In this story I randomly rolled “Gratify Bureaucracy.” As I thought about a scenario to write, I decided to write something in the spirit of my current book that I’m working on. The Departing Tale of Christopher and the Hereafter. Both the prologue and chapter 1 are available on my blog.
Please enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
It always comes down to red tape in this business. A person could fill out the forms and dot every “I” and cross every “T” with clear and readable handwriting, but if it’s not stamped correctly, you’re back to square one.
“Sir, you didn’t fill out the forms properly,” said the clerk. He was filing his nails and chewing bubblegum as he checked his phone.
“What do you mean,” I said. I held up both my forms and the line behind me. I pointed at the forms and emphasizing the form has been filled out. “Look right here! It’s all done!”
“See right here.” He directed my attention to the partial red stamp on the top-left corner. “That’s what I mean.”
I was still confused and showed it with a head quake.
The clerk exhaled through his nose that expressed his frustration. All it took was some explaining, which he could’ve done if he had done so before. “It’s not fully stamped, which means it’s invalid.” He shot up his finger straight up in front of me to interrupt me. “Plus, you filled out the Form A62 Revision B. This form is for you Requisition of a Soul. You were supposed to fill out and stamp Form A26 Revision B the form to Relinquish a Soul.”
I pinched my nose, frustrated with this man whose name tag read “Arturo” but it might as well “Unhelpful Prick.” None of this was his fault in the first place. Dying in a car accident was one thing, but I was placed in punishment that had nothing to do with me. I was never selfish in my lifetime! Last time I checked, I was always willing to help a friend or a stranger in need. I donated a portion of my earnings to charities. I put my children and my husband ahead of my needs. Always!
I let go of my nose. “Okay. So what do I do now? Can you give me the forms? I’ll fill out here and you can stamp it?” I just needed this whole to move along already. I can’t keep doing this song-and-dance any longer.
“No, sir. You need to go to the other window pick up the correct forms, and fill those out. Get it stamped and come back here.”
“No! Come on! I just ne–”
“You do not have to raise your voice to me, sir. I understand you’re frustrated. I am, too. This is all hard on all of us. Other people are dead trying to move on to their next lives, afterlife punishments, or whatever else. I don’t know. I’m not them, personally.” Before I could say anything. “Sir. Do. Not. Interrupt. Please get the proper form. Get it filled. Get it stamp. And I’ll help you then. Now move along.”
I couldn’t get another word in as the clerk dinged a button to call the next person up. A security guard came into my space. He looked at me and said nothing. I moved along.
Nobody wants to die before their time and leave behind a family without their father and husband. But waiting in a line for years was a fate worse than death. I grabbed Form A62 Revision B and filled it out.
Still Foxes 