Short Story about Life

WAKING UP DEAD ON NOVEMBER 11, 2010.

“So where ARE we?” Dr. Jill blinked and addressed the group she was with now, looking like a crew in nightgowns.
“Well,” chuckled Jackie, “it’s sure not Alaska!” She shrugged her shoulders, turned her head far to right and then to left, looking as far as she could. “No trees, no mountains, no water.” She shook her head as if to clear it, then looked down towards her feet.
“I think I am dead, in fact, I am sure of it. I want to see my husband.” Doris has a set look to her face, making this demand. She crossed her arms on her chest.
“What do you think will happen now?” asked Richard, “I mean, if we really are dead that is. I mean, where’s St. Peter or whoever greets the newbies?”
“You know,” mused Lee, yesterday was my birthday. Ninety-seven years young! And today I could have been in the Vet’s parade, you know.” He paused. “Only I didn’t feel up to it this week.” He laughed. “No wonder!”
Dr. Jill looked around, past the group, to the white walls that looked more like thick clouds. She reached out to touch one, which just receded away. She encountered nothing.
“This must be some kind of foyer or waiting area. Hmm.” Dr. Jill then just disappeared!

“Whoa!” said Larry, “Where did she go? She was right here, and now she’s
gone! Geez, this is kinda scary.”
Dr. Jill reappeared in the group, near Jackie.
“Oh, you startled me!” Jackie took a step back. “What happened?”
“I just wondered about my family, my girls, and then I was right there, seeing them both. Something’s different with time now. I think I was in a future time. They both had little kids with them. I didn’t see my husband anyplace, but I know he does fine when I am away.”
“So you just wondered about them, and you went there?” asked Jackie.
“I guess. That’s what happened.” Dr. Jill looked a little puzzled herself.
“Why are you back here?” asked Larry.
“Well,” she thought, “I guess I was satisfied that they are OK. And here I am. I didn’t think of wanting to be here. No offence.” Dr. Jill smiled.
“I am going to try that,” said Lee. “I wanted to go to that parade.” Lee closed his eyes, and promptly disappeared.
“Well, do tell!” snapped Doris. “I want to see my Clyde.” She closed her eyes tight, clenched her fists, and remained where she was. So she opened eyes again.
“That’s not fair! Clyde misses me too!”
“Maybe he came around to see you when he died, and went away happy,” offered Richard, smiling knowingly. “You know, maybe he saw you were just fine without him?”
“Humph.” Doris turned her back on the group. “It’s just like you, a stranger, to tell me what for,” she grumbled.
“Maybe, since he’s been dead so long, you can’t follow him. Wasn’t there someone alive with you whom you’d want to see now?”
“Hardly! Just a bunch of old people in that rest home and my son. All half-dead anyway. They didn’t both me, and I didn’t bother them, including my son.” Doris looked sideways at Richard.
“Well, I am going to try this too. See you later, maybe.” Richard disappeared.
Larry shook his head slowly, looking down. “There are so many I would like to look in on, it will take an eternity. Some of my students had such promise, but it’s the others I worry about and hope the caught on to some threads in life, married well, or found work that kept them in groceries anyway.” He wagged his head again. “Maybe I don’t want to see them after all. I probably could have done more than I did, when I had the chance. Although I don’t know what. I always thought people made their own beds, created their own lives, you know? Got what they deserved? Did you think that too?” Larry addressed the group.
“You bet they got what they deserved!” Doris spoke sourly.
“I never thought about at all,” responded Jackie. “I was too busy, I guess, working and all, to think about too much. God made me to be a mother, and that’s what I did. That takes all your life!” She laughed quietly with her whole face in a smile. “I saw the birds every day until they went south for the winter. It was so exciting to see them come back. In the spring I would just be excited all the time, like my sap was rising!”
Dr. Jill held her left elbow in her right hand, thoughtful now. “A lot happens to people that isn’t their fault, you know. Especially sickness. Of course, some people endanger their health with life style choices, but a lot is crap shoot, from what your grandmother ate when she was pregnant with your mother, to who coughed in the same room with you yesterday.”
Then Richard and Lee both reappeared!
Richard sounded a tad annoyed as he reported: “My family and friends are having a good lunch on me now. I was always a good provider. I hope they all remember that at least.”
“WELL! That was a fun parade! I love seeing those armoured trucks and all the flags waving, and the little kids scrambling for candies!” Lee waved his arms to illustrate.
“So now what?” asked Richard, impatient for something to happen.
“I am going sailing,” said Larry, and promptly disappeared.
“I think I will go to Haiti,” said Dr. Jill, and she disappeared too.
“I am going to ride one of those Humvees in Iraq,” said Lee. Gone.
‘I wish I was an Arctic tern,” was the last thing Jackie said.
“Well. I am going to stay right here until Clyde comes for me.” Doris gave a stern look to Richard, the only one left with her now.
“Guess I will go hang out with my wife and daughters. I might learn something.”
And then Doris was alone there.




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