"Gross." said a voice from behind Jimmy. Clearly startled and scared, Jimmy yelled and jumped back. He saw a man wearing an old Rolling Stones t-shirt and a Yankees hat with ripped jeans. This guy was clearly passed his time. Very confused, Jimmy asked;
"Who are you and why are you in my house?", the man finished his toast and peanut butter and drank his orange juice before he spoke.
"Listen Jimmy there is no easy way to say this, so I am just going to come right out and say it... I'm death!". The man was completely surprised by Jimmy's reaction. Jimmy didn't even react, his facial expression didn't change, he didn't start to cry and freak out like most people. He simply continued on with his routine, went to the toaster and put some bread in.
"Are you okay Jimmy?"
"Ya, I'm okay. I mean the doctors told me I didn't have long, so I expected this eventually."
"Wait, you expected me?"
"Ya, your like an angel aren't you? Wait, I am going to heaven aren't I?"
"Oh ya of course Jimmy, you did everything the Big Man and the Good Book asked, I'm just used to people freaking out, they know it's going to happen, but it still scares them."
"Well I guess I can understand that, I mean I can kind of understand, I'm not really ready to go myself."
"Well here is the thing, the Big Man said you can have one day."
"For real?"
"Yes, so I would suggest using it wisely."
In the world's eyes Jimmy didn't have much to live for. He was 26, he was single, no children, and his only family was his mother. Jimmy really had no idea what he should do, he seriously contemplated just going in to work, but death convinced him to spend it more wisely than that. Jimmy was a columnist for the New York Post. He had a very good job, but spent a lot of his time by himself writing and reading. He was a fairly good-looking man, very kind, humble, good job, a great lifestyle, so it wasn't like he was single from lack of female interest. He was just simply content being alone. Some people may not agree with his choice of lifestyle, but he enjoyed it and did his part for the world and in his will all of his money went to charity. However, now that he has this one day, he has no family or friends to spend it with. His mother was losing her memory and by now didn't remember him. He wanted to go visit her one last time. He spent the majority of his day with her, she spent most of that time reading, so he read too. She was about to fall asleep, he went over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. With tears beginning to roll down his cheeks he told his mom how much he loved her and said goodbye.
"Will I see you next week as usual?", his mother so innocently asked. Jimmy was conflicted, but he knew the Big Man would forgive him, especially this time.
"Yes mom, I'll be here!". Jimmy so passionately said. In a way he wasn't lying because he will be with her in spirit, he will be with her every day now. He gave her a big hug and walked out. It was about 7:00 pm, Jimmy and death were tossing a football. Death stopped and asked,
"Jimmy, you are a twenty six year old man, you have one more day to live and you are playing catch with death, there has to be something you want to do for your last night."
"You're right, a diner down the street makes the greatest burgers, the perfect last meal."
"A burger? Alright, if that's what you want."
Jimmy and death were devouring their burgers. Jimmy had a huge smile on his face. It didn't take long for death to realise that Jimmy wasn't smiling because of the burgers. He followed Jimmy's eyes and it led him to a beautiful waitress.
"So that's why you wanted this be your last meal." Jimmy started to blush when he was caught in the act of staring at this gorgeous young girl. "Why haven't you ever asked her out?"
"I'm not very good with women, I'm always afraid I'll say something stupid."
"Well it's your last night, who cares if you say something stupid."
"You mean now? I can't talk to her now, I'm going to die in about three hours!"
"Why not? That's the best way to end it all, talking to the girl of your dreams."
"I can't."
"Alright, if you want to end your night with this crappy pie and staring at this girl instead of acting on those feelings, than so be it."
"I'm too nervous, especially with all of these people."
"Alright, we will wait til everyone leaves then."
Jimmy and death waited in that booth for hours. They talked about everything, Jimmy told death his whole life story. They were becoming close even though Jimmy was telling the stories and Death just listened, but he was intrigued, he loved it. Death was living vicariously through Jimmy's stories. They laughed, they smiled, and enjoyed every minute in that booth. Jimmy started to think that his life could have been better if he had more friends, just as he started to wonder the last customer left and the last three people in the diner were Death, Jimmy, and his dream girl.
"Alright now is your chance go talk to her." Jimmy's heart suddenly dropped to his stomach and was beating twice as fast. Jimmy suddenly understood the concept of your life flashing before your eyes as it happened to him in seconds. He saw his whole life, though it was great, he had regrets, some of which were opportunities. This was an opportunity, an opportunity to make the last minutes of his life a moment that he won't regret. He got a big smile on his face as he knew what was waiting for him in about twenty minutes. He knew he had nothing to lose.
"Alright, but I need you to do something for me...". Jimmy walked over to the waitress.
"Hi, my name is Jimmy. You probably don't recognise me, but I come in here a lot and it is because of you, the food kind of sucks.This might sound weird but I think you are gorgeous, I see the way you treat other people and you are the sweetest person ever, and you have a smile that is out of this world. When I think of the dream girl, I can't help, but think of you."
"I'm Lucy.", as she said with a big smile and blushing cheeks. Jimmy knew he had succeeded when he saw that beautiful smile appear. Hearing her name was Death's cue. Frank Sinatra's, "The Way You Look Tonight" started to play.
"Would you like to dance?" Jimmy said very nervously as he stuck his hand out for her to take. She just looked at his hand for a little while, but the smile never left her face. She hadn't said another word, but Jimmy knew he caught her attention.
