06/10/2024
A man who just died is delivered to a local mortuary by his wife.
The widow could barely hold back her tears as she met with the mortician to discuss her husband's burial arrangements.
Though she knew it was time, letting go of her beloved after decades together devastated her.
She needed every detail to be perfect to honour him.
The mortuary was sterile and cold - sending a chill down her spine.
The muted light switched off metal instruments and tiles.
Chemicals mingled with the faint odour of death.
She shivered seeing the equipment used to prepare bodies for final viewing.
The mortician asks the deceased's wife how she would like the body dressed on the day of removal, pointing out that the man does look good in the black suit he was wearing on his way to work before he got into an accident.
The widow, however, says that she always thought her husband looked his best in blue, and that she wants him in a blue suit however recalling how dashing he looked on their wedding day.
The mortician agreed, though her husband already wore an expensive black suit.
She gives the mortician a blank check and says, “I don't care what it costs, but please have my husband in a very good blue suit for the viewing.”
The night before the removal, sleep evaded her. She twisted and turned, imagining her husband's body alone in that cold, bleak place.
Thoughts of him dressed handsomely in blue finally brought some brief break from restless grief.
The next morning, her heart pounded as she returned to the mortuary. She braced herself before entering the viewing room, anxious to see him.
She finds her husband dressed in a gorgeous blue suit with a subtle chalk stripe; the suit fits him perfectly.
She says to the mortician, “Whatever this cost, I'm very satisfied.
You did an excellent job and I'm very grateful. How much did you spend?”
To her surprise, the mortician presents her with the blank check, “There's no charge.”
“No, really, I must compensate you for the cost of that exquisite blue suit,” she says.
“Honestly, ma'am,” the mortician says, “it cost nothing.
You see, a deceased gentleman of about your husband's size was brought in shortly after you left last week, and he was wearing an attractive blue suit.
I asked his wife if she minded him going to his grave wearing a black suit instead, and she said it made no difference as long as he looked nice.”
“So I just switched the heads.”
The End!
By the way…how do you think the story ended?
