Death and Other Inconveniences (The Afterlife Series) - Softcover

Harris, Bambi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1450204139 ISBN 13: 9781450204132

Verlag: iUniverse, 2010

Inhaltsangabe

Penny Lane is brutally murdered on her thirtieth birthday. She is catapulted into a strange afterlife world, not dissimilar from the one she just came from. She is immediately sent to work as a melter, deciding the fates of murderers and ultimately whether they should be reformed, reincarnated, or melted. Only a few are chosen for such a position, and she must deal with the celebrity status that goes along with it.

Penny enjoys the perks of the afterlife like calorie free eating and a money free society where she has been reunited with her childhood dog, Rufus, and befriended the handsome, popular, head greeter, Avery. After falling for her medieval love and finding strength in her life, her new world is turned upside down when one of the murderers on her shift escapes.

This story is of a young woman who must learn to survive her new environment, but also find strength within herself. Death and Other Inconveniences is a fun, and sometimes poignant story that may just eliminate your fear of taking the "next step."

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Bambi Harris has been researching the afterlife and varying belief systems since she was a child. Her passion for paranormal phenomena has led her to delve into mediumship and spiritual healing. She is working on the second book in The Afterlife Series. She resides in rural Illinois with her husband and three dogs.

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Death and Other Inconveniences

The Afterlife SeriesBy Bambi Harris

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Bambi Harris
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-0413-2

Chapter One

It all started when I died.

The Sunday paper recorded it as the coldest day in Illinois for six years. The newspaper managed to condense its report of the most recent celebrity wedding to six pages. I had lost interest in celebrities long ago, about the time I saw Boy George without his make-up. My eyes skim-read over the astrology page, something about life changing surprises. I hate Sundays.

Dark clouds hovered ominously in the night sky. Work friends had planned my birthday dinner for that night. I suspected their motives related to food but turning thirty seemed like a good occasion to hide my dislike for gatherings.

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. The years hadn't burdened my appearance too much. My mid length dark brown hair and gray blue eyes, along with my hourglass figure, had always attracted men, just not the committing type. I overlooked the few skin creases that had surfaced due to years of over thinking.

I took a deep breath and started a bubble bath. Sweet pea bath salts swirled within the steam and I thought about adding some music to the atmosphere. Forgetting a towel as I walked past the misted window in the hallway, I scurried through the living room and reached out for a small radio, avoiding being illuminated by the moonlight.

A sudden sense of danger forced me to freeze. My toes curled inward as I stopped and listened. My neighbor pulled into his driveway and I wondered if I had locked my back door after taking the trash out. I took a few quick strides and confirmed I had.

I lost interest in the radio. A cold breeze hit my shoulders and I stopped at the entrance of my office. The light didn't react to the switch but I could see that the window hadn't been closed. Being a security conscious type, I couldn't reconcile it being open, especially not in winter.

I could hear the floor creak in a nearby room. My heart pounded in my chest; I tasted adrenalin in my throat. I spun around and flicked the hallway light on. It didn't react. My hand trembled as I pushed the bathroom door open. I carefully peeked in and snatched my robe from the back of the door.

I ran as fast as I could to the living room and tripped on the edge of the rug. After a few profanities, I managed to locate my slippers and half put them on as I ran out of the back door. I didn't care who saw me; the outside world saved me from my paranoia.

I ran toward my neighbor's home. A collection of Florida- style pink flamingoes stared at me from their neatly manicured lawn. Mr. and Mrs. Nielson had kept a very nosey, but well intended, eye on me as they knew that I lived alone and had no close family. A fading floral wreath hung on their front door and I thought about the mismatched handkerchiefs Judy Nielson had given me for Christmas. I gripped the gold doorknocker and gave it a few hard taps.

"Hello?" A frail voice answered.

I checked my robe. "Mrs. Nielson? It's me, Penny Lane."

"Yes dear." She fumbled with the lock. "Oh George, could you get this confounded thing? I really wish you would look over the instructions now and then." They fumbled with the lock while I scanned the neighborhood for any spectators.

