"Get me a bill" he says, and I'm a little embarrassed, because really I don't want to be showing my bills to anyone.
"96 is the Fix" he says, and he's quite insistent, and I ask him to explain, is it some sort of radio contest that pays your bills? But he's acting all enigmatic, there's no fobbing him off, so I pick up one of the many unopened bills that litter my desk and hand it to him. It's a gas bill, overdue 3 months, final notice, but I know they can't cut me off 'cause it's the middle of winter and so this is a bill that can wait...
"See? 96 is the Fix" He points to the lower right part of the bill, and sure enough there's a number 96 there.
"Now all you have to do is circle this and write above it to charge it to your Social Insurance Number, then send it back to them. There was an account created in your name when you were born. The government borrowed millions of dollars with only your birth certificate for collateral. Once they have it they'll stop sending you bills...."
"How do you know this?" I interrupt, not to be skeptical but I am somehow.
"Been doing some research on the internet. There might be something else you have to write in addition to your Social Insurance Number, I'm not sure what it is...But as soon as I saw it I thought of you, with all your bills and all...."
"Have you tried it?" I ask.
"Not yet."
Now in ordinary times this would be a great idea. Not because I'm thinking it'll work, but I'd like to see the Utility company's reply. A David Thorne style correspondence ensues, in which I enlighten the utility agents as to my rights as a free citizen, the history of Freemasonry and the Conspiracies of Rome.
"Why 96?" I ask.
"I don't know..... I'm pretty sure it's Latin for something...."