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dmouseyThe 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!
"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!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-18 12:55 am (UTC)This is a lovely tale of justice and comeuppance. Well done you!
*Hugs*
no subject
Date: 2019-01-18 03:18 am (UTC)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! ❄🐁🐭✌🎀
no subject
Date: 2019-01-18 04:00 pm (UTC)*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.)