Arthur's corner

The Magic Carpet

During the summer of 1973, myself, my wife Carol and our seven year old son Paul, were living in rented accommodation in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. The three bed roomed home was in an elevated position with fine views overlooking the city and harbour, situated in the suburb of Brooklyn. We had two lounges, but one we did not use, as it had a varnished floor without carpet. I mentioned to Carol it might be to our advantage to check the papers for some secondhand carpet which we could lay, so that Paul could use it as a playroom. One afternoon Carol drove to my place of work after picking Paul up from school, it appears a carpet was advertised for sale in good condition, in a home 15 klms. Away on the other side of the city, in a suburb named Newlands. On arrival, I negotiated a price with the lady, and asked her if we could take it now. It's still on the floor she said. Don't worry I told her, we can move the furniture and take the carpet with us, and so we did just that. I'm sorry it's not all in one piece she said. We had it in our last home which we sold eight years ago. I didn't mind at all, as it was such a good price, and I wanted to complete the sale before she had second thoughts! And so whilst I loaded the carpet onto the roof rack of our car, Carol wrote out the cheque. Carol then turned it over and wrote our address on the back of the cheque. The lady then said. I'm sorry my dear, but you have to write your address on the cheque, not my address.
But this is my address! Said Carol .Oh My God! Said the lady. That was the home we owned before moving here!
I then explained we wanted to place it in the second lounge. That is the very room it came from she said! I know it's hard to believe, but the carpet, when we unpicked the stitches, fitted perfectly, including the area in the bay window! I only wish I had placed ten Dollars on the Lotto that week, as I am sure we would have won!