It was late in the fall. The river Chaudière that flows through Saint-Georges in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec was beginning to ice over. Great chunks of ice floated downstream, gradually banking up as it hit rocks. The air temperature was freezing. The river water was an icy blue.
Paul-Eugène took a client to lunch. They went to the restaurant next to the river. It was a relaxed lunch. Afterwards, Paul-Eugène made his way to his car.
He slipped on the ice in the car park. When he fell he had his car keys in his hand. The keys flew up into the air and landed with a splash in the icy river.
The spare keys were in a drawer at home. He walked the two hour walk home. Thank goodness it was a mere minus 15°C, and winter hadn’t set in.