In Sigismund's opinion, Renfrew was an amazingly helpful android, but there were times when his logic was absolutely unfathomable. This was such a time. Renfrew had gone to Buckblaster Videos (which had shrunk to a mere five stores, but luckily there was one next to Railway Salvage Depot on the wrong side of the railroad tracks) to fetch a video with Betty Boop on it, and had returned with "Who framed Roger Rabbit?" Sigismund had taken one look at it, and had said "Why?" To this, Renfrew had replied "You'll see," and then went for his tuneup at Androids R We.

Sigismund decided to save the video for after lunch, so he tucked it under the pile of clutter on his desk. Lunch came and went, but now the video was nowhere to be found. "Someday I've got to throw out some of this junk," he muttered under his breath. Actually it was no mystery why he couldn't get on top of the clutter. Every time he decided to clean the place, he'd come upon some magazine article that he had left unread months before. He felt obligated to finish the article this time. Today was no exception. The October issue of "But Not Least" from three years ago came to light under several empty popcorn bags, and Sigismund remembered that it contained some stuffing recipes that he had meant to save. Thanksgiving was coming, and although Lanny's wife was going to roast the turkey, Sigismund always brought stuffing. Naturally, the recipes were all on back pages, surrounded by glossy ads.

Sigismund looked in vain for the couscous stuffing recipe that he wanted, then he remembered it was in an article by Marvella Risingstar. The article turned out to be an ad for Marvella's home management service. "Tired of boring meals, thrift-shop furniture, and clutter?" the headline read. "Let Marvella transform your home in just a few hours. You could be entertaining your family with this turkey and stuffing dinner in grand style!"

This sounded too good to be true, but Sigimund was desperate enough to try almost anything. Lanny wouldn't visit him anymore, Orly (God rest his soul) was no longer available for a chat, and Renfrew kept bringing him videos that he couldn't even find when he needed them. Maybe Marvella's home management skills were more important than her stuffing recipes. Or, with a little luck, Sigismund could have both. He had a daydream about making his place so gorgeous that Lanny and his wife and daughters would beg to bring the Thanksgiving feast here.

At the bottom of the ad (in small print, naturally) a telephone number was listed. Sigismund gave it a try. He expected to hear a recording, or, at best, an overworked clerk, but instead he heard "Hi, this is Marvella" at the other end of the line.

"Marvella?" he exclaimed. "I, er, didn't expect that you'd be picking up the phone yourself.

"Sometimes I do," she said with a laugh. "My show doesn't start for another fifteen minutes, and I know my lines by heart -- as I always do, if you don't mind my saying so. Do you want to see what miracles I can perform in your house?"

"I'd like an estimate of what you think I'll need. When could you come?"

"My show is over by three. How does four sound?"

"So soon?" Sigismund was stunned. "I thought I'd be on a six-month waiting list."

"I'm the most organized person you will ever meet. Where do you live?"

"Condo #9, Lake Serene Retirement Village, which is in...."

"My show is being filmed across the lake from you. We can make it 3:30."

Sigimund looked out his window at the lake. He expected to see Marvella waving at him from some faux 17th Century Venetian villa.

"In fact, I was visiting one of your neighbors a few weeks ago. Maybe you know him? Orly Beaugency, at number 7."

"He passed away Halloween night. Very sad." He wanted to add, "And suspicious," but that would not be the best way for a detective to deal with anyone who might be the murderer.

"I will miss him," Marvella said. "He was charming. I still want to give you that estimate, though. It's a nice afternoon for a canoe trip. Do you have anywhere that I can tie up my canoe?"

Wow, she really is organized, Sigismund thought as he agreed to have her come at 3:30.

Paulh