‘Claim number, please?’
‘34675.’
‘How can I help?’
‘I’d like a refund.’
May I ask why?’
‘On the ad it said she could do all household chores, but she only cooks two different dishes, her washing up is patchy and my shirts look more creased after she’s ironed them.’
‘Right. And, other services?’
‘No complaints there. Although, actually, it’s less and less often.’
‘I see you have quite an old model. Have you thought about trading her in? The new Housewife 500 is very popular.’
‘Okay, I’ll try that.’
‘Great. Your new wife will be with you tomorrow at noon.’

Laura Besley writes short fiction, which given the current situation and amount of children at home is useful. Her fiction has appeared online, as well as in print and in various anthologies. Her flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers, was published in March 2020. She tweets @laurabesley