November 1st, 2025
The envelope thuds onto the mat, along with a scattering of birthday cards. Sheila still has a handful of friends and family who appreciate her enough to choose a card, write a personal message, and take it to the post box. She suspects the large brown envelope might conceal a brochure for funeral plans, assisted living homes, or a free trial of incontinence pads. She has no desire to contemplate these things today, so she puts it aside for later.
It is the next morning before she gets around to opening it to find a birthday card depicting a forest in autumn, all reds and golds, glowing in afternoon sunshine.
Congratulations on your 69th birthday, Sheila!
Now that you are entering the 70th year of your life, you will be faced with some serious decisions.
We will contact you in the next few days to arrange for our representatives to visit you to explain your options.
In the meantime, please read the enclosed literature carefully.
Tick tock—tempus fugit.
We hope you enjoy your special day!
It is signed in an undecipherable scrawl by someone styling themselves Team Leader, Tempus Ltd.
The picture is pretty, so she puts the card with the others on the mantelpiece. The brochure she leaves in the letter rack on the hall table, where it sits, forgotten.
November 17th, 2025
The phone rings at precisely 9 a.m., just as Sheila is getting out of the bath. It is Mr. Undecipherable, whose name it transpires, is Aaron Jacobs. Aware of the
