Ah, the tribe has arrived! Elena Anderson said, nodding toward the lone figure shuffling up the lane. Another lover of fresh air and a private garden, I see!
Youre a harsh one, Anderson, Olga Miller replied, shaking her head.
Me, harsh? Oh, Im just being nice! And once I reach the acrobats, no propriety will hold me back! Elena laughed.
If we get there, nothing will stop any of us! Anna Edwards muttered.
The approaching silhouette was met with silence.
Excuse me, could you point me to house number seventeen? asked the newcomer.
It doesnt matter, said Elena. Were all gathering in the eighth group. Better haul your cart of treasures straight there!
Sorry, I have my own house, the lady replied.
Were all homeowners here, grumbled Anna. Sit down, lets introduce ourselves!
Valerie Barnes, the newcomer introduced herself. But I could use a rest. Im tired after the walk.
Then sit with us and youll get a proper rest, said Olga.
Id rather get home to prepare for the night, Valerie smiled.
Do you have cash on you? Elena asked.
Why would I need it? Valerie looked puzzled. I have a card!
And the street is full of ATMs, Elena grumbled, sliding over on the bench to make space. Sit now! Were not getting any younger, and we dont need to overwork our legs.
Id like to go home, Valerie said shyly.
Take a seat! shouted Olga, coughing. Weve run out of houses! I mean, there are no proper houses leftjust these plywood boxes with no lights, water or heating. Right now we all live under one roof, keeping each other warm. When winter comes, well huddle together!
***
Elderly people living alone are prime targets for scammers. Theyve seen a lot in their lives, but experience doesnt always keep them safe. Some lose money, flat, even their peace of mind.
Its especially cruel when the victims are not only old but also solitaryleft with nowhere to run when everything falls apart. Their very survival becomes a question of time.
When a charitable organisation sent volunteers to visit Valerie, she didnt jump at every offer they made.
They offered many things. She accepted the food basket but refused a live-in carer and a visiting nurse.
I can still manage my own affairs and get to the clinic myself! she declared.
She also turned down a fullblown home renovation.
My neighbours helped me spruce up the place three years ago. I dont need a massive overhaul. Its comfortable as it is!
She hesitated when they suggested moving her pension to a private bank that promised higher monthly payouts via shortterm deposits. The pamphlets were full of jargon she couldnt decipher, and the volunteers explanations only tangled her further.
Well, Ill think about it, Valerie said.
The volunteers never pressed. They simply kept suggesting ideas that might make her life easier.
Even when she declined, they didnt get angry. They smiled, offering more possibilities to improve the pensioners circumstances.
For the grocery deliveries, they never charged her a penny, even though she offered.
Really? Were a charity, not a moneygrabbing outfit, they chuckled.
Thus, Victor and Elliot started visiting Valerie once a week. Sometimes both came, sometimes just one. They brought food, and also suggested various leisure activities, assistance, and companionship.
Even though Valerie turned down everything, they kept the offers coming.
Suppose you need something later, would you be embarrassed to ask? Elliot asked. Weve seen cases like that before!
We value the modesty of our elders, but we put their wellbeing first!
Was Valerie happy about the visits? Absolutely! She lived alone and was terribly lonely. Her husband had passed away twenty years ago; they had no children, and she had no other relatives.
The volunteers didnt just drop in like a bureaucratic checklist. They lingered, talked about the weather, old memories, joys and sorrowsanything that made a proper conversation.
One day, a rather excited Victor and Elliot burst in.
Valerie, you keep refusing help, but weve got a proposal you cant refuse! A big sponsor has come on board!
They explained that a new cottage development was being built outside townnothing fancy, just cosy threebedroom homes with a kitchen, bathroom and a small porch, each meant for a single occupant.
The site promised clean air, nearby woods, a river, and a village shop, post office and a branch of the local building society just a short walk away. A shop would follow later, but houses first.
Our sponsor is funding the whole settlement, Victor said, eyes shining. He probably gets tax breaks, so hes happy to invest in charity. Its a chance for us!
Whats the catch? Valerie asked.
We can move our residents there, Elliot replied, grinning. Instead of the citys grime and smog, they could have fresh air. Doesnt that sound nice?
Are you giving away houses? Valerie wondered.
Unfortunately not, Victor sighed. Our sponsor isnt that generous.
