing money at the airport. Put my bag down next to me. Stolen!"
 
"With your new computer in it?"
 
"Yes."
 
"And your back-up?"
 
"In the bag too."
 
"Oh, Charles, sweetie, come to Vivian for a big hug."
 
“Finished it! Ready to send off. Damn.”
 
"Isn’t it on your old computer? The one I gave you last year?"
 
"That old thing? I thought it had died. Oh, there’s hope. Fetch it for me, darling, while I grab a scotch."
 
"Here it is, plugged in, it’s coming alive."
 
"Good, good. So, what’s the password?"
 
"I gave it to you, darling. Did you change it."
 
"No."
 
"You must have written it down."
 
"No . . . Well, you owned the damn thing for five years, you must know it. Come on, Vivian, out with it."
 
"Don’t fluster me, Charles. Give me a scotch. I’ll do my best to remember. Don’t get so annoyed. We’ll have supper and then an early night. I’ve been so lonesome without you, darling. You shouldn’t leave your little kitten for so long." 
 
"Missed you, too."
 
"Well, let’s skip supper. I’m sure the password will come to me after a night’s sleep."
 
******
 
"That was so wonderful, Charles. I feel renewed."
 
"The password. Has it come back to you?"
 
"Not quite, Charles. You know there’s still time for a quickie before you leave for work."
 
"Really?"
 
"Yes, it will help it to come. That’s right, Charles, just one more time, darling, oh, Charles, it’s coming, it's coming. Yes, yes, it was ‘Eastbourne’. That’s what came to me last night, too.”
 
"You’re telling me you knew all along?" 

(c) Richard Hallam