It was Sunday and they were both lounging.
She was sprawled on the living room couch, studying. He came in looking for something.
He asked, “Honey, have you seen the television magazine?”
She stirred a little. “…there are those among us, who, when finding themselves in any strange or unexpected situation, are more likely to lose all sense of time and place…”
He froze. “Is that your answer?”
“Eh?”
“The TV mag?”
“No. Sorry! I was reading this treatise. I was just reading it out; thought you might be interested.”
Ignoring this, he said, “I’ve looked all over.
She lowered her papers. “Don’t you remember, we decided to cancel? We said it wasn’t worth getting.” She raised her eyebrows. “Don’t you remember?” she repeated. “We talked about it.”
Disappointed, he shrugged and said, “Vaguely.”
She grinned. “You see? Time and place.”
“What?”
“The treatise… time and place.”
He stood frowning.
“The mag,” she went on, “cancelled a week ago; time. Not here; place.”
He took on a pained expression. “Bit of a stretch, wouldn’t you say?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I could go further.”
“Go on.”
“OK,” she said, obviously enjoying herself, “TV mags; telling you when stuff is on; time, and what channels to go to: place!”
“Right,” he said, and left her to it.
In the other room, he whispered, “I must ask when her Open University finishes, but not now.”
