by Maria Protopapadaki-Smith
The band were leaving the stage to loud applause from the crowd as Death walked unseen into the venue. He checked his diary: 11:03pm, Tony Evans, goatee beard, tattoos on forearms, black leather trousers and a Motorhead t-shirt. Death sighed; locating his latest charge in this crowd could take some time and it was already 11:02:49. Then he spotted a commotion near the bar: a body lay on the floor and two men were trying to resuscitate it while a third ran to get help. A soul hovered over the body, looking confused. Death berated himself for not being there in time to greet it. He rushed to the soul, knowing he'd never hear the end of it from the Big Man if he got there after the paramedics.
"Mr Evans, how do you do? You are to come with me", he said to the soul.
"Oh come on! Now? Couldn't you have waited till after the Encore?" exclaimed Tony Evans.
"I'm afraid I am not the one who devises the schedule, Mr Evans, I merely see to its timely execution. Now please, come this way".
"But they haven't played Ace of Spades yet".
"They haven't?" said Death, trying to conceal his excitement.
"No. Nor Killed By Death", Tony Evans added slyly, sensing weakness.
"Oh. Oh well, in that case, perhaps we can stay a little longer".
The band stormed back onto the stage and the crowd cheered as the familiar riff hit the air, and Death remembered what it was like to have a pulse.
The Other Hand
5 years ago
Merry Christmas everyone!
ReplyDeleteHa! Death is into music. Great one, Maria! Merry Christmas to you as well.
ReplyDeleteNever thought I'd laugh over a story about death, but this was wonderfully humorous!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Death is like "F YEAH!" [throws up the sign, bones rattle] Heehee. Death is a fun guy according to us. :P
ReplyDeleteHilarious! They say the Devil has all the best tunes... which leaves just Motorhead for Death!
ReplyDelete"Death sighed; locating his latest charge in this crowd could take some time" - Reminds me of a gig I went to with The Fall & The Birthday Party - half the audience looked like Mark E Smith and the other half like Nick Cave and all the conversations were slagging off the sheep who looked like the other one than they did!
Happy Days
Festive greets
marc nash
ROFLMAO!!
ReplyDeleteOh Yeah, that was a great twist! I love the fact that Death has other interests! And, how perfect that it is music! We always knew the universal language also connected us to something deep inside of us. It's fun to think of Death having that inner connection, too! Not so scary now.
ReplyDeleteVery fun!
Happy Holidays to you!
Fun read Mazzz! I love the play on words with "...see to its timely execution." Perfect!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
That was great! Yeah, Death made the right choice in staying. How could you go to a Motorhead show and not stay for Ace of Spades and Killed by Death?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
You enjoyed that Motorhead gig you went to a couple of weeks ago then?
ReplyDelete- Anton "Stone 'Deaf' Forever" Gully.
I suppose it's a little twisted to enjoy reading about death, but I loved it! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteMusically themed death, what more could you ask for?
Death+Heavy Metal music=Win! Wonderful! :)
ReplyDeleteAw, this was strangely sweet! :-) Funny stuff, too. I especially like the very last line. Thanks for sharing it, and Merry Christmas, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, so funny and unexpected in what seems at first to be a grim story. I would cut "exclaimed Tony Evans" as we know he's the hovering soul as it distracts a bit. Otherwise, very imaginative and great writing, Mazz.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Were you inspired by the fact Lemmy turned 64 this week?
ReplyDeleteI can just picture a bony hand reaching from under the cloak to flick a lighter - terrific!
ReplyDeleteAwwww,Death has a weakness for Heavy Metal... Who knew?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Loved this.
Before I read your story I knew I'd like it from the title alone! This is so funny on so many levels. I especially liked:
ReplyDeleteHe rushed to the soul, knowing he'd never hear the end of it from the Big Man if he got there after the paramedics.
Just precious! Merry Christmas, Maria, and thanks for sharing your writing! ~ Olivia
I loved the idea that death runs late and is a little unorganized. And a weakness for music. Great concept.
ReplyDeleteCool story. I always thought Lemmy was death anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
ReplyDeleteFunny story! I hope Death got a tee shirt :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mazzz. Very funny. Made me laugh out loud at the end :) Be nice if death was listening to a few motorhead songs before being politely escorted to pastures new.
ReplyDeleteRich
What a great little story! I'm still grinning.
ReplyDeleteI love that Death was swayed by the fact that Ace of Spades hadn't been played :o)
ReplyDelete