A Sunday Afternoon

III

Riley looked around at the vast landscape, down to what seemed to be olive trees and various religious buildings. Everything was clear and the fog that clouded his vision was gone.

“Why can I see clearly now?” he said to Death. It was a bit of a shock to go from this grey tone monotone view of the world to being flooded with a clear blue sky and rich green hill sides.

“Oh, right the foggy stuff. Well, that haze happens when their are living people around. Things sort of fog up.” Death replied with a tone that wasn’t very reassuring. “I honestly, don’t know why things get fuzzy around living folks but, it happens.”

“Like a spider sense for the dead?” Riley asked with a laugh.

Death looked at him wryly. “Yea, sure.”

Riley took in the surroundings but, wasn’t entirely too impressed. Maybe in a time when people didn’t have the internet or pictures, this sort of thing was awe inspiring. “Where are we?” he said.

“Mount Olivet. Or better known as Mount of Olives.” Death shot back quickly.

“Oh, hm. Jesus had something to do with this place, no? Didn’t he get crucified up here” Riley asked.

“No, not here. He was crucified somewhere else. This is where he spent some time talking to folks. Everyone has a favorite place of theirs, this was probably one of his.” Death said slowly.

“So, you’ve been around huh. You saw Jesus talking to folks and everything. That’s pretty far out,”Riley said with a new found sense of perspective. He had just realized the scope that Death had when it came to time and space. Death saw Jesus give sermons, which could only men he saw him live and consequently die. You probably know where he is going with this. The next question would obviously be on the tip of his tongue. “Did he get resurrected, after all? Did you have anything to do with that?”

“Oh ho ho, when was the last time someone asked me that,” Death laughed. “Yes, I was apart of that. But, it wasn’t a pure resurrection. Like I told you, you can see living beings if you will it and at times they can see you. I only made the whisper thing fabric of reality between this world and the living world much thinner for him.”

“Oh, I see. How interesting. So you talked to this God fellow,” Riley asked hesitantly.

“Well, talked is not really what I do with God. We sort of…”Death’ face contorted a bit. He was looking for that exact word.

“Telepathically comuunicated?” Riley answered.

“Yea, that works. He asked me to give this Jesus fellow a special leeway into the realm of the living so that his could in fact at times becomes corporeal. He was able to use his body again but, he brought that body with him to this realm of the living. He was the only one able to do that, everyone else leaves their body behind,” he explained.

“I understand. Soooo, there is a heaven?” asked Riley.

“Yes, sir.” Death replied.

“And a hell?” Riley asked already knowing the answer.

“Yup.” Death replied again with a zest. “Peter is a great guy. And I don’t think I remember who guards the entry to Hell. I think it’s more of a self service joint.”

“I guess that’s where I will be going in a few days. I’ll send you a postcard.” Riley said. He was angry that he had been wrong all these years. Dropping his beliefs would now give him a one way ticket to eternal damnation.

“Not necessarily,” Death said with a smile. “I’ll explain it to you later. But, first let’s go see Peter. I haven’t had a chat with him in awhile and you’ll be able to see the pearly gates.”

“Really?” Riley said excitedly.

“Yea, why not. Just don’t curse, Peter hates people who curse. It really bugs him.” Death said silently as if in a library. “Just consider yourself a tourist.”

And with those last words, the green olive trees had transfigured into clouds. The sky still as blue but now not only above but below. Heaven, much to Riley’s approval, was a very stark white and serene looking place. That is, the entrance was. Large gates that seemed to have constructed by the marriage of wrought iron and pearls, with an illustrious shine that mirrored the sun. Divine was not a fitting enough word to describe it.

“This is really beautiful. I wonder how all those painters got it so right. It’s as if they had a field trip here, took photos then went back to reality to paint them. Really, just stunningly beautiful.” Riley said.

“It’s nice. I’m not a fan of so much white but, I imagine you must get used to it.” Death said. “Anyway, let’s go talk to Peter and then we can talk about what will happen to you.”