George

By Timothy Bryant

George is a good man, husband, and father leading an average life, until he isn't. Finding himself in the "Hereafter," George must now pass a test to gain entrance. Will it be to Heaven or Hell? Can he pass his Exit Interview? Take a journey with George through the "Thou shalts," in this delightful, comedic, and insightful story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Timothy Bryant
• Release date: Oct 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493505340

Timothy Bryant

My name is Timothy Bryant I'm a upcoming author my own book will be on this website in about a week or so. I'm hoping what readers will get out of this book will make us think about who we are and the choices we make in life even though it's based upon a thousand years from now and everything about our world has changed.

Book preview

george

By Timothy Bryant

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Timothy Bryant 2013

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. Any and all similarities and or events of persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

DEDICATION

Dedicated to Ralphie, Manfred, and Ernest.

May the sentences written throughout these pages bring laughter and enjoyable contemplation.

"Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul."

- Thomas Merton

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank God for giving me the gift of life; my parents for giving me the gift of knowledge; my wife for giving me the gift of love; and my friends and family for giving me the gift of community.

CHAPTER ONE

Whether it was from the hint of a cool breeze that danced upon his neck; the rich scent of flowers that tickled his nose; or the overwhelming awareness of an emotion he had yet to define, one thing was for sure as his eyes started to open. He was nowhere near his office. Not even close.

For as each layer of unconsciousness disappeared, his subconscious expectations of waking in front of the computer that rested on a desk among rows of generic cubicles, were immediately dashed; replaced with the most wondrous landscape he could ever imagine even in his best of dreams. Never had he seen such vivid displays of reds, yellows, purples, oranges, and blues; all lying gently on a carpet of the brightest color of green. The rolling meadow, on which it lay, seemed to extend forever, only to crease against the vast, twilight-painted sky.

What the …. whispered the dark-haired, middle-aged, suit adorned man as he curiously, yet cautiously, started to look around.

His focus soon traveled from the far-reaching areas of this newly acquainted land, to the four-legged, simple, white, wooden chair at which he sat.

Okay, now this is strange. Where the heck am I? His hands tightened the edge of the seat as fear began to overcome his body.

Quickly, the soft, bright green carpet of grass from where the chair rested was replaced with a white, linoleum looking, tiled flooring – making the man suddenly spring off and away from the chair. Okay, now I know I’m not in Kansas anymore!

Immediately he realized that whatever semblance of grass and flowers - as well as the surrounding vastness of beauty - had now been replaced with an extremely small, bland office space that contained only a white desk and chair.

Okay. Name? requested in a nonchalant manner the white-suited, somewhat heavyset, gray-haired man who now entered the room. Once seated at the desk, he inquisitively peered over his glasses and glanced at the man. Ah, name? Know you’ve got one. Oh, and sit down!

Slowly, the man sat back on the chair, nervously glancing at the heavyset man as well as the new surroundings.

A bit ‘slow’ are we? Well, let’s try this again, shall we? Whhhhhaaaaattttt isss yourrrrrr naaaammmmmeeeee?

Ah… Ja…Ja…George, he replied slowly. George Edwards.

The interrogator looked down at the transparent tablet held in his hands and slowly shook his head, mumbling something inaudible under his breath. Sorry, wrong answer! Let’s try this again, shall we? What is your name?

It’s George. George Edwards! Wha… who are you, and where in the …. ?

Nope! First off, that one is a no-no! scolded the man.

Really? Ah, sorry ‘bout that. So, who are you again? And where the heck am I?

Hold on, growled the interviewer as he scrolled for something on the tablet. Well, it can’t be ‘George Edwards,’ or any other ‘George’ for that matter. And since in our area of expertise we don’t make mistakes, and it’s for sure that He doesn’t either, I don’t care if you try and tell me your name is ‘George’ this or ‘George’ that. Your name isn’t George! Try again.

Oh, wait. You mean my given name?

Wow. Now that’s a thought, cracked the man. Why not give me your given name? Maybe like the one you were born with? Seriously?

Well, why didn’t you ask for that in the first place?

Oh my! Can you just give me your name? begged the now exhausted questioner. Please?

Gerald Eugene Olson Rupert Gerth Edwards, he proclaimed somewhat proudly.

As he watched the man go back to scrolling on the device, he continued. You know, there’s a very interesting story how I got that name. You see, I had, well my father had, these three brothers. And well, then there was his father and my mother’s father. You just wouldn’t believe that when I was born, it just seemed that everyone wanted for me to be named after them. So, one thing led to another. And then the funniest thing happened that seemed to pretty much start in school. You see teachers and students just started calling me ‘George.’ And well, you see it’s pretty cool. I mean, who would think that my name, Gerald Eugene Olson Rupert Gerth Edwards, actually spelled ‘George’? I mean, they just took the first letter of each name and started to put them all together. George stopped when he noticed that the interviewer had quickly grown tired of his longwinded explanation.

Are you done?

Ah Yes. I guess so.

Looking back down at the tablet, the man smiled confidently and clicked. Yep, there you are. Told you we didn’t make mistakes here! Gerald Eugene Olson Rupert Gerth Edwards.

Just George, corrected the man.

Whatever.

Okay, so what is this? Wait, I know! Something like a really bad dream or something, right? Man, I knew I shouldn’t have had that third enchilada – or maybe it was that ….

Say what?

Oh yeah, right. Dang! Maybe it was that dang loaded dog I had for lunch. Wait… lunch! This can’t be a dream. I wasn’t sleeping. Maybe I was sleeping, but sleeping at my desk? No, I wouldn’t do that. I was working. I mean, I think I was working. Man, this is really messin’ with my head! moaned George. Well, can you at least tell me who you are?

Well, Mr. Gerald Eugene Olson Rupert Gerth Edwards, replied the man as he placed the tablet on the desk and reclined in the chair. My name is Reginald Hutchins, DEI Level 32, and I will be doing your Exit Interview. I’ll be going over some things – pretty much an assortment of things to either verify or amend. You know, like things you did or didn’t do, as well as actions, thoughts, words, those types of things. It might take a while, but then again you’re got plenty of time, don’t ‘cha? cracked Hutchins.

Ah. Exit Interview? Exit Interview from where? Is this a new company style when letting people go? Wow! Now I know where all of our bonuses have gone. Wait! Does this mean that I am getting fired? Fired for what? Now wait just a second, Mr. Hutchins, DEI Level 32 – whatever corporate title that is! Something’s not right here. Something’s not right at all.

Slowly Hutchins leaned forward, and with a hint of a smile replied, It’s not that kind of Exit Interview, Mr. Edwards. You’re not being fired, or anything else like that. You see sir, you are dead. Kicked the bucket. Bought the farm. Bit the big one. Cashed in your chips. Croaked. But hey, that was the plan, wasn’t it?

Da…Dead? he said softly. Really? Like, really, really dead?

Eeeee yup. So how about if we start this process? Now just to get past these few general questions ….

As George sat stunned, contemplating, trying to remember anything that had happened to him to wind up wherever he was, a younger man named Manfred, also dressed in a white suit, came hurriedly into the office.

Here you go, RH. Sorry about that, as he handed Hutchins a lesser