The Visitor
I headed to the door before he knocked. He knocked anyway. He smiled and I knew him right away. Thomas. In his khaki’s, print shirt, loafers with tassels, and a warm smile. Our first time meeting and it was old friendship.
The handshake felt like a hug. We headed to the porch and coffee talk. Much can be accomplished over coffee. He took his coffee black.
We chatted. Easy talk. Then it was time to get to business. He waited for me to rise above bantering.
“What’s next, Thomas?”
Uncharted territory. My question of questions. Death was behind me. What was ahead?
He smiled. “In what way?”
Damn it. “In what’s next way. I’m dead. Figured that out. Turned out not to be that big a deal. I think it is a big deal and there’s stuff to do. Stuff besides having great coffee and easy days. I feel like I am who I was only on the best of days. No aches. No pains. No stress. Everyday is Saturday and all things are right with the world. I am alone but not lonely. Things thought presto into being. It is like, well, heaven.”
Silence.
I matched it. Coffee sips filled the void. I looked out my Wendy’s windows at the mountains. A lot closer, or so it seemed. A crisp fall day. Wasn’t it summer yesterday here? Yesterday was fuzzy. Today was crisp and cool with a hint of rain.
“Come on, Thomas. What’s next?”
“What do you want to be next?”
Questions are not answers to questions. He knew that. He knew I knew that. Dammit. “I want answers.”
“Answers to what?”
My smile was bigger than my sigh. “Death stuff. Life stuff. Here and now stuff. Is this it? How did I end up here? Is there anyone else? Can I see others? Mom? Dad? Uncle Larry? JoJo?”
Thomas smiled at the mention of JoJo. My dog. We each have one. JoJo was mine. If there was a dog in my heaven, he is JoJo.
“You can see anyone you want in life. Anyone you saw in life that is. In fact, you will see them. All of them that meant so much to you. Those here. Those not here. Those not here yet. All of them. That is why you are here…” he paused and smiled, “...and you thought I only answered questions with questions.”
I laughed. We both did. We finished our coffee and sat for a few moments. As comfortable in silence as married friends. He rose.
“Come on. Let’s get started.”