Page 6 of An Unexpected Ascension
Why does that sound worse than jail?
“Can you elaborate on those a little, please? It’s my first time here.” I joke, but he doesn’t seem amused.
“What exactly are you confused about?”
“Well, what is a buddy? What do you mean by selfish behavior? After five years do I get to be gluttonous and obtain materialistic possessions? What happens if I don’t complete my penance or accidentally violate some of it?”
“Don’t complete your penance and you’re escorted to Hell. Violate a part of your penance and you dig yourself a deeper hole. Unless, of course the violation is grounds for immediate damnation.” He stares at me. “If you complete your penance and are absolved of your sins, then you may begin to earn currency to barter for luxuries, which at times may be seen as gluttonous, but between you and me, you earn yourself something fancy, it’s hardly an act of spoilage. Oh,and a buddy is a fellow angel, a guide to help you navigate the rules of Heaven.”
“Rules?”
He sighs, as if I’ve exhausted him already. “Here.”
He snaps his fingers and, in his hands, appears a book the size of a modern encyclopedia one might find at a library back on Earth.
“You can find all the rules in here. Busying yourself with the likes of that will fill some of that time that seems to stretch on for eternity. Your buddy should have the highlights. Okay now, just exit there,” he points to the same door I entered through, “and reenter to finalize your admittance.”
Before I can ask him any more questions, he’s gone, and the book seems to disappear into thin air.
Shoot, I needed that!
I drag my feet towards the exit, a horrible gut feeling sinking in. If I couldn’t keep myself from sinning when I was alive, how am I supposed to do it now?
I certainly don’t want to end up in Hell and I’m not sure what Purgatory is, but it doesn’t sound like I would enjoy that either.
Hesitantly, I shut the door behind me, then turn to face it again curious what will be behind it when I walk back through.
I twist the handle, stepping inside, and this time I’m entering a courtroom. Shiny, rich mahogany pews line either side of the isle, separated by the front of the room where the Judge sits.
“Hurry, child. Let’s get this over with.” He ushers me forward.
With quick steps, I meet him in front of his bench. He holds his hand out, waving for me to give him my papers. He nods as he looks them over, his eyes widening at one point and then clears his throat.
Unlike St. Thomas, the Judge takes his time in reviewing each page. Grimacing at my sins and nodding in approval at the few good deeds. Finally, he looks up at me with chocolate brown eyes, the same as his skin.
“Do you, Briar Wren Fenton, agree to complete your penance and abolish your sins for a blessed afterlife?” he asks.
I nod.
“You must say I do.”
I swallow nervously. “I do.”
“Do you agree to complete 2,487Hail Marysto repent for your lies?”
“I do.”
“Do you agree to 800 volunteer hours as a Buddy after your ninety days to repent for your pride, drunkenness, and selfishness?”
“I do.”
“Do you agree to abstain from any selfishness, gluttonous activities, and unnecessary materialist possessions for at least 5 years to repent for lying by omission, your arrogance, and having premarital relations?”
Gritting my teeth, I let out the final “I do.”
“Very well.” He slams his gavel down on the bench, the loud bang echoing in the empty room. “Welcome to Heaven.”
Snapping his fingers, the pink slip vanishes into thin air and appears above my head for the briefest second, attaching itself to me. It hovers over my head like a little light before it dies out, dissolving once again. The Judge gestures to the door behind me, the same one I’ve walked in and out of already.
