Ruth Edelstein? It’s Ned Allen here, from PC Solutions. I hope this is a convenient time to talk….” Mrs. Ruth Edelstein sounded around ninety years old. “Whatcha say your name was?” “Ned Allen. PC Solutions. Now, I note from our records that you bought a GBS Powerplan computer from us in September of nineteen ninety-five….” “It was my son.” “Sorry?” “My son Lester, he bought the computer.” I glanced up at the monitor in front of me. “But, according to our information, the computer was registered in your name.” “That’s ‘cause Lester bought it for me.” “Then it is your computer?” “Never use it. Sits gathering dust on the breakfront. Total waste of money.” “Well, surely, your son bought you the computer so you could use it.” “Nah. Lester bought it ‘cause he and that cheap wife of his moved out to Phoenix, and he had this numbskull idea that he could keep in touch with me using this… whatchacallit?” “E-mail, perhaps?” “That’s it.
