The Old Man

The Old Man

An old car nearing the end of its life slowly drives down the street,
while people on the sidewalks see it and think thoughts other than it looks sweet.
The car slows way early for every stop light pissing off everyone behind it.
Some other drivers even go as far as raising their fists in an angry fit.
Cuss words are shouted towards the car as it crosses the center line from time to time.
Its clear the driver behind the wheel is no longer in his prime.

After a long, slow, adventurous drive, the car finally pulls in to a parking lot of a catholic church.
The diver is relieved to be here to continue on in his search
for eternal life long after from the earth he departs.
His time on earth is nearing its end, he can feel it in his bones and heart.
For a life in Heaven, its never too late to get a head start,
only the man has picked the wrong religion.
Apparently, he didn’t receive the memo from the messenger pigeon.

The front driver side door opens and an old man slowly steps out.
A warm smile spreads across his face, he his happy to be here, there is no doubt.
He grabs his walking cane out of the car and shuts the door behind him.
Slowly begins his walk towards the front doors of the church ready to sing some hymns.

After a slow walk out of the parking lot, he reaches the sidewalk in front of the church.
Other church goes walk by him saying, “good morning George.”
He offers a good morning in response and continues his slow walk,
secretly wishing people would engage in conversation with him other than small talk.

Nearing the end of the sidewalk and the entrance to the church, George trips and drops his walking cane.
Unable to reach down to pick it up, he asks for helps as people walk by, but his pleas are in vain.
As people walk by in bunches, not one offers to help George out.
He’s getting so angry he could cuss and shout.

Just as frustration begins to get the best of him, George notices a well-dressed man approaching him.
He strange man with a well-kept goatee flashes George a warm smile, turning George’s attitude positive from down right grim.
The strange man bends over the picks up the cane for George, handing it back to him.
George notices the strange man is rather muscular and assumes he must work out at the gym.
George thanks the man for the help and invites him to sit next to him for the duration of the service.
The strange man accepts the invite not seeming at all nervous.

George and the strange man go inside the church together and take a seat up front, where no church goer seems to want to sit.
Its rather disheartening, George is open to admit.
The Priest appears and takes his place in front of the church.
The priest notices the strange man without having to do much of a search.
A sense of recognition and fear comes over the face of the priest as he sees the strange man.
The strange man smiles at the priest like he’s his number one fan.
The entire service the priest doesn’t take his eyes off of his visitor.
George notices this and gets an urge to become the priest’s inquisitor.
Unfortunately for George, he won’t be getting the time to do just that.
He won’t even be allowed one final goodbye to his cat.

As the service ends, the strange man offers to walk George out to his car.
George nervous of the man tells him he doesn’t have to, but the strange man insists citing the walk is not very far.
George obliges since he sees no way out of it.
It’s a mistake he will soon regret.

The strange man walks George outside and comes to a stop with him at the end of the sidewalk in front of the church.
The strange man is about to reveal to George just who is in charge.
George thanks the man for walking him out and insists he can walk the rest of the way to his car on his own.
In reality, the strange man chills George down to his bones.

The strange man speaks, “George I know you live in a world of pain.
With continuing on with life, you have nothing left to gain.
Your body continues to decay and get worse.
It’s really an unfair curse.
You have lived a good life and have nothing to be ashamed of.
You did everything for your long-departed wife and earned your children’s love.”

“What are you getting at sir?
You make me uncomfortable and departing my presence is what I prefer.”

“I’ll be straight with you George, its time for your life to end.
Not another day on earth will you be allowed to spend.”

“I will die when the good lord takes me,
Now leave my presence and let me be,
or I’m calling the cops and having you arrested.
I’m not a man that cares to be tested!”

The strange man puts his hands on George’s shoulders and stares him in the eyes.
George wants to continue to live, but there will be no compromise.

“George a semi is approaching at a high rate of speed.
You are going to look at it, judge its distance and misread,
Then walk out into the street, get hit by it and bleed.
Your pain and suffering will come to an end, that we both can agree.”

George turns his head and looks at a semi fast approaching.
He understands what he must do, he requires know more coaching.
He turns and walks out into the road,
as the semi drivers hits his horn, slams his breaks and tries in vain to slow.

The semi can’t stop fast enough as it hits George and sends him flying a few feet.
His time has come, death won’t be cheated.
The strange man appears over George as he takes his final breaths.
A crowd forms around him as he nears death.
The strange man smiles as life leaves George’s eyes and they turn gray.
For the strange man, it’s been a good day.