Had just settled into my favourite armchair with my pumpkin soup and toast in my PJs. Turned on a CSI when the doorbell rang.
What a nuisance! Who would call at this time of night? Not happy I put my supper tray down, can reheat the soup but I am not a fan of cold toast.
Before I get to the door a young girl stands just inside. I had watched her ‘melt’ through the door. Haven’t seen that before but she was a sweet young thing, a bit like Shirley Temple when she first started acting. Round cherub face, head of thick curly hair and a sweet smile. A bit startling but in no way threatening, this should prove interesting.
“Come on let’s go?” she demands.
“Go where? Where are you talking about?”
“Come on its time.”
“Please sit with me while I finish my supper and watch this show?”
‘Sorry but we have to go now”
“Go where?”
“You know this is it. There is no negotiation, you’ve known for a while so you really should have been prepared”
“Known what? What are you on about?”
“The matter is not up for debate, you know what I mean.”
“I’ve absolutely no idea at all so please enlighten me?”
“Time has come for your next big adventure. This one is finished, over, completed, full stop. It’s time to move on.”
“You can’t mean that! I haven’t cleared out the shed or told the kids how much I love them. The boss expects me at work tomorrow so don’t be silly I can’t go anywhere just now. I’m not ready to go anywhere.”
“Well you should have thought of that before. Did you think you could live forever?”
“Not really but I should have time to finish things, please?”
“You’ve already had a warning but you chose to ignore it.”
“You mean that chest pain?”
….”It’s not open for debate we are leaving now [poof].”
and a poem with a similar theme plus some more helpful clues!
23.1.2017
Fantastic…highly engaging….thanks for sharing 🙂
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The Grim Reaper does not look here how I would have imagined.
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Ah that’s the whole idea! We really don’t know what form the grim reaper will come in or when … are you prepared?
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And that’s how it happens: in a flash and with little warning. Don’t blink.
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The punch line/ ending hit me in the chest … just awesome. Well done.
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[…] palliative care for years so this topic is very close to my heart. Here is my poem and a short fiction on the topic, or just search my blog for Heaven; Prepared; Final […]
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My granddad parted ways the same way it’s described here. Nostalgia, albeit a bit sad. Nicely written.
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Ohhhh that chest pain…yes you are right there are/were warnings before the “one” hits you bigtime…which made me wonder did my dad (who died of cardiac arrest) have the same warning/s as well? Did he just take it for granted?…
And oh i’d like to add i love at how you finally (!!!) change the persona of “death”….that young Shirley Temple looking kind of girl is really adorable and its easier to let her come in rather than what we used to know as the “old hooded black man”…
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Sadly Mich some people are not so aware of their health/body or reactions … maybe he didn’t have a warning, no one will ever know.
lol most people who have had a near death experience know it’s nothing scary, so had to lighten the personification 🙂
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What a wonderful story (and a cautionary tale as well)! I am so glad I read it, Kate. ~nan
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Oh my! This ones got me thinking 🤔 very well penned!
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Well done. But, I couldn’t read the poem..there was nothing there when I clicked on the link.
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ah thanks for the alert Judy, I’ve fixed it now … will have to watch that with my reblogs 🙂
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haha words laden with a dose of reality. For many who are believers, what way to take someone away from this life of deadlines, love, money and struggles.
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yes we never know the day or the way … it will just happen!
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I love how you characterize death as the next adventure. It puts a positive spin on an event that most of us dread. But maybe we dread it because we aren’t ready? So if we prepare like we would for vacation, would that make it more of an adventure to look forward to?
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Irma I sincerely believe that if we think and talk about it, then prepare for it we can get on living a far better life … worrying about the unknown takes so much energy!
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Yes, that is truth!! Worry can take up the brain and heart space that would be better used for actually living.
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you got it … a bit like a chore we know needs doing and we keep putting it off … we think we are not too worried about it but it is slowly draining us, our energy
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Wonderfully weaved.
An undeniable truth which gives you no time to prepare, nothing… Just a ‘poof’ and that’s it.
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What a beautiful write up Kate. I can relate it to so many things.
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OH! This brought tears! What a heartfelt, memorable story of warning and encouragement! So well written, Kate!
Yes, we must say the things we need to say and do the things we need to do…TODAY. As we don’t know if we will be on to that next big adventure tomorrow.
(((HUGS)))
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I see one Elder every week … she will not leave until she has hugged and whispered something to everyone!
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We never know when it comes… You kept me reading till the end kate.. Well penned.
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Nice and cute story, Kate and I loved Shirley Temple as a small child artiste. You have pronounced her so well. Very well written.
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Interesting. The stars must be connecting dots. I just read a story about a woman who cuts herself so that she can talk to death. They make out. He gets her in the end…
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sadly self-harm can be a dance with death that doesn’t go well but it doesn’t have to be!
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You have good writing skills.
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thanks so much, I am working on them 🙂
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You bring us face to face with reality. Well done.
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I like your matter of fact approach to death and bringing in the fun element. When that is the only certainty guaranteed to us, I wonder why people fear it!
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leaving the unknown, no control, fear of pain … many fears that can be easily addressed by hospice staff … talking openly about it should ease all those fears 🙂
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Since I don’t fear death nor do I mind talking about it, I guess I make people uncomfortable with my approach!
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Brilliant just brilliant Kate 🙂
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Namaste Calm Kate 🙂
‘The next big adventure’ – what a marvellous thought that is 🙂 ‘Tis as if life has no beginning or end: our bodies may tire and cease to be but Spirit is eternal.
The idea of Death manifesting as a spectral Shirley Temple intrigued me. I’d go willingly if she promised not to sing 🙂
Did you manage to sneak the toast passed her before everything went ‘poof’?
I have an arrangement with my mother that when she leaves this mortal coil she’ll find a way to leave written messages for me. It may sound a little creepy, but she promised to let me know what lay beyond the beyond.
Thank you for making Death more palatable. Have an enjoyable weekend. Take care of one and all 🙂
Namaste 🙂
DN
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Most people see who or what they believe in at the time of death … maybe for you it will be a snow leopard …
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Namaste Calm Kate 🙂
Yes, I’ve also heard this to be the case: I’ve interest in reading about ‘near death experiences’. I get the broader notion that it is as much about ones personal disposition and willingness to surrender to death as it is the manner of our death, the suddenness of it, and ones state of mind, which impresses upon the brain an image of what is ‘seen’. It is a fascinating subject area to explore. ‘Tis why I have this arrangement with my mother. I should add she is as intrigued to know as I am and just as keen to flex the membrane between this world and next sufficiently to share her discovery with me 🙂
I would dearly like to be led away to the beyond by a Snow Leopard – to have them as my guardian through transition and onwards into the next life. She, like Shirley in your post, already has a name: Snow Melt – an entity already known to me 🙂
Live in Love, Go in Peace. Namaste 🙂
DN
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then if you strongly wish and believe it then Snow Melt will be there to guide you … it happens if you die easily but I have no idea if it’s the same process with a sudden death … if your Mum is able to leave you a sign she will be the first ever …. so many have planned and hoped 🙂
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An interesting poem. Yes, when the time comes we will go… no questions asked!!
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Sorry to hear that! Life is all too short!
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it’s what I do ..
If she rests a lot I might have more blogging time 🙂
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