A Grave Mistake

03/05/2007

The imposing main doors of Wilson & Rollings burst open with a bang and out strode a tall, stocky figure, his faced flushed with anger. He thrust his hands deep into his pockets and brought his eyebrows down into a deep frown. Barry Black was very angry. He had just had yet another bust-up with Mr. Spotts, the sales manager, who seemed to take a perverse delight in singling out Barry, and humiliating him in front of all the staff.

 

“Damn that Ted Spotts,” he muttered aloud, causing passers-by to turn and stare at him. “I’m going to murder him one of these days if he doesn’t look out. There was no need for him to have a go at me in front of all the others.”

 

He turned towards the car park, the events of the last few minutes swirling around in his mind. So his figures for the month were the worst in the office, but times were bad for everybody. Yet it wasn’t for want of trying, so there was no reason for old Spotts to act like that. Suddenly Barry stopped in his tracks, and turning, shook his fist up at the office window in a gesture of furious defiance.

 

“Damn you, Spotts,” he cried, “I hope your trousers catch fire!”

 

Caught up in this outburst of pent up emotion it was not until the last moment that he was aware of a car hurtling towards him, kicking up clouds of smoke behind it, its engine screaming. He tried desperately to leap out of the way, but it was too late. There was a loud thud, a moment of numbness, and then oblivion.

 

Brother Tom, the Duty Angel, had had a trying day as well, there seemed to be so many people coming to the Pearly Gates today, and all he wanted to do at this moment was to have a quiet sit down. The last one had just been admitted when he spotted a young man wandering about outside looking lost and bewildered.

 

“My name is Brother Tom, can I help you, my son?” the Angel asked the man, walking over and taking him gently by the arm.

 

Barry looked around trying to figure out why he was here in this strange place when he should have been in the car park.

 

“Where am I?” he said,” And who are all these people – they’re not from my office.”

 

Brother Tom smiled. “Why, bless you, of course they are not from your office – your friends are all still down there on Earth.”

 

A look of alarm shot across Barry’s face.

 

“Down on Earth? What do you mean? Are you trying to tell me that I am dead, that this is heaven – but I don’t believe in heaven. I…..”

 

Barry’s words faded away as he remembered what had happened a moment ago with the car. His jaw dropped as the full reality of the situation began to sink in.

 

 

“I’m sorry to tell you that you were just killed down there on earth,” Brother Tom explained, “Walked right in front of a car, you did. And anyway we were expecting you today, your name is here on our list, you see.”

 

Brother Tom picked up a Golden Book and ran his finger down the list of names.

 

“There you are,” he said, “About half way down. Look, as clear as daylight, Mr Ted Spotts” The Duty Angel gave a smile of satisfaction.

 

“Ted Spotts?” cried Barry, “But that’s not me, that’s  the name of my manager, and I can tell you he’s still alive and kicking, making life a misery for everybody in the office.”

 

Brother Tom put his hand to his face in consternation.

 

“Oh dear,” he muttered, “Oh dear, oh dear. There’s something wrong here because that’s the second mistake we’ve made today. You see, we’ve got a new system up here and I’m afraid that we’ve had a few teething problems with it. We must have got our co-ordinates wrong somehow. You just wait here and I’ll see the Chief Angel”. And off he went, his robe flowing and billowing behind him.

 

Shortly afterwards he came bustling back his round face red with confusion.

 

“This is terrible,” the Angel said, “Our records show that you’re not due here for a long time yet.”

 

He paused. “Oh well, this means we will have to send you back among the Mortals. And then we’ll have to see if we can get Mr. Spotts up here some time this afternoon. But that’s not your problem, is it”

 

 “That’s great,” Barry laughed nervously, “Now how do I get out of here, otherwise I’m going to be late back at the office again, and that’ll mean more trouble for me”

 

For an instant Brother Tom lost his worried look and smiled at Barry.

 

“Oh, don’t worry about that”, he said, “Time back on Earth has stood still while you have been with us. All you have to do is walk back along the road you came in on, follow it for as far as you can, and you’ll be back in no time at all.”

 

He pushed the Pearly Gates and they swung open silently, and giving a quick backward glance, Barry walked off. It was an odd road this, he thought, quite unlike those down on Earth, and he couldn’t actually see the surface as it was covered with a fine layer of cloud or smoke. Barry walked quickly, eager to get back as quick as possible, then without warning he began to fall, spinning and turning out of control. Yet strangely there was no sense of fear or panic, but a sensation of light-headedness and euphoria, and as suddenly as it started he landed softly on the ground as if some guiding hand had gently placed him there.

 

Barry Black picked himself up from the pavement and dusted himself down, his mind reeling with what had just happened to him. It all seemed so unreal, as though he had been watching it all happen in a film.

 

“You maniac,” he shouted at the car as it sped round the corner. “Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

 

Still in a state of shock he walked towards the main doors, only to be faced with Ted Spotts coming out, his face still set hard and unfriendly. Without a word he marched past, still glaring at Barry, to cross the road to the car park. As he went to step into the road another car came roaring down the road, and without hesitation Barry grabbed his manager’s arm and yanked him back out of harms way.

 

“Good lord, that was a near thing,” gasped Spotts, “That car could have killed me. Thanks Barry, and, um, look, I’m sorry about what I said this morning. I didn’t really mean it, it’s just that I’ve got a few problems at home.”

 

Barry smiled, his anger now evaporated.

 

“That’s okay, Ted, forget about it,” said Barry, “Tell you what, come on back

into the canteen and I’ll buy you a cup of tea to steady your nerves.”

 

The two men turned to go back into the building. As the door opened Barry looked round, smiled up into the sky and spoke quietly.

 

“Sorry, Brother Tom, but it’s back to the drawing board for you. That’s another mistake you’ve made today!”