My dad calls me. "Have you decided what you want for Christmas?"

"I haven't really thought about it. I can't think of anything at the moment and since my computer died, *cough* *cough* I haven't been on the net to do any research either. To tell you the truth, I've had enough of this computer; only working some of the time and crashing when it does, I really have. I'm gonna have to replace it. *cough*"

"Your throat still sounds bad. Well if you come up with any ideas let me and your mother know. Do you want me to call my computer builder man and get a quote from him?"

"Yeah sure, but at this time of year I can't really afford much so it has to be cheap. *cough* *splutter*"

"Are you taking Day Nurse for that? But you'll want a flat screen monitor, the fastest processor, as much memory as you can get, a DVD writer and a wireless keyboard won't you?"

"Yeah but times are hard *sniff* and I don't think I can afford all that. Just ask him to - hang on a sec *phfffffff* - just had to blow my nose - just ask him to spec up a mid-range system. *cough* *cough* I mean I would like a top of the range one... *COUGH* *COUGH*."

There is a silence. A penny falls from a passing 747, tumbles through inner space hitting the contestants from Space Cadets and discects a bald eagle and finally drops into my dad's lap.

"Well if you get a top of the line one, your mother and I could go halves with you - that would be a good christmas present, wouldn't it?"

"Well I wouldn't want that, it's way too much."

"Ah don't worry about it, I insist."

I love it when a plan comes together.