"I would love to." She reached out and grabbed his hand. Jimmy was spinning her and picking her up and spinning her around and they loved every minute of it. They were both laughing and having the time of their life. The song was coming near the end and she suddenly stopped the energetic dancing and came close to him. She wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head against his chest. Jimmy never felt so happy in his life. He couldn't think of a better way to spend his last moment. Death tapped Jimmy on the back, he told Lucy he had to go, but how much this night meant to him. He walked out of that Diner and she never saw him again. Jimmy left that Diner with a huge smile... and he left this world with an even bigger one.
"For real?"
"Yes, so I would suggest using it wisely."
In the world's eyes Jimmy didn't have much to live for. He was 26, he was single, no children, and his only family was his mother. Jimmy really had no idea what he should do, he seriously contemplated just going in to work, but death convinced him to spend it more wisely than that. Jimmy was a columnist for the New York Post. He had a very good job, but spent a lot of his time by himself writing and reading. He was a fairly good-looking man, very kind, humble, good job, a great lifestyle, so it wasn't like he was single from lack of female interest. He was just simply content being alone. Some people may not agree with his choice of lifestyle, but he enjoyed it and did his part for the world and in his will all of his money went to charity. However, now that he has this one day, he has no family or friends to spend it with. His mother was losing her memory and by now didn't remember him. He wanted to go visit her one last time. He spent the majority of his day with her, she spent most of that time reading, so he read too. She was about to fall asleep, he went over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. With tears beginning to roll down his cheeks he told his mom how much he loved her and said goodbye.
"Will I see you next week as usual?", his mother so innocently asked. Jimmy was conflicted, but he knew the Big Man would forgive him, especially this time.
"Yes mom, I'll be here!". Jimmy so passionately said. In a way he wasn't lying because he will be with her in spirit, he will be with her every day now. He gave her a big hug and walked out. It was about 7:00 pm, Jimmy and death were tossing a football. Death stopped and asked,
"Jimmy, you are a twenty six year old man, you have one more day to live and you are playing catch with death, there has to be something you want to do for your last night."
"You're right, a diner down the street makes the greatest burgers, the perfect last meal."
"A burger? Alright, if that's what you want."
Jimmy and death were devouring their burgers. Jimmy had a huge smile on his face. It didn't take long for death to realise that Jimmy wasn't smiling because of the burgers. He followed Jimmy's eyes and it led him to a beautiful waitress.
"So that's why you wanted this be your last meal." Jimmy started to blush when he was caught in the act of staring at this gorgeous young girl. "Why haven't you ever asked her out?"
"I'm not very good with women, I'm always afraid I'll say something stupid."
"Well it's your last night, who cares if you say something stupid."
"You mean now? I can't talk to her now, I'm going to die in about three hours!"
"Why not? That's the best way to end it all, talking to the girl of your dreams."
"I can't."
"Alright, if you want to end your night with this crappy pie and staring at this girl instead of acting on those feelings, than so be it."
"I'm too nervous, especially with all of these people."
"Alright, we will wait til everyone leaves then."
Jimmy and death waited in that booth for hours. They talked about everything, Jimmy told death his whole life story. They were becoming close even though Jimmy was telling the stories and Death just listened, but he was intrigued, he loved it. Death was living vicariously through Jimmy's stories. They laughed, they smiled, and enjoyed every minute in that booth. Jimmy started to think that his life could have been better if he had more friends, just as he started to wonder the last customer left and the last three people in the diner were Death, Jimmy, and his dream girl.
"Alright now is your chance go talk to her." Jimmy's heart suddenly dropped to his stomach and was beating twice as fast. Jimmy suddenly understood the concept of your life flashing before your eyes as it happened to him in seconds. He saw his whole life, though it was great, he had regrets, some of which were opportunities. This was an opportunity, an opportunity to make the last minutes of his life a moment that he won't regret. He got a big smile on his face as he knew what was waiting for him in about twenty minutes. He knew he had nothing to lose.
"Alright, but I need you to do something for me...". Jimmy walked over to the waitress.
"Hi, my name is Jimmy. You probably don't recognise me, but I come in here a lot and it is because of you, the food kind of sucks.This might sound weird but I think you are gorgeous, I see the way you treat other people and you are the sweetest person ever, and you have a smile that is out of this world. When I think of the dream girl, I can't help, but think of you."
"I'm Lucy.", as she said with a big smile and blushing cheeks. Jimmy knew he had succeeded when he saw that beautiful smile appear. Hearing her name was Death's cue. Frank Sinatra's, "The Way You Look Tonight" started to play.
"Would you like to dance?" Jimmy said very nervously as he stuck his hand out for her to take. She just looked at his hand for a little while, but the smile never left her face. She hadn't said another word, but Jimmy knew he caught her attention.
"I would love to." She reached out and grabbed his hand. Jimmy was spinning her and picking her up and spinning her around and they loved every minute of it. They were both laughing and having the time of their life. The song was coming near the end and she suddenly stopped the energetic dancing and came close to him. She wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head against his chest. Jimmy never felt so happy in his life. He couldn't think of a better way to spend his last moment. Death tapped Jimmy on the back, he told Lucy he had to go, but how much this night meant to him. He walked out of that Diner and she never saw him again. Jimmy left that Diner with a huge smile... and he left this world with an even bigger one.
