I picked up the portable phone which was ringing insistently.  ”Hello,” I said.

“Is that David Holmes?” asked a friendly, efficient-sounding woman; in her 30’s I would guess, with no discernible accent.  ”Yes. Who’s that?” I replied.  The caller said, “You don’t know me, David, but my name is Susan Parr, and I work for a company called Find Time…”

“Sorry,” I interrupted, “but whatever it is you’re selling, I’m not interested.”  I hesitated, feeling that I’d been a little rude.  ”David, I understand your view, but I’d appreciate it if you could give me a few moments of your time.  I’m not trying to sell you anything,” she continued.  Tolerantly I replied “I’ve heard that one before, but go on, as long as you’re quick.”

“Thank you, David.  David, I would ask you for the moment not to ask any questions, but please could you go through to the kitchen and look at the card on the pin-board?”  I found this rather puzzling – how did she know where the kitchen was or whether or not there was a pin-board?

However, I did as I was asked, and saw that the only item on the board was a piece of A4 card.  At the top of it were printed the words FIND TIME, underneath which was a photograph of me with a woman, who I had never seen before.  ”David, could I ask you to read out the name of the person pictured with you on the card?”  asked my caller.  I looked at the name printed below the photo.  ”Susan Parr,”  I said.  ”OK, I think you are going to have to explain to me what is going on, right now!” I insisted, my voice shaking slightly.

“David, my company specializes in providing patient-specific support for a variety of frontal lobe trauma-related issues,” said Susan.  I took a moment to consider this, before responding “Are you telling me that I have brain damage?”

“We don’t like to use that term, David, but what I can tell you is that on the 2nd of February, you suffered trauma in a car accident which caused you to have difficulties with your short-term memory.  Since that time you only remember a day at a time.  Every night when you sleep, your short-term memory is erased, and when you wake up you have no knowledge of the day before.”

“This is getting ridiculous,” I said.  ”What proof do I have that this is not a scam?”

“David, I quite understand your suspicion, which is why we have procedures in place.  I’ve been visiting you since you left hospital on the first of March.  Please could you turn the card over and tell me what is on there?”  I reached up and unpinned the card, and scanned the back quickly.  ”It has a list of dates from the first of March until the 23rd of June, and next to each there’s my signature, and the signature of Susan Parr,” I said.

“David, do you know what the date is today?”  I looked at my watch.  ”The 24th,”  I said, and began to feel quite weak.  ”I think you’d better come over.  My address is…”

“Thank you, David, I’m standing outside,” she said, and the door bell rang.

I picked up the portable phone which was ringing insistently.  ”Hello,” I said.

“Is that David Holmes?” asked a friendly, efficient-sounding woman; in her 30’s I would guess, and with no discernible accent.  ”Yes. Who’s that?” I replied.  The caller said, “You don’t know me, David, but my name is Susan Parr, and I work for a company called Find Time…”

“Sorry,” I interrupted, “but whatever it is you’re selling, I’m not interested.”  I hesitated, feeling that I’d been a little rude.  ”David, I understand your view, but I’d appreciate it if you could give me a few moments of your time.  I’m not trying to sell you anything,” she continued.  Tolerantly I replied “I’ve heard that one before, but go on, as long as you’re quick.”

“Thank you, David.  David, I would ask you for the moment not to ask any questions, but please could you go through to the kitchen and look at the card on the pin-board?”  I found this rather puzzling – how did she know where the kitchen was or whether or not there was a pin-board?

However, I did as I was asked, and saw that the only item on the board was a piece of A4 card.  At the top of it were printed the words FIND TIME, underneath which was a photograph of me with a woman, who I had never seen before.  ”David, could I ask you to read out the name of the person pictured with you on the card?”  asked my caller.  I looked at the name printed below the photo.  ”Susan Parr,”  I said.  ”OK, I think you are going to have to explain to me what is going on, right now!” I insisted, my voice shaking slightly.

“David, my company specializes in providing patient-specific support for a variety of frontal lobe trauma-related issues,” said Susan.  I took a moment to consider this, before responding “Are you telling me that I have brain damage?”

“We don’t like to use that term, David, but what I can tell you is that on the 2nd of February, you suffered trauma in a car accident which caused you to have difficulties with your short-term memory.  Since that time you only remember a day at a time.  Every night when you sleep, your short-term memory is erased, and when you wake up you have no knowledge of the day before.”

“This is getting ridiculous,” I said.  ”What proof do I have that this is not a scam?”

“David, I quite understand your suspicion, which is why we have procedures in place.  I’ve been visiting you since you left hospital on the first of March.  Please could you turn the card over and tell me what is on there?”  I reached up and unpinned the card, and scanned the back quickly.  ”It has a list of dates from the first of March until the 23rd of June, and next to each there’s my signature, and the signature of Susan Parr,” I said.

“David, do you know what the date is today?”  I looked at my watch.  ”The 24th,”  I said, and began to feel quite weak.  ”I think you’d better come over.  My address is…”

“Thank you, David, I’m standing outside,” she said, and the door bell rang.