In 50 years the whole developed world will be run by women. Women can already do all the things men can do except heavy lifting, and the need for that is rapidly disappearing in our society. Of course a few chosen men will still be needed for stud service, but the rest…

Carol's hair was an undyed brown, longer than the average length of the female residents’, and she wore her skirts shorter, just above the knees. She more than held her own in the brains department with the intelligent and educated residents.

“Hello, Lillian; hello, Tess,” Carol said, shaking hands with both of us. She seemed to know every resident by name, even though there were several hundred of us. She smiled and her face lit up, giving her a grownup prettiness, enhanced by her stylish glasses. “Please have a seat. Would you like coffee?”

Tess declined but I accepted. I rarely turn down coffee. “Black, please.”

Carol poured from a small coffee maker on the wooden credenza behind her large desk into a china cup and served it to me, complete with saucer and paper napkin.

She said, “First, let me extend my condolences on the passing of Gerald. I know that both of you were at the bridge club meeting when it happened. Something like that is always a shock.”

Tess nodded. “It was a terrible shock. We didn't know him that well, but he seemed to be in good health.”

“So you weren't among the ladies vying for his attention,” Carol said with a smile.

With the dearth of single males at Silver Acres and the plenitude of single females, the men usually had no trouble finding female companionship.

“Nothing against Gerald or any other man at Silver Acres,” I said, “but why should those of us who were used to steak settle for hamburger?” I had been resigned to the single life for some years.

Carol chuckled and said, “I'm going to get serious for a minute. And I need to ask you both a question. Did either of you know that Gerald had a food allergy?”