FINAL CALL, by John Gregory Betancourt

The last man in the world sat alone in a room, contemplating suicide. What did he have left to live for? He began adding up good and bad points in his life; the score depressed him.

Then the telephone rang. He leaped to his feet, staring in surprise. Perhaps he wasn't the last, he thought. It rang again. This time he grabbed it.

"Hello? Hello?" he called.

"Hello," breathed a soft, silky, feminine voice. His heart skipped a dozen beats. "Do you have a moment?"

"Yes!" he cried. "This is Roger Thomas -- I can't believe you found me! Thank God! And just in time--"

"I'm glad," she said. "My name's PATSI, your Personal Automated Telephone Survey, Inc., and I'd love to interview you about new improved TastyFlakes(r)--"

He slammed down the receiver. And once more he took up count of all the good and bad things left in his lonely world.

* * *

An hour later, he hanged himself with the telephone cord.