The prompt for this story was “Losing your keys” submitted by regacylady. This story fits into Chapter 51 of Already in Progress.
Rating: R, for language
Dramatis Personae
Catherynne Wheeler, in her second trimester of pregnancy.
Professor Douglas Wheeler, her husband.
Setting
Outside the door to the Wheeler’s apartment.
CATHERYNNE: Look, it’s no problem. You lost your keys, we’ll just use mine. (scrabbles in her purse)
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: I didn’t lose my keys.
CATHERYNNE: You just said you lost your keys.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: I said I lost THE keys. I know exactly where my keys are.
CATHERYNNE: Oh good, because I can’t seem to find mine. Where are they?
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: On the desk.
CATHERYNNE: The desk.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: Yes.
CATHERYNNE: The desk in the apartment.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: That’s the one.
CATHERYNNE: The desk in the apartment behind this locked door.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: Exactly.
CATHERYNNE: But you locked the door when we left.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: With your keys, yes.
CATHERYNNE: Which you then lost.
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: Correct.
CATHERYNNE: Oh my Esme, Douglas, I can’t believe you would DO this to me! How could you be so THOUGHTLESS and so SELFISH? Was it really so hard to go back and pick up your corrupted KEYS? Now because you are so CARELESS and THOUGHTLESS and STUPID, your PREGNANT WIFE is STUCK in the woohooing HALLWAY and my FEET hurt and all I want is to go HOME and instead I’m going to be stuck out here for HOURS while we wait for a woohooing LOCKSMITH! (begins to cry)
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS: (hands her a handkerchief) Or we could just go downstairs and get the spare key from your folks. Back in a flash.