due South: Ah! Now I remember. Oh, dear.

Vast, soothing, Cimmerian clouds eclipsed the sun.
It was just as well.

"Fraser, this ain't your apartment."

"What?"

"It's way too untidy."

"What? Ray, don't be ridiculous."

"Take a look..."

"Oh, dear..."

"Would I lie to you?"

"I don't believe so, no."

"What're you doin'?"

"Opening the window, Ray."

"Fraser! Get away from there!"

"Ray, there's no need to shout."

"You coulda fallen!"

"Unlikely, unless you shout again."

"Okay, okay. Just don't do that again."

"All right."

"Good."

"I do have one question."

"What?"

"What are you still doing here?"

"Um..."

"And why are we both...?"

"Oh, my God..."

Negotiating the stairs was tricky, especially as there were now so many of them.
Negotiating the traffic was easier. It was on the level.
Well, it was until you looked down.

"No, I'm sorry, Ray. I simply cannot accept your explanation."

"Well, okay, you tell me what happened."

"Ah. Well, now, you see, I have a problem with that."

"There you go then, Benny. I don't know and neither do you."

"It would appear so."

"Pass the ice, and for God's sake stop yellin'."

"Sorry, Ray. We paid good money for this?"

"No, I did."

"Oh."

"Yeah, you can thank me later."

Standing up took real effort. Walking was only possible with the assistance of heavy furniture. Drinking the coffee could be achieved if you could do it quickly. Eating? Forget it.

"Fraser? What's up?"

"I remember..."

"What?"

"I said I rem..."

"What d'you remember?"

"What happened last night."

"You do?"

"Yes, Ray."

"And?"

"And what?"

"And you're gonna keep it to yourself?"

"You want me to tell you now?"

"Why not?"

"Well... it's just that... I don't think... no, I can't."

"Yes, you can. In here."

"Truthful. Adjective. Habitually or actually telling what one believes to be true; put forward in good faith as what one believes to be true; conveying the truth."
Said like that, it doesn't sound too bad. Does it?

"You what?"

"I didn't say me, Ray, I said we."

"We what?"

"Yes. At least I... I think so."

"You think so?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

"WHAT?"

"It could just have been the effect of the..."

"So you imagined it?"

"Possibly."

"Fraser, you and your imagination need some serious help."

Sometimes, the sun makes a real effort to burn away cloud cover, but it's not until midday that it's strong enough to have any great effect. It comes as a surprise, therefore, when the occasional glimmer does break through to illuminate something...

"Hey, Benny."

"Hello, Ray."

"You gotta minute?"

"Yes. What's the matter?"

"Not here."

"In here?"

"Uh... I remember."

"Remember what?"

"What we were talking about earlier, Fraser."

"What were we talking about earlier?"

"You know, Fraser. Last night? yeah?"

"I do? Ah, yes. I do."

"Yeah."

"Ah. And?"

"You were right."

"Oh. Oh, dear."

'Don't go on looking at me like that, because you'll wear your eyes out.'
Emile Zola.

"Thank you, Ray."

"What for?"

"Helping me tidy up."

"Well, you kept telling me it was my mess."

"It was."

"Yeah, okay. Mea culpa."

"It is very tidy."

"It is! You impressed?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far."

"How far would you go, Fraser?"

"Well..."

"This far?"

"Mmm, maybe."

"This far?"

"Possibly."

"This far?"

"Probably."

"How 'bout this far?"

"That should do it."

"Good! I was gettin' worried, Benny."

"I do have one question."

"Mmmmmmmm?"

"Will you help me tidy up in the morning?"

"Oh, yeah, no problem..."

"Ray, what are you doing down there?"

"Mmmmmmmm?"

"Ah. Now I remember."

"Mmmmmmmm."

"Oh, dear."

Finis