The Wait

[dmousey]

The soul traveled pneumatically through the aether, alerting the woman manning the registry. Involuntarily grunting at its weight, she pulled the sign-in book from her desk drawer. Heaving it into position, she readied it for the newly departed's signature. Settling back into her seat, she waited for the confused hello, heralding the arrival of the deceased.

"Uhh, Hello? Is there anyone here who can help me??" called a feminine voice out of the void.

The Registrar, parting the mists with a gesture, replied with a reassuring, "Come right this way, dearie, follow the path straight ahead, that's it. Walk right on up, it'll be alright."

"What, what is this place?" A blonde middle aged woman, trying to look twenty-five, asked guardedly. She gave a disdainful look around the austere way station, as she said, "Last thing I remember I was fixing supper, going over bills in my head -- gave me one doozy of a headache too -- and I closed my eyes a moment... and now I'm here. How?"

"Well dearie -If you'd be so kind as to allow me to interrupt for a moment, can I get your signature right here?" The Registrar requested, tapping an empty line. "After I pull up your file, I can get to answering some of those questions of yours before your -ehr- moving on." The Registrar, smiling, pushed the hefty tome toward the other woman.

"Just use your finger, dearie. There you go, that's it. Very nice penmanship. Nuns?"

Flushing with pride, the woman told the Registrar. "Yes, and I need to have excellent handwriting skills to teach to my students!"

"Oh yes, most understandable," replied the Registrar, turning the book so she could read it. Savoring the moment, she took a deep sniff of the ink drying on the page, before the revealing of the woman's name. "Now let's see who you are, shall we? Ah, Susan Anna Miller -- is this correct?" she asked, pulling a file.

At Susan's nod, the Registrar thrust her hand toward Susan in introduction, but the other woman, still a bit stupefied by it all, didn't notice.

"Everyone forgets the niceties when they first arrive," the Registrar sighed, hastily withdrawing her hand. "Even teachers, taught by nuns."

"What was that? I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said," Susan apologized.

"Nothing important dearie, it doesn't matter." said the Registrar, giving a dismissive wave of her hand. "Susan, If I may call you that? Thank you. Susan, I sincerely regret telling you that you are deceased, having died from a stroke brought on by high blood pressure, and stress. You were thirty- nine years old, and a schoolteacher specializing in third grade."

The Registrar paused and looked at her in sympathy, "Easy to understand the stress."

"Yes it is. Wait...Dead? I can't be? I don't smoke, I exercise, I took spin class for goodness sake!!"

"Well Susan, you aren't the first to protest the predicament. Speaking of spinning, currently, as we speak, you're being given a number while waiting for your chance to spin the Wheels of Re-incarnation: The three sisters Karma, Kismet, and Fate. They will decide your next destiny.

"Meanwhile, if you prefer, you can take your number, and hang out over at Dante's Bar and Grill. Best greasy burgers in town. Flame broiled, too!

Rather read and hang out? Borrow one of our computers from the library. You could keep track of your family, follow what's happening on Earth, or you can - get this- take out actual books.

There's also Gabriel's Coffee Shop, serving scones and muffins, and chai tea for those who don't drink coffee."

Finishing with the basics, the Registrar snapping the sign-in book closed, passed Susan an ID card with her number embedded in it.
"The keycard you're holding works for anywhere, and anything you'd like at The Wait, but remember everything you choose, same as your in your past, has consequences. Everything, so choose wisely.

"There is much to see and do here in The Wait, take advantage of your time here. You may find it surprisingly hard to leave." The Registrar, laughing a little wildly and now finished with her assignment, faded into the mist.

It was time to set the odds on where Susan would choose to first visit. Dante's or Gabriel's... or would she haunt the library, waiting until her number is called to spin for re-incarnation.

Susan was contemplating the very same thing, deciding a greasy cheeseburger and a glass of wine from Dante's would be the very thing to revive her.

Stepping through its doors, expecting to see a dingy saloon with tables, Susan's voice soon joined the multitude, screaming from the depths of the pit.

The Registrar, hearing her anguish, smiled wolfishly. Susan's chart had many entries of her shaming and bullying students. Damning her most of all - her singling out of the special education children. These, of all the innocents, are the most beloved.

Spinning the Wheels of re-incarnation wouldn't change her fate or luck, either. The three sisters had long come to the agreement that Susan's next life would be as a cockroach, with death by squashing under one of her bullied student's heel.

Every choice has consequences...



Inspiration for the piece comes from two different places. One was nearly twenty years ago when my son who is high functioning Autistic, was shamed by his second grade teacher. I only knew about it because my daughter told me. She was upset by it.

And because I worry about my 'Squishy' grandson. Who is coming along conversationally, but I'm not sure he would be able to tell us if he was being bullied.

So, in my opinion, teacher's who pick on children, deserve to be cockroaches in their next life!!

Thanks for popping in and reading! I appreciate it! All concrit is welcome!

Comments

[meridian_rose]

The opening was great at scene setting and an intriguing one. I wasn't keen on the Registar because the use of 'dearie' sounds condescending and sinister, though the latter might be because of the sole season of Once Upon A Time I watched! On the other hand the Registar's niceties did turn out to be falsehoods... :)
I was surprised by the shock ending :)
Ugh, yes, teachers have such a duty of care to all their students, but especially those with special needs. In that respect, a reincarnation as a cockroach seems suitable!

