Writephoto’s prompt this week is

‘Hello? Can I help?”

‘What? Do you know why we can’t cross?’

‘No one explained?’

‘I…’

‘Leave it, Pete. We’ll try later and…’

‘I fear Madam is a trifle optimistic if you hope to cross at all, let alone later.’

‘But we were told to cross the river and…’

‘Indeed. And were you told to use the complimentary boat? Over there?’

‘Well yes but we thought…’

‘You’re new aren’t you? Getting used to your new status?’

‘It’s been a bit of a shock.’

‘I still don’t understand why we can’t cross the bridge.’

‘No, well, sir was told, wasn’t he? In the briefing.’

‘I’ve no idea why it’s called a briefing. It’s the opposite of brief.’

‘Very droll sir but a word of advice. Being a bit of a smarty pants right now is not advised.’

‘Pete, please don’t make a fuss. I think I’m getting a bit of a migraine.’

‘How the hell can you get a migraine if you’ve not got a head.’

‘Sir, Madam, I really do advise against fighting. Shall we back track a little? There’s a cafe, you passed it on your way up here. We can grab a cappuccino and talk.’

‘You serious? We can still get a coffee?’

‘No, true. It’s more a figure of speech. There are a lot of those.’

‘Figures of speech?’

‘Awkward situations. Being dead takes a little effort on the deceased’s part. Shall we?’

‘It’s true then. We’re dead?’

‘Oh Pete, I told you that man with the scythe looked familiar.’

‘I’m afraid you are, yes. Deceased. Gone. Passed to another plain. Joining…’

‘Look we really don’t need you going all Monty Python on us. We’re just trying to get across the river. We were told it..’

‘The Styx?’

‘It was the bloody Thames before we ate the dodgy prawns…’

‘And now it’s your route to your Hereafter. I really do advise you go and get a seat. You’ll be far more comfortable and it will enhance your chances of experiencing a more pleasant interim while they process which Hereafter you’re allocated to.’

‘Come on Pete, I think this nice man is trying to help. Thank you. We’ll be going.’

‘Yes but what did he mean about an interi….’

‘Come on, Pete!’

….

‘Have they gone?’

‘Yep. They’re getting on the boat.’

‘That’s the 17.25 to Purgatory, isn’t it?’

‘You know. For an Archangel, you can be a right bastard Gabriel.’