by J. Anya Kozak

Created on: September 24, 2010   Last Updated: February 22, 2011

Waiting Room for the Not Quite Dead

Hanging from the highest ceiling in the house, the huge chandelier was a shameless display of beauty with its six peach colored globes that were skillfully carved into flowers from pure alabaster stone.  Each of these flowers held a single bulb and sat gracefully at the end of an upturned delicately sculptured, brass arm. The entire fixture seemed to dance with joy when switched on, whereupon a shower of light would bathe the surrounding rooms in a warm glow welcoming all to live and laugh under its beaming radiance.

Josh and Paula lived in the house with their two daughters for over thirty years and had recently refurnished, repainted, and added some well placed area rugs to cover the richly finished wood floors.

Josh constantly reminded his wife that he could no longer walk around in the dark because he kept bumping into the new furniture. Paula laughed at Josh’s clumsiness and confessed that she too would occasionally slip and go sailing through a room on “a magic carpet ride,” because she forgot to secure one of their new area rugs.   That may be why Josh was not shocked when he got the call that his wife was in the hospital.

They all agreed that it was a freak accident.  Family and friends gathered at the hospital and hung around drinking coffee and speaking in low monotones like they were at a wake.  Josh got up to greet each new person as they entered the poorly lit room with the shabby, plaid chairs. There were hugs and tears and not much hope for Paula to survive. It was found that she had a serious skull fracture and had not as yet regained consciousness. For the most part, the visitors did not ask questions because Josh was close to the edge of reason, and at times they feared he would lose touch completely.

However, among themselves, the comments and questions were flying.  Allison, Paula’s best friend, knew how Paula loved taking care of her house and refused Josh’s offer to pay for a cleaning service. She was always polishing, waxing, and cleaning; windows, furniture, and floors that were already spotless, but Paula wanted them to sparkle. 

“She was found lying on the stairs in the foyer with a dust cloth in her hand.”  Allison whispered to Meg. 

Meg’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “What was she doing with a dust cloth on the stairs?”

Allison looked at Meg and Meg thought she detected the slightest roll in her

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