A darkly humorous and satirical tale of a not-too-distant future where only the very rich can afford to have children. For everyone else, there's posthumous parenthood technology, which makes it possible to have a child on the lay-away plan. With luck—and the right long-term investment portfolio—a bright future still awaits those of modest means. Though most parents will be long dead by the time their child can afford to be born, reliable life services providers can deliver childhood plans to fit (almost) every budget. But if the money ever runs out...well, there's a plan for that, too.