Fifteen years later, Mr. Incredible, now known as Bob Parr, sat in his small cubicle at the Insuricare insurance company, stamping the word DENIED in red ink on everything that passed his desk. His white collar was a bit too tight, his uncomfortable chair a bit too small. Bob Parr, an insurance adjuster, was sixty-four pounds overweight and losing his hair. It was hard to believe he was the man the world had once known as Mr. Incredible.

A frail elderly woman sat in Bob's cubicle. She held in her hand a piece of paper stamped with red ink.

"Denied?" asked old Mrs. Hogenson, confused and upset. "You're denying my claim?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hogenson," Bob told her, "but our liability is spelled out in paragraph seventeen." He was about to explain when the phone interrupted him. It was Helen.

She held the phone in the crook of her neck as she tried to get baby Jack-Jack out of the bath. The mask she had once worn as Elastigirl was gone; her shiny red thigh-high boots had been replaced by a pair of sensible shoes.

"I'm calling to celebrate a momentous occasion!" she said as Jack-Jack squirmed. "We are now officially moved in. I finally unpacked the last box!" The Parrs had moved a number of times since they'd entered the SRP. Helen had high hopes that this move would stick.

"That's great, honey," Bob answered, "but I have a client here ..."

"Say no more," Helen said brightly. "Go save the world one policy at a time. I've gotta go pick up the kids from school. See you tonight."

"Bye, honey," Bob said into the phone, and then looked at the sad face of Mrs. Hogenson. "Excuse me, where were we?"

Mrs. Hogenson explained that she desperately needed the money from her insurance policy. "If you can't help me, I don't know what I'll do," she said quietly.

Bob thought for a minute, checked to make sure that the coast was clear outside his cubicle, and then quickly whispered to Mrs. Hogenson every possible loophole she could use to get Insuricare to pay her claim.

"Oh, thank you," Mrs. Hogenson said gratefully.

Bob gave her a little smile and then told her to pretend to be upset just in case anyone was eavesdropping.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but there's nothing I can do," Bob said, loudly enough for people to hear him. Mrs. Hogenson patted Bob's hand and left the office.

Bob's boss, Gilbert Huph, a small and mean-spirited man, suddenly barged into Bob's cubicle.

"Parr!" he yelled. "You authorized payment on the Walker policy?"

"Their policy clearly covers them against —" Bob began.

"I don't want to know about their coverage! Tell me how you're keeping Insuricare in the black." Huph continued angrily. "Tell me how that is possible with you writing checks to every Harry Hardluck and Sally Sobstory that gives you a call."

Huph stormed off, leaving Bob mute — a typical day at the office. TGd8KTF1SrfaRt/hxeh/kWfnutQWQOXeEsNgO2OGeQ+MKBDcIhEWBP0ruIf3x+X0