The Self-preservation Society

Jo Morgan, 33, is a self-confessed scaredycat. As Assistant Civil Protection Officer (Risk Management, South West England), she spends her days weighing up the dangers of everything from meteor showers on Clifton Down, to a horny bull running amok in Broadmead shopping centre. In fact, Jo’s life has been one big preparation for Disaster. As a child she stockpiled baked beans in case of nuclear holocaust – and now every decision she makes is carefully considered, based on available statistics. But she’s happy… well, as happy as anyone can be in these dangerous times. Fortunately her boyfriend – Deputy Chief Civil Protection Officer Dennis Diffley – shares her outlook on life, so everything they do together involves the minimum possible risk. From their social lives to their sex lives, spontaneity is not in their vocabulary. One perfect morning, Jo is walking to work (in smog mask and reflective jacket) when she’s mowed down and falls into a coma. 30 hours later, she comes round, remarkably unscathed. A passing comment as she’s discharged – ‘You know, nine out of ten people would have died from that injury’ – suddenly makes her realise she’s beaten the odds. And maybe this is a second chance at life…