The Crossroads
by Christopher Hoitash
September 2, 2008 — Published in Pithy Tales
This is different. Hello, my name is Fred. And the last thing I remember is getting hit by a car, and now I’m here, in this white mist. So either I’m dead or this is one of those near-death experiences. I don’t think it’s an out of body experience, since I don’t see mine anywhere. Well maybe thinking over the last few years might help. It’ll help me stay sane at least.
I’m your average guy, living in a small apartment in a big city working as an accountant at a small partnership. As you can imagine my job isn’t very exciting, but I took accounting as my major on a dare and I liked it, at first. It’s the kind of thing that wears you down after a while. I’m good at it but lately I was thinking of starting my own firm, for a change of pace if nothing else. My girlfriend of two years left me at the altar last month and my car was totaled, which is why I was walking today. I was never good with a bicycle, but if I get through this I think I’ll buy one. My parents weren’t very ambitious; my mother was a homemaker and she loved it, so her influence was the big one on my life, and she hated the idea of working, though being a housewife was pretty much the same thing. I was born in a small town, you see; my Dad ran the local mini mart and that left my mother at home trying to raise five kids, although Dad helped when he could. As the youngest I didn’t get a lot of attention, but I did want to leave as soon as I could, although I didn’t until I was nineteen. My girlfriend said I was a workaholic and didn’t do anything for fun, which was true. Looking back it seems like my life sucked. I wonder if that guy in the white suit knows anything.
“Excuse me!”
He’s ignoring me. Now that guy in black is looking at me. He’s wearing a cloak and hood. Oh great, he has a scythe in his left hand. Right, he’s either the Grim Reaper or a farmer. I do not like these signs. He’s walking towards me now. Does this mean I’m actually dead?
“Uh, Mr. Reaper?”
“Never been called that before. How may I help you?”
“Am I dead?”
“Well it seems like it, doesn’t it?”
That’s not an answer you weirdo.
“Who’s the dude in the white suit?”
“Pay him no mind; it’s me you want to talk to. Have a seat,” Reaper said, pointing to two chairs that I did not see before. Wherever I am, for some reason I’m expecting a brick road.
I sat with him and out of the corner of my eye the man in the suit turned his head to face me. He shook his head and then turned back. This is really weird.
“So how is your life going so far?” Reaper asked.
“Well, lousy. My job sucks, my girlfriend left me, I can’t get another car for two weeks, and my rent is past due. Actually my job doesn’t suck, it’s just boring. Maybe I should get a pet or take a vacation. Although this might count, whatever it is. I hope the insurance money for the car comes sooner, because I can pay the rent with whatever is left over. So all and all I’ve been better.”
“Sounds like you need to get away for a while. A long while even.”
The man in the white suit actually turned his whole body. He shook his head again and started walking toward us. Reaper noticed and pointed his scythe at the man and started to whisper quickly.
“Don’t listen to him; he’s telling lies, I’m the one you want to listen to.”
“It is his choice alone which path he takes,” the man in white said.
“Okay, if he’s Death, than you must be Life or something.”
“I am many things to many people,” he said simply.
“See, lies and cryptic chatter! Come with me and get away from it all.”
“How ‘awhile’ are we talking? A few days, a few more minutes? Because you’re being kind of vague on the level of awhile-ness.”
“Eternal awhile.”
“Uh, no thanks. That’s a bit too long. Even for me even after all that’s happened, I still enjoy life. I was thinking of getting a hobby. Coin collecting might work. Or maybe just take things one step at a time.”
“Think before you choose!”
“The choice follows the chooser,” White said.
“See, mindless drivel! Come with me!”
Man, this guy is pushy. He must have been a telemarketer in a former life, or this life, or whatever.
“No, I don’t want to go with you.”
“NO!” What I said seemed to hurt him; he doubled over and burst into flame, then the ashes and the scythe blew away in a wind that I did not feel, swirling around like a Chinese throwing star. Maybe I’m still in Chicago.
“You have chosen wisely. That was the Grim Reaper. If you had gone with him, you would be dead.”
“I kind of figured that; good to know I was right. So what am I now?”
“You are in a realm between life and death, but there is hope.”
“Who are you?”
“I am many things to many people.”
Now there’s a sound of breathing. Like exhaling into a bottle or tube.
“What’s that?”
“That is the sound of life. A pretty young woman is attempting CPR to keep you alive. The choice of life or death is ultimately up to you. If you live, you will have the chance to change your life. Death, however, means — ”
“I know what death means. Well I prefer living a lot more than this place, to be honest.”
“Then you have chosen. You have chosen wisely, and remember that we take what is given.”
“Will this happen again?”
“What are you doing next week?”
“What?”
“Just kidding,” the man in the suit chuckled softly and vanished.
Suddenly I gasp, cough, and open my eyes. I see the face of young woman with red hair and green eyes, my favorite look on a woman.
“You’re alive,” she said breathlessly.
“Actually the name is Fred.”
“Jane.”
“Thanks for saving my life, Jane. Did someone call for an ambulance?”
“No problem, and it’s on the way; you were only unconscious for a couple of minutes. I’m so sorry I hit you; I was turning my cell phone on. Please don’t sue me; I just got fired from my job,” her eyes were bugged out in panic and her voice was high in fright.
“No problem. I think I’m okay. But could you get off my leg?”
“Oh God! Sorry. I can’t believe I hit you, this guy wanted to schedule an interview, and now this! Like my boyfriend leaving me because I’m a workaholic wasn’t bad enough.”
“I can’t believe I wasn’t looking. Did you say he left you? So you’re single?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Want to ride along on the ambulance, make sure I really am okay? If it makes you feel better, I can move and feel all my limbs.”
“I would love to. I won’t be going anywhere for a while anyway.”
“Good, because you owe me for hitting me. But I doubt you’ll get arrested. Plus, I’m not dead.”
“That’s true. You know I saved your life, so you owe me bigger.”
“Good point. Hospital food for dinner?”
“Hopefully you’ll be out quickly and we can go someplace with better food. Where do you want to go?”
“Wherever God takes us.”
Illustration by Megan Amoss.
Christopher Hoitash
Christopher Charles Hoitash lives in Canton, Michigan and is currently attending Eastern Michigan University. He has been writing for over ten years and maintains a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan fiction while writing his novels.
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