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| PHOTO PROMPT © Na’ama Yehuda |
AFTERLIFE
The last thing Bert
remembered was his scolding wife.
Now he was queueing, in
the rain!
Who
knew?
'Morning, Bert. Name's
Austin. How d’you want to return?'
'Return?'
'This new to you?'
'Course it's new...'
Bert paused in astonishment.
'Ah! This is my fourth
death. What’s it to be: guy or gal? I tried womanhood in 1840.
Spent a miserable life in domestic service.'
‘This is so sudden.’
‘That’s death for
you, Bert. Male or female?’
Images of his wife
snarling over monthly unmentionables, childbirth and menopause
flashed.
‘Male please,’ said
Bert.
‘Good choice,’ said
Austin.
I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments.
If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE
If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.
On a final note - I always attempt to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been redirected to your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign into wordpress first.
Please check and amend your settings. Thanks.
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Dear Susan,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure male's that great an option these days. ;) On the other hand...imaginative piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It's a matter of opinion, isn't it? My characters preferred the male option. Nothing else to be read into it - it's just a humorous story.
DeleteDefinitely seems to be an easier life ... :D
ReplyDeleteIt's all down to perspective, isn't it?
DeleteNo choice about species?
ReplyDeleteNow don't go complicating things, Neil! :)
DeleteAmusing, but with a wee bite.
ReplyDeleteLike it a lot.
Thank you! Great minds and all that. :)
DeletePros and cons on both sides. Would be interesting to try a life in the other shoes though :-)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't think one gender is better or easier than the other! Thanks for commenting, Iain.
DeleteHee :-) I thought maybe he'd go for "female" so she could have fun snarling at her husband :-)
ReplyDeleteHe he - maybe he's too nice and easy going to want to experience the pain and frustrations of raging hormones? :)
DeleteAh, well, I think there are some perceived benefits for the "male" choice but then again, there are many (more to me) for the "female" - so who knows ... ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, like I've already said - I don't think one gender is better than the other. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteDelightfully told tale, Susan.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you enjoyed it, Jade. :)
DeleteI love it! Hahhaaaa. Men could not take it if they had to push out a watermelon out of you know where.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if they've witnessed what it takes! Thanks for commenting, Birgit.
DeleteWell now, since this is going to be a recurring event, he might change his mind on his next go of it ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou never know! Thanks for commenting, Dale.
DeleteThere may be a lot more to consider than gender :)
ReplyDeleteVery true. In my original, longer version, he did have more to think about. Thanks for commenting, Reena.
DeleteI guess Bert's not such an experimenter.
ReplyDeleteHe he - likes to stick to what he knows, perhaps? Thanks for commenting, Bernadette.
DeleteThere is of course a third option these days!
ReplyDeleteHere's my story.
He he - now that would throw a spanner in the works, Keith! (no pun intended)
DeleteThink I'll stick with female, despite the down side!
ReplyDeleteI dunno - I could be tempted to try something different! :)
DeleteHe's not very adventurous is he?
ReplyDeleteNo he's not - but then again - we don't know what his wife was really like. :)
DeleteLove your take on the prompt
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks Jo - appreciate that! :)
DeleteHa ha a funny piece, what a decision to make, I guess he took the better the devil you know choice. Like this a lot
ReplyDeleteYes, I think he decided to play safe. Thanks for the comment. :)
DeleteWhat a decision to have to make. I myself, would like to stay a woman, childbirth and all. I loved being pregnant.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy with my gender - but can't say I've enjoyed certain aspects that go with it! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteIt would be nice to have a choice (without the need for surgery and hormones). I think, given the option, I would stay male. I am constantly in awe of the things women endure while maintaining grace and beauty. I feel like I'm going to die when I get a cold.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a short story by Andy Weir called "The Egg." It has a similar reincarnation theme.
I'm not familiar with that story - I'll have to check it out. Thanks for commenting.
Deletehaha...nicely done. I had a good laugh reading your story, Susan but it also made me wonder why it is never easy being a woman in a man's world. Given a choice, who knows I might also be like Bert too!
ReplyDeleteExploring the reasons for women's difficulties in the world would take more than a 100 word story. Thanks for commenting. :)
Delete"Snarling over monthly unmentionables, childbirth and hot flashes"--yeah, I'd probably choose to be male, too :)
ReplyDeleteIt's all down to perspective, isn't it? Thanks for commenting. (Did you try the blog signature description I gave you?)
Deletehe must have been highly evolved. some folks don't get to choose. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, now that's food for thought!
DeleteHe is totally missing some fun. He needs to break away from his preconceived notions.
ReplyDeleteFun take on the prompt Susan.
Cheerio!
Natasha
https://natashamusing.com/2019/09/the-show-must-go-on-friday-fictioneers-natasha-musing/
Perhaps that's the moral of the story? Thanks for the insight, Natasha.
DeleteVery inventive. Never having been male ;) it might seem easier on the surface.
ReplyDeleteHa ha - my feeling is that Bert based his decision on his observations of his wife. Thanks for commenting, Sascha.
Delete