The rain backed off after pounding Toronto for most of the day. Inside a dingy bungalow, a family sat down to a supper of pumpkin soup with a salad on the side. The smell of fresh baked peanut butter cookies filled the air.
The twins argued with their dad about the future of the Raptors without DeRozan. Kate guided a spoonful of soup to her mouth and missed for the nth time daubing more yellow stuff over her chubby cheeks. The timer went off. Gayle Murphy got up to get the cookies from the oven.
Just then, there was a thunderous knock at the door. Gayle glanced at Barry as if to say are you expecting anyone? He shrugged and was about to get up but Gayle waved him down “Don’t bother Hon, I’m already up, I’ll get it.”
She opened the door to find a tall figure, blackrobed, towering over her with a scythe in one bony hand and a clipboard in the other.
“It’s you! Well, you’re early!”
The figure, taken off guard by the aplomb of this woman, glanced at the clipboard. He’d just botched one job and really couldn’t afford to mess this one up. He looked down at Gayle and saw the look of disdain on her face.
“This is the address of Kate Murphy, is it not?” He ventured.
“It is, but I’ve already told you, you’re early, now if you’ll excuse me,” Gayle swung the door but the skeletal gentleman swiftly stopped it with his scythe. She stood her ground, barring the entrance as best she could with her tiny body. She glared at him, defying him to push her out of the way.
“Listen,” he said. “It’s the cookies. Kate is anaphylactic.”
He swung around, his robe twirling with the sudden movement. He swore at himself as he bounded down the driveway. He’d just broken the No Respecter of Persons rule and would have some explaining to do. Hopefully, the super would go easy on him, this being his first day on the job.
Gayle went back to the kitchen and reached to turn off the oven, but changed her mind. If they’re burnt, no one will eat them and she’d wouldn’t have to explain a thing.
“Who was that, love?” Barry said as she sat down.
“Oh just some salesman, I keep telling you, that no soliciting sign is a little bit too discreet.”
**********
Notes
Word count: 403
Photo source: Pixabay
This is a spin off of Pete Fanning’s The New Guy ,which he tells me was a response to this prompt.
Haha! Poor grim reaper.
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Very Terry Pratchett. Death would have understood. Excellent.
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I haven’t read anything by Pratchett, but he’s definitely on my to read list. I borrowed one from the library once and got bombarded by life and work. There were three Macbeth-esque witches at the beginning I believe -rings a bell? Never finished it. Based on what I’ve heard about Pratchett, I take that as a high compliment, thanks you!
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Try Mort which is about Death’s apprentice. V funny. Yes, you probably had Weird Sisters which is a Macbeathean take off. And high compliment indeed.
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What aplomb! To tell the grim reaper “You’re early!” is truly brave. Nice story and great solution.
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I had fun with the word aplomb. :). Thanks for stopping by!
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Death gets the boot for not reading the sign! Lol.
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Great story, Jackie! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have death be so inept and to have a chance to forestall the end?
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Thanks Diana!
I kept thinking as I wrote the story “If only”.
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