Ficlets

Death and the City

Slow nights are rare in my line of work. For some reason, I’m always in demand after dark. Don’t know why – but it’s always been so. I knew what I was signing up for when I agreed to do the job but still, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate an off night when I get it.

Tonight was a slow night so I decided to go into the city. I was drawn to the raucous blur of humanity that jostled and shoved on the heaving pavement, the discordant buzz of so many voices in so many different languages that was like opera to me.

I felt most alive in the midst of such chaos. Which was ironic, considering who I am. Considering what I do for a living. You know me as “Death” but me, I just call myself Jeff.

As I walked down a dark alley, admiring the way the clouds shrouded the moon, I heard the siren call of a new assignment. It came in from the downtown district – another drug overdose. I sighed. This had apparently become de rigueur, at least in the youth. What a waste. There had to be more inventive ways to end a life.

Comments

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Death and the City
SKermitgorf
Posted 2 months ago

LOve the last line,and the comic eliment of death calling himself jeff lol.
Death and the City
THX 0477
Posted 2 months ago

Most morbid use of de rigueur ever. Great stuff.
Death and the City
Mistress Elsha Hawk
Posted 2 months ago

I can hear this droll, bored tone in my head as he gets ready for the pick-up downtown. I’ve seen the movies based on the Disc World series and the TV show Dead Like Me and picture Jeff sort of as a cross between the two.
Death and the City
Wyatt Aapr
Posted 2 months ago

I loved it. It need a sequel—fast.
Death and the City
BARomero
Posted 2 months ago

I’m picturing the neurotic-Norm-MacDonald-Family-Guy version of Death here…
Death and the City
[ wall.doll ]
Posted 2 months ago

Clever portrayal of a day in the life of Death (wow, that was ironic). I’m in concurrence with BARomero about the Family Guy version. It just makes in funnier.
Death and the City
Music-Hearted
Posted 2 months ago

Oh, I’m intrigued already. Great job, you sucked me in…
Death and the City
Laine the Grey
Posted 2 months ago

Have you read The Book Thief? It’s narrated by Death, and that’s what this made me think of.
Death and the City
g2 (la pianista irlandesa)
Posted 2 months ago

Wow. Never really seen (or not, I don’t know) Death personified before like this. “I just call myself Jeff.” Just beautiful (feels so weird to say that…)
Death and the City
ALRO613 ♪ LoA ♫
Posted 2 months ago

Started reading this in the middle and found the start finally.. This is AMAZING …
Death and the City
Wyatt Aapr
Posted 2 months ago

Ana, In my humble opinion you seem to be one of the very best writers of these ficlets. And I like the way you critique writers with kid gloves, that is a talent. I’m afraid I’m more of a Simon Cowell. I would love to tell all these writers that they are wonderful, but I feel that telling them that would not help them. And believe it or not i want to help them.
Death and the City
Wyatt Aapr
Posted 2 months ago

Ana, In my humble opinion you seem to be one of the very best writers of these ficlets. And I like the way you critique writers with kid gloves, that is a talent. I’m afraid I’m more of a Simon Cowell. I would love to tell all these writers that they are wonderful, but I feel that telling them that would not help them. And believe it or not i want to help them.
Death and the City
Wyatt Aapr
Posted 2 months ago

Ana, In my humble opinion you seem to be one of the very best writers of these ficlets. And I like the way you critique writers with kid gloves, that is a talent. I’m afraid I’m more of a Simon Cowell. I would love to tell all these writers that they are wonderful, but I feel that telling them that would not help them. And believe it or not i want to help them.
Death and the City
thebetweenspace
Posted 21 days ago

I love the last line! Bracing myself for another fun/morbid? series.