Its not about profit, Elliot added, slightly annoyed. He just wants something in return, but it isnt a commercial price.
The flat you own is worth about £1.3million, Victor said. Our sponsor wants only £1million for a cottage. Imagine thattwo million left in your pocket! You could live comfortably in a brandnew home.
Valerie tried to pause and think, but the volunteers gave her only a brief window.
The settlement isnt endless, and the offer is solid. Were keen to see our residents become owners of their own homes under such fairytale conditions!
Will there be another deal like this? she asked.
Probably not, Victor assured. I doubt well see something this generous again.
Its complicatedyoud have to sell the flat, arrange paperwork, move your belongings
Lets do this, Victor sprang up. Ill fetch the brochures and photos from my car. While you look them over, Ill sort out everything on site so you wont have to wrestle with paperwork.
The pamphlets were glossy, full of polished images and a lot of text. Valerie read the information, but the photostaken by Victor himselfshowed reallife shots of the timber cottages, complete with plastic windows.
Theyre not massive mansions, but theyre snug and tidyjust right for one person, Victor explained, wiping sweat from his forehead. We were almost sent to every address, but we can manage this quickly and neatly.
The plan was simple: a solicitor would draw up a general power of attorney for the agency to sell Valeries flat. The agency would then transfer £3million to her bank account. Meanwhile, the sponsor would issue a payment request for £1million to be deducted from her account as the purchase price of the cottage. All contracts would be signed in the solicitors office on the spot.
How does the money move? Valerie asked.
The instruction and the request are the moneys travel documents, Victor said with a grin. The bank decides when to push the funds. Some transfers sit for three days, but the existence of the instruction means the deal is effectively done.
Valerie had never heard such jargon before.
Once the agency pays you for the flat, the £1million for the cottage is taken from your account. The balance stays with you, and you become the owner of a new home!
What about my furniture? she asked.
You take what you need for the first day or two, and Elliot will help move the rest when we get a truck.
The next morning Victor drove Valerie to the village at the edge of the new development.
Id love to drop you off further, but my van cant handle those country lanes, he apologized.
No worries, Valerie replied, smiling. Its close enough for a walk.
When she met the other residents, the reality was a bit different.
Its all legal, grumbled Elena, the houses were bought at exactly the flats price.
Only the houses werent quite as shown. The walls were thin plywood panels, with a veneer that pretended to be timber. Electricity would only arrive in spring, water came from a communal tank, and heating was an electric unit.
Valerie felt a knot in her stomach.
There are sixteen of us including you, that makes seventeen owners, Elena continued. What do we do now?
Pensions were paid into bank cards, but the local terminal often refused to work. Repairs stalled for weeks.
What should we do? Valerie asked naively.
Take it slow and keep warm, Anna said. When the cold hits, well all be stuck together.
File a complaint! Submit a claim! This is fraud! Valerie shouted.
Smart one, arent you? Anna snorted. Weve already filed complaints. Everythings legal! The notary signed, the paperwork is fine. Your seventeenth house is just down the lane on the left.
Further questioning revealed that none of the seniors had any family to fall back on. Their only option seemed to be crawling into the communal house.
I wont crawl into that place! Valerie declared. We need help from someone whos worse off than us!
Who would help us? Elena asked skeptically.
Someone who shares our misery, Valerie replied.
Enter Mrs. Wilhelmina Ives, a widow with twin sons, Colin and Toby. As children they loved playing cops and robbers. As adults, Colin became a police officer, Toby a smalltime crook, but both still adored their mother.
Valerie approached Wilhelmina, asking the brothers to intervene on her behalf.
Our paperwork is all in order! Victor and Elliot shouted from the back of a policetype 4×4. You have no right to object!
Is that so? Colin asked, feigning surprise. Then perhaps the thieves have taken my patrol car!
Gentlemen, lets keep this civil, Toby said, a crooked smile on his face. Youre targeting the elderly, and they cant even give you change! Thats shameful.
Were following the law! Victor retorted. Youre acting wrongly!
It wont end well for you if you start digging around the local reservoir! Toby snarled. Well either earn fame or get back whats ours.
Earned honestly, Elliot interjected, looking disgusted.
Within a week, all the seniors returned to their flats. A few homes were missing furniture, but they managed together. The little settlement had, in a strange way, brought them together. They were no longer completely alone, even if the circumstances were oddly tangled.
