Myshuno! 2014 Prompt: "An unexpected visitor" (239 words)
The prompt for this story was “An unexpected visitor,” submitted by silverbelle1220. This story fits into Chapter 55 of Already in Progress. There are no spoilers, and in fact half the short it lifted straight from the chapter, but I have not counted those words towards my word count for this story.
Rating: G
Dramatis Personae
Grim Reaper, whose voice cuts in and out of human hearing
Edgar “Eddie” Miller, also known as “Mr. Way-Too-Nice”
Celeste Miller, his wife
Frederic Miller, his son
Isaac Miller, Frederic’s husband
Helen Miller, Frederic and Isaac’s daughter
Setting
The living room/dining room of the Miller home. A spectral figure in a hooded black robe floats through the outside wall.
GRIM REAPER: .r. .ill.r?
EDGAR: Yes? (turns) Oh, hello. I wasn’t expecting you for a while yet. Is it that time already?
GRIM REAPER: ‘.rai. .o.
EDGAR: Oh, that’s too bad. Do you want a glass of water or anything before we head out?
GRIM REAPER: .o, ..ank .ou, .r. .ill...
EDGAR: Okay then. Well, Celeste, we had a good run. Always remember how much I love you. (kisses her tenderly; Celeste bursts into tears) Frederic, I’m proud of you and I love you so, so much, little guy. (hugs him; Frederic starts to cry quietly) Helen, sweetheart, I won’t be able to see you grow up in person, but know that I will always, always love you, and I’ll always be with you here. (taps her chest and then kisses her on the forehead) Isaac, you’re a good man and I love you too. Take care of them, okay? (gives Isaac one of those handshake/one-armed-hug combos)
HELEN: But Grandpa, where are you going?
EDGAR: I’m levelling up, sweetheart.
HELEN (frowning in puzzlement): So you’re getting laser cannon boots?
EDGAR: Well, I don’t know for sure. Maybe. Nobody ever comes back to say.
HELEN (as her eyes fill with tears): So you’re never coming back, not ever?
GRIM REAPER: .o, .i.. .ill.., no. eve..
(Helen begins to weep)
*ISAAC (to Grim Reaper): Hey, what is up with you, pal? Can’t you see you’re making my little girl cry?
GRIM REAPER: .orr..
ISAAC: Yeah, you better be!
EDGAR: Now, now. He’s just doing his job. No need to threaten him.
GRIM REAPER: ..an. .ou, .r. .ill...
EDGAR. Oh, that’s okay. Emotions run high at times like these. Do you have my drink?
GRIM REAPER: I .ur. .o.
EDGAR: And my suitcase?
GRIM REAPER: .igh. .ere, .r. .ill...
EDGAR: My goodness, you certainly are professional! Okay, I’m ready.
The Grim Reaper’s lines, in order
Mr. Miller?
‘Fraid so.
No, thank you, Mr. Miller.
No, Miss Miller, not ever.
Sorry.
Thank you, Mr. Miller.
I sure do.
Right here, Mr. Miller.
Note: Anything from the asterisk (*) onwards was already in the chapter and is not included in my word count.
Rating: G
Dramatis Personae
Grim Reaper, whose voice cuts in and out of human hearing
Edgar “Eddie” Miller, also known as “Mr. Way-Too-Nice”
Celeste Miller, his wife
Frederic Miller, his son
Isaac Miller, Frederic’s husband
Helen Miller, Frederic and Isaac’s daughter
Setting
The living room/dining room of the Miller home. A spectral figure in a hooded black robe floats through the outside wall.
GRIM REAPER: .r. .ill.r?
EDGAR: Yes? (turns) Oh, hello. I wasn’t expecting you for a while yet. Is it that time already?
GRIM REAPER: ‘.rai. .o.
EDGAR: Oh, that’s too bad. Do you want a glass of water or anything before we head out?
GRIM REAPER: .o, ..ank .ou, .r. .ill...
EDGAR: Okay then. Well, Celeste, we had a good run. Always remember how much I love you. (kisses her tenderly; Celeste bursts into tears) Frederic, I’m proud of you and I love you so, so much, little guy. (hugs him; Frederic starts to cry quietly) Helen, sweetheart, I won’t be able to see you grow up in person, but know that I will always, always love you, and I’ll always be with you here. (taps her chest and then kisses her on the forehead) Isaac, you’re a good man and I love you too. Take care of them, okay? (gives Isaac one of those handshake/one-armed-hug combos)
HELEN: But Grandpa, where are you going?
EDGAR: I’m levelling up, sweetheart.
HELEN (frowning in puzzlement): So you’re getting laser cannon boots?
EDGAR: Well, I don’t know for sure. Maybe. Nobody ever comes back to say.
HELEN (as her eyes fill with tears): So you’re never coming back, not ever?
GRIM REAPER: .o, .i.. .ill.., no. eve..
(Helen begins to weep)
*ISAAC (to Grim Reaper): Hey, what is up with you, pal? Can’t you see you’re making my little girl cry?
GRIM REAPER: .orr..
ISAAC: Yeah, you better be!
EDGAR: Now, now. He’s just doing his job. No need to threaten him.
GRIM REAPER: ..an. .ou, .r. .ill...
EDGAR. Oh, that’s okay. Emotions run high at times like these. Do you have my drink?
GRIM REAPER: I .ur. .o.
EDGAR: And my suitcase?
GRIM REAPER: .igh. .ere, .r. .ill...
EDGAR: My goodness, you certainly are professional! Okay, I’m ready.
The Grim Reaper’s lines, in order
Mr. Miller?
‘Fraid so.
No, thank you, Mr. Miller.
No, Miss Miller, not ever.
Sorry.
Thank you, Mr. Miller.
I sure do.
Right here, Mr. Miller.
Note: Anything from the asterisk (*) onwards was already in the chapter and is not included in my word count.