An old man walks in front of me in the crosswalk. He carries a paper bag in each hand. On one of the bags the paper handles and the top rim of the bag are meticulously reinforced with black duct tape. The other bag is unaltered. The two bags do not make sense to me as part of the same story plot. The old man must either be the kind of person who reinforces the handles of paper bags, or the kind that does not.

If you choose to continue reading a story about the type of old man who does not reinforce the handles of his paper bags, please find the book nearest to you and begin reading on page 10. If you choose to continue reading a story about the type of old man who reinforces the handles of his paper bags, continue reading here:

Then he said aloud, “I wish I had a boy. To help me and to see this.” No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable. I must remember to eat the tuna before he spoils in order to keep strong. Remember, no matter how little you want to, that you must eat him in the morning. Remember, he said to himself.