The Last Word

'What's the last word you'll say when you die?' the 11-year-old asks from the back seat of the Skoda. 'Mine will be 'me'! Or maybe 'shopping'.'

'Mine will be 'f***!' shrieks the 9-year-old, gleefully envisaging a scenario where there can be no comeuppance.

'Dad's will be 'Jesus',' says the 11-year-old with withering scorn. 'What'll be yours, Mum?'

Over the steering wheel I ponder. I've given much thought to my preferred Apocalypse meal (boiled eggs), companion (the Vicar) and venue (Waterperry Gardens), but none at all to my parting shot. I'd like to think it would be 'sorry' for the distressing number of things I meant to do but didn't. And the distressing number of things I did that I didn't mean to. More likely it would be my catch-all for every unexpected circumstance: 'blimey!'

The children have tired of waiting for my answer. 'I bet yours will be 'minute',' prompts the 9-year-old grinning at his sister. 'How come?' I reply. 'Because when God decides your time's up, you'll say what you're always saying...' and there comes a sing-song chorus from behind me:

'Will you just wait a minute!'

What will be your last word?





Comments

  1. Anonymous17 June 2014 at 21:18

    I would like my last word to be profound, but then, I have never been profound. I am also known for my propensity to never use one word when a whole sentence will do!
    If my children are there and we are able to communicate, then I would tell them that I love them and that I am so very proud of them. My husband would be told to marry again (and then under my breath 'at his peril, cos I will come back and haunt you both' a bit like Ernie with his ghostly gold tops a'rattling in his crate!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adventures of a Middle-aged Matron19 June 2014 at 19:53

      I too like to think I'd wish the Vicar a consoling blonde to help him over his bereavement, but I suspect it would ruin the afterlife for me if he obliged.

      Delete
  2. Angela18 June 2014 at 12:01

    I only get ONE word?! I hope and pray I would get the opportunity to tell them to "Trust Jesus"
    but my family frequently tell me that if I have a tombstone [nb I want to be cremated, thankyou] they will engrave upon it the oft-repeated phrase "I haven't finished my tea yet!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adventures of a Middle-aged Matron19 June 2014 at 19:53

      No, you get as many as you like, I think. They just wanted to know the last of them and both yours sound very suitable.

      Delete
  3. Iota 18 June 2014 at 15:07

    Boiled eggs? Surely you could manage something a little more exotic to depart to!

    I'd like to think I'll be compos mentis enough to manage copying Spike Milligan's wry epitaph: "I told you I was ill".

    ReplyDelete
  4. Older Mum18 June 2014 at 19:26

    Brilliant. I think mine will be 'wait a minute' too. That's all I ever seem to say these days, and 'what's the magic word?' X

    ReplyDelete
  5. Margaret18 June 2014 at 20:55

    I think mine might be 'will you lot stop arguing'

    ReplyDelete
  6. Adventures of a Middle-aged Matron19 June 2014 at 19:52

    Says it all. But it depends on who's bending over you as you utter your last!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jay20 June 2014 at 09:19

    Very similar to yours, "hang on a minute will you!"

    ReplyDelete

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