The hamlet of the Deceived Grandmothers
At last our tribe arrives! Eleanor Anderson nodded toward the lone figure striding toward them. Another lover of fresh air and private dwellings!
Shrewd, you are, Anderson, Olivia Mitchell shook her head.
Me, shrewd? Eleanor smiled. Im also kind! When I reach those acrobats, no decorum will hold me back!
If we get there, nothing will stop any of us, muttered Anne Fletcher.
The arrival of the stranger was awaited in silence.
Could you tell me where the seventeenth cottage is? asked the woman who had just joined them.
Not essential, replied Eleanor. Were all gathering at the eighth plot. Better haul your cart of belongings straight there!
Sorry, I have my own house, the newcomer said.
Were all homeowners here, Anne grumbled. Sit down, lets get acquainted!
Im Victoria Clarke, the newcomer introduced herself. But I could use a rest. Im weary from the journey.
Sit with us and youll have a proper rest, Olivia said.
Id like to get home so I can prepare for the night, Victoria smiled.
Do you have cash on you? asked Eleanor.
For what? Victoria was taken aback. I have a card!
Everythings dotted with ATMs now, Eleanor muttered, shifting aside a bench to make room. Sit already! At our age our legs should not be put to the test!
Id rather Victoria blushed, go home.
Sit! Olivia shouted, coughing. Weve run out of houses! In other words, there are no proper houses leftonly these plywood boxes without light, water or heating.
Now we all live under one roof to keep warm. When winter comes, well huddle together!
—
Elderly people living alone are always prime targets for swindlers. They have seen much of life, their experience should protect them, yet they still fall for tricks, lose money, homes, sometimes even their very lives.
The sting is worst when the victims are not only old but also solitary. Stripped of everything but their own breath, there is nowhere else to turn. Their very existence becomes a question of time.
When a charitable charity arrived at Victorias cottage, she did not instantly accept every offer they made.
They offered many things. She accepted a food basket, but turned down a livein carer and a visiting nurse.
Im still capable of looking after myself and getting to the clinic! she declared.
She also declined a fullscale renovation.
Three years ago the neighbours helped me tidy up. I dont need a massive overhaul; Im comfortable as I am.
She paused when they suggested moving her pension to a private bank that promised higher monthly payouts through shortterm deposits. The idea of more money appealed, but the pamphlets were incomprehensible, and the young volunteers explanations only tangled her further.
Ill think about it, she said.
Curiously, the volunteers never pressured her. They simply kept offering possibilities that might ease a pensioners life. They never demanded payment for the food they delivered, even though Victoria had offered to pay.
Really, were a charityhow could we take money? they laughed.
Thus, Victor and Edward began visiting Victoria once a week. Sometimes both came, sometimes just one. They brought groceries and suggested various leisure activities, assistance, companionship.
Even though Victoria declined everything, they kept insisting.
What if you need anything and feel shy to ask? Edward asked. Weve had such cases before!
We value our elders modesty, but our care comes first!
Victoria welcomed the visits; she lived alone and missed company terribly. Her husband had passed twenty years earlier; they had no children, no relatives.
The young men didnt appear like a perfunctory socialservice checklist. Their chats stretched beyond needs to weather, memories, joys, sorrowsone good conversation a week washed away loneliness.
One day Victor and Edward arrived unusually animated.
Victoria, you keep refusing help, but we have an offer you couldnt refuse! A generous sponsor is backing us! Victor began, excitement bubbling over.
The sponsor is building a cottage settlement just beyond townno grand manor houses, just modest, wellcrafted homes. Three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a small porchenough for one person to live comfortably.
The site is in a pleasant spot, clean air, a nearby wood and stream. Shops, a post office and a bank branch are in the adjoining village. Eventually a shop will open in the settlement itself, but first the houses go up, then the amenities.
Our sponsor is covering the whole development, Victor said, breathless. He probably gets tax relief, so hes putting money into charity. Its a chance for us!
Whats the chance? Victoria asked.
We could relocate our residents there, Edward replied, smiling. Instead of the soot and smog of the city, they could have fresh air. Do you see the difference?
Are you giving away houses? Victoria asked, puzzled.
Unfortunately not, Victor sighed. Our sponsor isnt that lavish.
Whatever he gets, it isnt commercial value, Edward added, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Our sponsor wants just a tokenone poundfor each house, Victor said. Your current flat is worth about £1.3million; the house costs only £1million. Imagine: you keep two million and still get a cottage where you could live happily!