"Wont be a moment, dear," Mrs. Nielson assured me.

The door swung open. Mr. Nielson quickly tucked his shirt into his pants. They greeted me with a friendly but confused smile.

I gathered my thoughts then blurted them out. "I thought I left the door open when I took the trash out but I didn't, and then I heard something in the house and the lights wouldn't turn on and someone opened my window or I left it open but I don't know."

"Come inside dear, you'll catch a death of cold," Mrs. Nielson said, motioning for me to come in.

Mr. Nielson led me to their wallpapered living room. Thirty-year-old lampshades gave the room a yellow glow. Mr. Nielson pointed past the leather recliner to the back of the room. "Warm yourself at the fire."

Avoiding eye contact, I went to the fire willingly. "I'm so sorry to interrupt your evening." The fire radiated a warm air that revived the veins in my frozen hands. My eyes turned to the bewildered elderly couple. They stared at me, waiting for an announcement.

Mr. Nielson positioned himself at the edge of his plastic-covered love seat and sized me up. "You seem troubled, Penny. Has the news been getting to you?"

The local papers of our small town had frightened everyone with sensational reports of a serial killer on the loose. He had killed four young women in four nearby towns and no one had a clue where he would end up next.

"I suppose it's made me a little paranoid," I agreed.

Mrs. Nielson approached me like she would a small child and cupped my hands in hers. "Are you sure you didn't accidentally leave the window open?"

I tried to hide my frustration. The idea of a birthday dinner already repelled my usually subdued nature, but adding a robed visit to my neighbor's home, added real icing to the cake. "I don't open my windows," is all I could say.

Mr. Nielson stood dramatically and left the room. My eyes followed him then returned to the fire. He returned seconds later wearing a thick coat and hunters cap. "How bout we give your house the once over?"

I offered him a grateful smile. "I don't want to inconvenience you." I spied a half eaten bowl of stew on a small table near the recliner.

"Not at all," he beamed, enjoying his hero status. "I'll even check your electricity." He headed to his front door excitedly.

I acknowledged Mrs. Nielson with a nod as I followed her husband into the cold night.

"Oh no!" I screamed. "I left my water running." I ran frantically toward my home. The front door slammed into the wall when I ran inside. I couldn't recall if I had closed it before I visited the Nielson's. Water covered the floors in the hallway. "Oh no," I said, defeated. The water had soaked the floors and bath mat. I sloshed through it and turned the faucet off.

"That's a right mess you've got here," Mr. Nielson unhelpfully informed me.

Warm tears fell down my face as I leaned against the cold tiled wall.

"Don't worry honey, we'll get you fixed up. Where do you keep your bulbs then?"

I pointed to the closet in the hallway. Water penetrated his boots as he sifted through a mixture of cleaning products and old make up. "Ah, here we are, good ole 75 watt too." He handed me the four-pack. His hand wandered to the middle of his back as he stood slowly. "How bout I check your rooms while you do that?"

He followed me into the kitchen where I picked up a chair for my task. "Be careful," he warned me from the laundry.

The chair wobbled on the uneven floor, which I stared at dismally. Although it took a short procedure, I got the distinct feeling I hadn't twisted the bulb enough to stay for good.

Mr. Nielson returned to the hallway and held his hand out, gently assisting me down. "You're all clear," he stated.

"Thanks, Mr. Nielson." I followed him out.

"Would you like some help with that bath?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, I have to get ready. I'm going out soon, and I'd rather not even worry about it right now," I said honestly.

"Have it your way, but you might want to get a plumber of some sorts to check it out."

"I will," I promised. I shut the door behind him, and then locked it.

...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: iUniverse
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1450204139
• ISBN 13: 9781450204132
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 280
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: KreGa Onlinehandel GmbH; 4950000000000; info@krega-onlinehandel.de; ; Birkenweg 31; Brakel; 33034; Deutschland