For service rendered

"For Service Rendered" by J. F. Bone is a science fiction story about a lonely, terminally ill woman named Miss Enid Twilley. Her ordinary life takes a bizarre turn when a Devi named Lyf appears from her broken television, bringing with him an extraordinary proposition. Discovering she doesn't have long to live, Miss Twilley is offered a chance at ten years of health, beauty, and riches in exchange for her body after that time. The story follows Miss Twilley as she wrestles with the decision, contemplating her own value, society's expectations, and the ethics of such a transaction, pushing her to consider how far she'd go to change her fate. The narrative explores themes of longing, change, and what people will sacrifice to escape their limited lives, ending with Miss Twilley agreeing to Lyf's deal and an uncertain future.