Cradle 2 Grave Inc.

Betsy was in the delivery room holding her newborn. "Hi Phillip" she said as he learned to take his first breaths. Phillip's father, Greg, knelt beside the bed admiring in wonder and awe his first born child. There was a sense of relief and jubilation in the room, as if all their troubles had dissolved into baby bliss.

The obstetrician had informed us of the post natal procedure so we were prepared as the crew arrived. They entered the room dressed in what looked like beekeeping suits. One carefully reached for the infant. "Thanks you ma'am" he said as the little one changed hands. They transplanted Phillip to a table on the other side of the room. "I'm sorry," the masked man said, "you'll have to leave the room now." The father rose and began pushing Betsy's cart across the room as the crying resumed. "Oh, can't we stay?" asked Betsy. Our large yellow escort shook his head and began to close the door. "Sorry ma'am, parents not allowed, Cradle 2 Grave company policy - you're parents did the exact same thing when you were born." "Yes, I know said, but...". The door slammed shut.

Besty's mother had told her of this ritual, and knew it was just a standard policy of the company. All its procedures are rooted in tradition and seldom altered. The baby would remain in the laboratory for up to one week while the specialists did their work. After that, the diet would be delivered to the mother based on the lab results - the most healthy diet based on the unique biology of the child of course. Every client follows their diet and every procedure dictated by the company. Not doing so would be risking severe consequences. The company is rather strict. There are few violations.

Cradle to Grave Inc. (C2G) is the worlds largest corporation with a client base of five billion people. Obviously, serving half he worlds population makes it somewhat of a monopoly, but that word doesn't have the negative stigma it once had. After all, C2G employs 5 billion as well. Betsy and Greg work for C2G, so they thank it for pretty much everything they have, as do all clients. After all, its life services include virtually every possible human want.

Right now Betsy and Greg are on the "Bronze" plan along with all their friends and family. It covers all food, housing and entertainment for one monthly fee. Of course, now with child care, that monthly fee will be quite high - about the same as their monthly income. But, there really isn't much of a choice. Children of clients are automatically enrolled. Anyway, they work for C2G, so they enjoy a very nice benefits package.

Employees of C2G get 6 months of paid vacation a year. Then, with a 3 day work week, they hardly even think about work. They spend much of their time in the alps hiking. There is a large reservation specifically allocated for such activities of about 15 square miles. Rock climbing is also available. A U train stops right in the middle. (The underground transportation system is second to none). The Bronze plan is billed as the "freedom" plan, so it's designed specifically for an active lifestyle. Bronze members are allowed to join one rock band, and are provided any instrument they want. There is a warehouse to choose from. Popular bands can even get additional credits for performances if other C2G members want to use their credits to watch the performance. Most performances are free and usually at least one band is playing in one of the five available C2G clubs.

C2G membership is life long provided you do not violate any of the regulations listed in the C2G code book. Violations are rare but strictly enforced. For example, Betsy's violation of the birth code could have resulted in an ejection. C2G has an obligation to keep its babies healthy and strong. After all, new clients are the cornerstone of any successful business. As a matter of fact, no one remembers life before C2G and no one could imagine life without it. It is the most important thing anyone has, so they make sure to take following its code very seriously.

But code violations were far from Betsy and Greg's thoughts now; they had a new life to look forward to (and after). They walked back to their spacious 600 sf apartment on the 250th floor and indulged in a night cap of grape juice. Now that she had delivered, in the morning they could login to their C2G consumer account and browse through a selection of Bronze plan baby furniture. They slept well.