The Conversation

Derick had worked at the South Point Retirement Home for years. One morning as the orange-red sun shone through his square window, casting its shape against the white wall, he opened his eyes and sat up on his bed. It was a special day.

Derick stood and dressed. He dashed into the kitchen and got a pink cardboard box out of the fridge and carried it to his blue Camry and began his drive to his job.

He whistled as he careened to the retirement home and waved to people as he passed them. He came to a stop light and saw a man in tattered, dirty shirt and jeans. He held a sign reading Can’t get a job.

Derick felt his heart break for the man-living day to day in the cold, bleak streets where anything could happen to him. Derick wondered if the man was just lazy.

Derick sighed at the man. What would Derick do? He got out a twenty dollar bill and opened his window then held it out for the man to take.

“Thank you, sir. God bless you,” said the poor man.

The light turned green, and Derick drove. Around the block was the retirement home parking lot and parked his car. In front of the entrance was an ambulance.

Derick widened his eyes and gasped. His heart raced and felt a knot in his stomach. He darted from his car to the entrance and burst into tears as Doris, the woman of the day, was being carried out on a stretcher.

Derick approached a paramedic. “What has happened?” Derick said.

“Doris had a massive fatal stroke.”

How ironic. Doris would die on the day of her birthday. She had always been a woman of faith which was his favorite attribute. Derick trudged into the building and went to the main room and sat on a white, leather couch. The old men and women were crying. Derick retreated into his thoughts as he heard raindrops on the roof

Jessica, one of the staff, came to Derick and offered him some coffee. Who could think of drinking coffee at a time like this?

“The manager said you could go home if you want. He knows how close you were to Doris,” said Jessica.

“I think I’ll do that.” Derick wiped his face and walked outside to his car. He started the engine and recalled when Doris told him she welcomed death for it was the doorway to heaven. He drove home, and brought the cake inside.

He sat on his sofa and turned on the TV to get his mind of the situation. After an hour he drifted to sleep. He found himself sitting on a chair with Doris sitting across from him. All around them were glistening clouds that shone. He stared at her with a gaping mouth. “Doris! You’re not alive. How can this be?”

“Correct. Look around you. Where do you think we are?”

“Is this heaven?” said Derick.

“Indeed.”

“Why am I here?” asked Derick.

“I asked the Boss if I could have one last conversation with you. I am glad to see you.”

Derick teared up and smiled. “Where are the angels?”

“In another place. What would you like to discuss? We could start talking about music, we could talk about anything you want.”

Derick looked down and folded his hands. “Tell me about God. Being here makes me curious. And will I be here someday?”

Doris stuck out her hand with her palm up and a Bible appeared in her hand. “This is the mind of God in print. All things about God are in it. As for your second question, that depends on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just believe in the Son of God. It is that simple,” said Doris.

“I see. What will my future be like?”

“I was told you would ask that,” Doris said with a chuckle.

Doris stood and turned to her left. “Come this way.”

Derick followed her into a cloud and it separated, revealing an image of Earth. The clouds gathered and cleared. An image of Derick standing sitting next to a blond woman in his house.

“Is that Judy? She used to be my high school sweetheart until she moved away. I will be married to her?”

Doris nodded. “There is more.”

Doris waved her hand and another image coalesced. An immense house with palm trees and a Mercedes in a car lot appeared.

“Whose house is that? It is decedent,” said Derick.

“It is yours, Derick. Let me show you what is inside the house.”

Another image appeared. There were dozens of elderly folks talking and sipping coffee.

“I know those people! That short man in blue jeans and that woman in the red blouse is Herald and Diana! You know them too. How did I afford such a house?”

The clouds obscured the picture and fluttered away to show a letter on a desk. Derick looked at the letter that appeared closer to him. “John Thatch was a multi-millionaire and he gave me his complete fortune! Why did he live in the retirement home?”

“He was a sad, lonely soul and he felt the most affection and love from you,” said Doris.

“Amazing! Show me something else!”

Doris shook her head. “This is as far as I can show you. It is time to go back, Derick.”

“But it’s been less than ten minutes.”

“Those are the rules,” said Doris. “There is something you must know. You will not recall this meeting when you awake.”

“What! What is the point then?”

“Be thankful you had such an experience. Few do. Goodbye Derick.”

Derick opened his eyes and rubbed them. “Hmm…I feel weird. I must have had strange dream.”

Derick looked to his nightstand and took a deep breath. He had a tingling urge to read the bible stuffed in his nightstand compartment. He reached into it and pulled out his father’s King James Bible and began to read.