Victoria tried to pause and think, but they gave her only a brief moment.
The settlement isnt endless, and the offer is good. Were keen to see our seniors own homes on such remarkable terms, Victor urged. Will there be another chance like this? I doubt it.
It sounds complicated, Victoria replied. Id have to sell my flat, arrange the house, move my things.
Lets simplify, Victor sprang up. Ill fetch the brochures and photographs from my car. While you look them over, Ill sort everything here so its as smooth as possible. One day, you could move without fuss.
The brochures were glossy, full of polished images and details. Victoria read the text, while Victor showed her the real photographs hed taken himself.
I shot these myself! Advertising is one thing, but genuine pictures are another. No need for fancy edits; we stand for truth and fairness.
The houses looked splendidsolid timber cottages with plasticframed windows. Not grand mansions, but exactly the cozy size she could manage.
Victor, wiping sweat from his brow, said, I was nearly sent off on every address, but we can handle everything quickly and neatly.
Their plan was simple: a solicitor would draw up a general power of attorney for the agency to sell Victorias flat. The agency would issue a payment order for £3million to Victorias bank account. Before that money arrived, the sponsor would send a payment request for £1million to be taken from Victorias account as the price of the cottage. All documents would be signed on the spot before the solicitor.
How does the money move? Victoria asked.
The order and the request are the moneys path, Victor replied with a grin. The bank decides when and how much to transfer. Some payments sit for three days, but the existence of the order and request means the deal is considered closed.
Victoria had never heard such jargon.
Once the agency sends you the proceeds from the flat, the £1million for the house will be deducted from your account, and the remainder will stay with you. Then you become a homeowner and can move into your new cottage!
What about my belongings? she asked.
You pack what you need for the first day or two, and Edward will haul the rest when our truck is free.
The next morning Victor drove Victoria to the village at the edge of the new settlement.
Id bring you further, but my car would get stuck on that road, he said apologetically. Its only good for town trips.
No trouble, Victoria smiled. Its close enough; Ill walk.
Meeting the neighbours revealed a different reality.
—
Everything is legal, Eleanor grumbled. The houses were bought for exactly the value of the flat.
Only the houses differed from the glossy pictures. The walls were thin plywood, merely clad to look like timber. Electricity would only arrive next spring; water came from a communal tank, and heating would be electric.
Victoria fell silent, despondent.
There are sixteen of us now seventeen homeowners, including you, Eleanor continued. What to do is unclear.
Pensions are paid into cards, but they can only be spent in the village if the terminal worksits operation is at the owners whim. Repairs have stalled for two weeks.
What now? Victoria asked naïvely.
Crawl slowly toward the hospice, Anne replied. When the cold hits, well be stuck here!
Should we complain? File a claim? This is fraud! Victoria exclaimed.
Smart girl! Anne sneered. You just arrived and start whining! Weve already lodged complaints; they checked everything. Its all above board!
The notary signed? The paperwork was fine. Your seventeenth house is just down the lane, on the left!
Further questioning showed none of the elders had any relatives; they truly had nowhere else to go but to crawl toward the hospice.
I refuse to go to the hospice! Victoria declared. Let someone worse off than us help us!
How could she help? Eleanor asked.
By sharing her grief!
Varvara Ilchester, a widow with twin sons, had once loved playing cops and robbers as a child. As adults, the twins followed divergent paths: Colin became a police officer, and Toby a smalltime crook. Both still adored their mother, though Colin secretly wished to frame his brother. He often arrested Toby a few times each month.
Through Varvara, Victoria pleaded with the brothers for aid.
Weve done everything by the book! They signed all the papers! Victor and Edward shouted from the back of a battered police SUV. You have no right!
Is that so? Colin asked, feigning surprise. Then perhaps the bad guys have stolen a patrol car!
Those villains are a nasty lot! Toby muttered, turning away but keeping an eye on the scene.
What, lads, shall we settle this by honour? Toby grinned crookedly. Youre targeting the old folk! They cant even give change!
Our actions are lawful! Victor snapped. Youre behaving poorly!
Youll learn the hard way when you dive into the local reservoir! Toby snarled. Shall we earn the fame of the Ichthyolords or return what was taken?
What was taken? Edward asked.
Nothing stolenonly what was earned honestly! Tobys face twisted with disgust.
Within a week all the elders returned to their flats. Some were missing furniture, but they managed together. The settlement had at least partially bound them; now they were no longer truly alone, even if the circumstances were strange.
