Mr. Death

Mr. Death

He flattened his suit and straightened his tie.

“How am I going to get through all these appointments tonight?” he asked himself. He was a man of medium build, well kept hair, neat black suit, white undershirt, and a formal black tie.

“Ah well,” he sighed. “Better get going or I’ll never make it to Mr. Stonewall on schedule.” He reached for his cane and went out the door. As he walked down the street not a single person looked at him. He passed a group of children playing jump rope.

“Not your time yet, eh?” And of course it wasn’t any of their time yet. Because they didn’t see the man in the black suit with the cane, they couldn’t because he was Death.

He paused to look at his watch. “Oh, I’d better hurry! I must get to Mr. Stonewall before six o’clock.

He arrived at Mr. Stonewall’s apartment precisely as the church bells rang six. Mr. Death walked through the door.

“He…Hello?”

“Hello Mr. Stonewall. It is time to come with me.”

Mr. Stonewall was lying in his bed, looking as if he wasn’t strong enough even to sit up. “Who are you?” he asked.

“My name is Death sir, Mr. Death.” he answered with a bow.

Mr. James Stonewall took a deep breath and asked, “So it’s my turn to die is it?”

“Yes sir.” came the reply.

“Alright then.” Mr. Stonewall wearily got up from his death bed and followed the man in the black suit with the cane out of his apartment and into the evening world. “Do you enjoy your job Mr. Death?” he questioned.

“I do what I have to sir.”

They passed by the children playing jump rope again. They were laughing and playing without a care in the world. Mr. Stonewall paused to watch them jump. “But what if you had to take one of them Mr. Death?” he asked. “What if one of them died?”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re asking me sir.” said Mr. Death.

“Would you enjoy your job then Mr. Death?”

Mr. Death turned to him. “Few things can make this job enjoyable to me Mr. Stonewall. Very few! I do what I must sir. Now we must hurry please, I have a rather busy schedule tonight.”

Mr. James Stonewall sighed and said. “Of course. But may I ask you one more thing?”

“You just did, but ask away sir.” answered Mr. Death.

“Do you think I’ll go to heaven?”

“That sir,” said Mr. Death, “I can not say. I am very sorry but I do not know.”

“Of course.” said Mr. Stonewall depressed.

“Now sir, if you could please follow me?”

“Of course.”

Those were the last words of Mr. James Stonewall before he and the man in the black suit with the cane walked into the world beyond.