Random reminder

Press, 28 August 1982, Page 25

Random reminder

SLEEPING PARTNER

At a hall in a small country town a little north of Christchurch a twentyfirst birthday party was being held. Everyone was having a marvellously good time, especially one couple who happened to live not so far from the hall.

As the evening wore on the stamina of the poor husband wore out. He wanted to go home. His wife, who had suffered from a less severe thirst than her spouse, was having a grand old time so let him leave for home on his own. She was to follow later.

Whether the shortest distance between two points being a straight line affected his journey in any way is nobody’s business but his own, but when' he eventually made it up their garden path he sadly woke up to the sobering fact that their house-key was in his wife’s handbag back at the hall. Being a man of action, he did not sit down and weep in desperation but reconnoitred round the house. And sure enough he found an open fan-light. Gallantly he proceeded to

make several efforts to clamber up the side of the house and at last was rewarded with success, gaining entrance head-first through the fanlight. However, his struggles took their toll: the little energy left him was barely sufficient to get him to his bed. But happily he made it and immediately collapsed into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, his neighbour, hearing noises emanating from next door, had peeped through his curtains just in time to see a pair of legs disappearing through the fan-light. Quickly he dialled the local police station to report the intruder but the 'local policeman was absent and his call was put through to the nearest station some 20 kilometres distant. From there, once the due particulars were taken down, a police car was despatched post-haste. Two policemen hurried up the garden path at the very moment the wife was endeavouring to insert the key in the lock to let herself in. After a brief explanation the police left, leaving the intruder undisturbed until morning.