[dmousey]

First of all, I looove your critiques!

*In rough copy I gave more of a description of the Registrar's office, but I felt it was too soon for a tell.

The Registrar's dearie's were meant to be annoying, but not too much so, that you would yes, guess the twist. (although Dante's and Gabriel's was a huge tell)

Yes, teacher's who humiliate special needs kids deserve to be reborn as cockroaches!!!

Thanks Mer, for popping in and reading! I may use you as a beta sometime if you don't mind! DesiLee 😊⛄✌❄🐁🐭

[meridian_rose]

I'd be honoured to beta :)

[bsgsix]

Nice references to Dante and Gabriel. Tell me that was intentional, right? ;) (Though knowing Dante, he'd rather Virgil do the work, haha.)

And I think Susan had the right fate. Cockroach would be fitting indeed. I like how the real world combined with your fiction here for the prompt!

[dmousey]

Thank you! And yes, it was intentional. You know, I thought I had forgiven my son's second grade teacher. I guess I didn't.😆❄🐭✌⛄🎀🐁 Thanks for popping in and reading!

[bellatrix_lestrange]

This was very rewarding for me to read as someone who had to deal with abusive teachers for five years as a child!

[dmousey]

I once had an eighth grade social studies teacher stop the class-
and allow the boys to give me a carrot they made in shop that read - To The Girl Voted Most Likely To Go On Diet - Yeah teachers are human, and some of them suck, They haven't a clue the trauma they allow or inflict themselves.

Most however are decent. ⛄❄🎀🐁🐭✌

[static_abyss]

What a cool concept. I love the Regitrar as a character and your concept of the after life. Wonderful entry this week!

[dmousey]

Thank you! Some days the Muse kicks you, and it's on, the pen (or in this case stylus) begins to write... I got lucky, I'm happy you liked it! 🐭🐁⛄✌❄😊

[rayaso]

I hope this was as much fun to write as it was to read! Bullying is such a huge problem that teachers who allow it to go on deserve the Pit. Great job.

[dmousey]

It was. Once I had the opening lines, the rest came together. I was bullied as a child, and my son went through it. But as I said, am not sure my grandson would be able to tell us. And teachers who bully... grrrr

[babydramatic_1950]

I *loved* this! I had no idea where it was going. The end was a surprise! Very cathartic.

[dmousey]

Thank you for popping in! I was hoping for a bit of curiosity to compell the reader on! Your comments mean a lot! ✌🐭🐁❄⛄

[murielle]

I love your imagination, D! And I have a few horror stories of my own from a time when teachers routinely shamed and bullied their students, so I totally empathize with your son, and grandson.

This is a lovely tale of justice and comeuppance. Well done you!

*Hugs*

[dmousey]

Everything plays out like a movie when I'm writing. This one did take a different track than what I'd intended!

Yes, we grew up when paddles, yardsticks and pointers were allowed.Corporal punishment. I'm sorry to hear you had to suffer through your school years.

i thoroughly believe compassion should start, and be taught at home, with school being the reinforcement; Yet too many parents are either too busy to pick up their end, or just don't care.

Thanks for popping in! ❄🐁🐭✌🎀

[murielle]

Not to mention the leather strap!

*Hugs*

You are so right about compassion, it begins at home, but must be extended to the classroom and the church. (Sadly, I've witnessed things there that to this day make me feel ill.)

[song_of_thea]

I agree with you in regards to teachers' actions. Absolutely.

I can't help but find it funny that Dante's would lead her straight to the pit. That made me laugh.

I enjoyed your piece.

[dmousey]

I was going to give her a tour of all nine levels of Hell, but it would've taken forever(Hah!), adding a level for lawyers, used car salesmen, meter maids, etc! 😆 ✌🐭🐁❄

[megatronix]

Ooh nice! I like being surprised. And yeah, teachers who are mean to students are just the worst, I hate when that happens!!

[dmousey]

Thank you for your kind words! Teachers have a tough job, I understand- but when they abuse a child- they're teaching intolerance. (sigh)

Thanks for popping in!❄🐁🐭✌🎀

[halfshellvenus]

I liked the twist at the end there, and really, that bait-and-switch strikes me as being exactly what Hell is about. :)

[dmousey]

Thank you for the compliment! I appreciate them, and your popping in!🎀✌🐭🐁❄⛄

[alycewilson]

It is deplorable when teachers behave in such a way. I've heard stories within my own family, as well, but have fortunately never experienced it. I hope your grandson never does, either.

[dmousey]

May KFP not experience it either!! One of the worst experiences in my life. ⛄❄🐁🐭✌🎀

[flipflop_diva]

This was so fun! (Have you watched The Good Place at all? The opening scene reminded me a bit of that, which is a good thing since it's one of my favorite shows!) I love how you set the scene and then — bam! — sprung the twist on us. I totally would read lots more of the registrar welcoming in dead people!

(I'm sorry it was based on something so cruel that happened to your son, though. That is so awful and horrible, and being a cockroach might be too good for her even :| Who does that???)

[spilledink562]

I love this piece. From your Dante reference to Susan's fate at the end. This was a fun read from start to finish. I hate that you drew inspiration from such horrible real-world experiences, but I think you used it to create something pretty terrific. Really well done.