CASH & CREDIT 8

The break up had been swift and ruthless. The Official Receiver had moved against their bank accounts and properties and already he had spent more time at the bleak offices in Atlantic House, Holborn than he could have thought possible. It was such a shabby business, bankruptcy. The bank managers who had been so cavalier in lending him the money lost their smile very quickly when they realised he would have trouble paying them back.

“We demand that you pay us immediately!” said the indignant voice on the phone, the tone threatening and outraged. It was only one of many such calls. They became afraid to answer the phone, or open the mail, but the callers at the door were the worst. To his undying shame, he almost retreated into his shell, leaving his Wife to face the wrath of the debt collectors.

“Is he in?” the aggressive voice demanded, as he hid in the bathroom upstairs.

“No” said his Wife in a quiet tearful little voice.