Writer's Notebook

Danhret and Tanya had been living on a knife edge for over two years. Now for the first time in their married life they were on the point of submerging from the slough of debt that had burdened them from the beginning. It had all seemed so easy in those first heady days of their life together. Buy now, pay later the flier had promised. Well, they certainly had paid later. But now, after two years ruthless pruning they were emerging from the tunnel. With Tanya's small salary they had paid off the last of the bank payments and once Danrhet got his money for the courses he had taught that month, they would be in the black. They had planned a little celebration. Tanya had bought one of their favourite fruit juices from the market. She was disappointed that the stallholder no longer recognised her. They had been such good customers back in the days when they had someone else's money.

Tanya arrived home first. She had no time to lose if the cake was to be ready when Danrhet got home. With the cake in the oven, she set out their best glasses. This was the last purchase they had made before... Tanya wiped away a tear, this time one of joy. These glasses, indeed the few remaining things they had, now actually belonged to them. Danrhet came home to the warming smell of castle cake wafting through the house.

'Hi darling! How's your day been?'

'Not too bad. And yours?'

'Great. Tom's going on a conference to Liverpool. I've been given three extra classes for next week.'

'But that's wonderful news. Oh darling, I'm so glad it's all over. We're going to be able to save up for some of those little extras we've been dreaming about.'

'Yes, well he's one of those little extras already. This is just to say thank you for sticking by me. You're the most wonderful woman in the world.'

Even the greatest of writers would be at a loss to describe Tanya's face as the pearl necklace came out of the proffered packaging, but its glow put off the rapidly approaching dusk by at least five minutes that day.

'But darling,' exclaimed Tanya another tear beginning to appear in the corner of her eye, 'I hope you didn't overdraw to buy me this.'

'Don't worry, everything's fine. Well actually, I did overdraw a tiny bit, but only by two pounds. What's two measly pounds compared to what I'll get for those three extra classes next week.'

She threw arms around his neck.

'But I've got nothing for you. Come on darling we're going out right now, and I won't take no for an answer. I know exactly what I want, it's in the shop window right opposite my school.'

And so with the whiff of spending in their nostrils, Tanya and Danrhet ventured into the city jungle. From the top of the spiral there was only one way down. But who cares? It was such fun.