"I love my real relatives but not the current occupants of their
corporeal remains. I keep my door locked at night!"
She made it sound like an unprecedented event.
"Isabel, sit down, please." - I said and she did, white-jointed hands
clenched and venous. I decided not to confront her illogic but rather to
leverage it to expose the absurdity of her assertions.
"Why would these body-snatchers go to all this trouble?"
"Don't be silly!" - She snapped - "Money, of course! They are after my
fortune! These look-alikes are planning to murder me and abscond with my
considerable fortune. They are all in my will, you see, and they know
it! But they can't wait their turn, they are anxious to lay their dirty
paws on my checkbook! They are afraid that I will change my mind!"
"You sound like you are referring to your true relatives." - I pointed out.
She recoiled:
"These criminals that took over my family, I want them gone! I want my
husband back and my son!'
"Then why don't you simply alter your will and let them know about it?
Announce the changes in a family gathering! That way they will lose all
interest in you and move on to their next victim! That way, all
incentives to murder you will be removed, you see."
She glanced at me dumbfounded:
"That's a wonderful idea, dear! You are so clever, you are so astute
when you put your mind to it! Thank you! You can't imagine what a relief
it is to strike upon the solution to such an impossible situation!"
She sprang from the creaky armchair and extended her hand to fondle my
cheek:
"Thank you, honey. You made me proud."