An optimistic saga with three alternative tragic endings to choose from:
Fred had a nice set of coffee mugs – all with sort of old-fashioned adverts on them. There were twenty-one mugs in all. He loved them. He kept them on a shelf in the dining room, just high enough to reach with a stretch. His wife hated them.
• One day, as he was standing under the shelf an earthquake struck. A mug fell off, hit him on the head, and killed him.
• One day, as he was in the dining room his distraught wife threw a mug at him, hit him on the head, and killed him.
• One day, Fred came home and had a nice cup of coffee and a cookie. Nothing could be more relaxing. Unfortunately he choked to death on the cookie.