The Mortuary Assistant (revision)

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The Mortuary Assistant


Phil double checked the orders for the body

and it was due to be incinerated.

He pulled the sheet back and looked at the man,

and, by his moderately youthful appearance,

suspected it had been a widowmaker.


"Well, Jim," he said, as if to an old friend,

"though it’s a shame we had to meet like this,

it looks like this is where we say 'goodbye.'"


Wheeling the gurney down the hall and through

the doors, he then parked it before the furnace.


When he whisked off the sheet in one quick motion.

"Hope you don't mind, but this is by request.

Don't worry, it's as good an end as any."


With a grunt, he slid the heavy iron door

open and pulled out the tray for the body.

But when he went to grab the corpse, its hand

reached over and took hold of him. He jumped,

but the man on the table was alive,

glaring up at him with a frightened look!


"Jesus!" he blurted out. "You're still alive!?"


The man could only shake his head and groan,

but there was pain and pleading in his features.


"We'll get you help!" Phil assured him, unsure

if the man understood what he was saying.

"Just wait, right there, and I'll go get someone."



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