Welcome to the newly decorated Attic. Can't get rid of those damn spiders though, they just keep on coming!

We have the start of a new serial for you this month by the wonderful C.A. Dawson. Her novella "Death Notes" will be read up here for the next four months. So, sit back relax and enjoy the story...

WELCOME TO THE NEWLY DECORATED ATTIC. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME GET RID OF THOSE DAMN SPIDERS THOUGH, THEY JUST KEEP CRAWLING BACK TO HEAR THE STORIES WE HAVE UP HERE.

WE HAVE A NEW SERIAL BEGINNING THIS MONTH FOR YOU, WRITTEN MY THE FABULOUS C.A.DAWSON. HER NOVELLA

"CONVERSATIONS WITH DEATH" WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS.

SO CHILDREN, SIT DOWN, RELAX, THE STORY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN....

I never thought about that last conversation coming any time soon. In fact, I laughed at the mere notion that it would happen at all. I was invincible. I could do everything by myself and that was to include dying. How carefully I crossed the street, looked both ways before I crossed, and took my vitamins every day. Sleep was a priority. I always seemed to need more than others. While they were out partying, I was safely tucked in by nine each night and even on weekends. Somewhere I read that a consistent bedtime increased one’s mortality and I planned to quietly outlive everyone.

Never go barefoot lest you may gravely injure your feet, get an infection and contract gangrene or even worse, die. Wear sunglasses at an early age and avoid melanoma cancer of the eyes, especially if your eyes are light or blue. Every step of my life was planned methodically to overt Death’s attempts to take me before I was ready.

When I was younger I fell in love but it was short lived of only a few years and then we were separated I never loved or desired the closeness of another human being again. Feelings were stressful so I avoided them at all cost. My surroundings became reclusive and I refrained from a permanent human connection. I planned to live to be 100 and no one, not even death could stop me, or so I thought.

Striving to help others would give me a sense of belonging and replace the need of a close personal relationship. This way I could give the best of me freely, and without a stringent commitment on my own terms. Keep the conversations on a professional level or subject appropriate so as to not give way to personal consequences.

My life was full and productive and still I was not yielding to Death’s periodic invitations of which I quickly refused to accept. Toward the end of my 99th year I found myself confined to a hospital bed and on oxygen. When I awoke, there he sat crossed legged in the leather recliner, Death himself, smiling slightly, and reading a magazine.

“What are you smiling about? I asked. Death sat there reading a magazine then looked over the top of his bifocals.

“You talking to me?” He asked.

“Who else would I be talking to now? We’re the only ones here, aren’t we?” He thought he was funny or something but he didn’t fool me. I knew what he wanted and he wasn’t going to get it.

About that time the nurse came in to check my vitals. She seemed harmless enough but vacant, came to mind.

“Okay Ms. Temple let’s take that old blood pressure and then I’ll leave you to a nice nap,” she consoled.

“I don’t need a nap,” I snapped at her in Death’s direction, staring at the chair. “Can you see him?” The nurse continued to pump the ball on the blood pressure pad.

“Who Ms. Temple?” The nurse moved her eyes around the room then back to me with her eyebrows raised a little and a little smile.

“Him,” I said nudging my head in his direction. “Over there, in the chair.”

“Can’t say I do Ms. Temple. Am I missing something today? Have you had your snack this afternoon? Your blood pressure is elevated a bit and your blood sugar is way down. I’ll be right back.”

There was a moment of silence after the door pulled itself to a close.

“Well I suppose you think that was funny, huh? Her not being able to see you and all. Real cute trying to make them think I’m crazy now. Heart failure and pneumonia’s not enough for you? Damn, you’re sicker than I am. You know it?” He just sat there reading his magazine and occasionally looking up at me then the door. I picked up the Kleenex box off of the bed and tossed it at him. “What brought you here today? I’m not going. Tomorrow’s my birthday you know?”

“Virgie, that’s no way for a lady to act. I don’t know why you are so reluctant to leave this place. You all have to go sometime. Why do you hold onto this life?” Death pleaded his case..

“It’s what I know. What if I don’t like where I’m going? What then.”

The nurse re-entered the room with pills and orange juice. : Here you go Ms. Temple,” and me handed her the pills. “Is your friend still with us?”

“Friend? What friend? That’s Death reading a magazine just waiting for me to die. I wouldn’t call that a friend; would you?” I tried to sit up and face her but I just couldn’t. My head went spinning and Death sat up, paused for a moment then relaxed.

“Well, no I sure wouldn’t! What could he possible be thinking of?” The nurse’s eyes went high and low, left then right, then rolled back in her head. “He’s got some nerve, don’t he?” She walked over and pulled the curtains to take the glare off the room and make it cozier for a nap.

“I told you I don’t want a nap. Didn’t you hear me?” I asked as she smiled and came over to fluff my pillow. Death just sat there.

“I know but you need your rest Ms. Temple so you can go home soon. I’ll be back later,” then she walked out of the room pulling the door to a close behind her.

“Well? You going to answer me or not? She’s gone.” I couldn’t sit up but I could still see him.

“So you think you’re going somewhere bad? Is that it Ms. Temple?” He pulled out the leg rest on the recliner, and leaned back like he was about to psychoanalyze me.

“Don’t know, haven’t thought much about that actually. I always figured I’d be going to meet my maker some day. Just know I’ve got everything the way I like it and I hate change. How will I find everything and what about my little dog? Now don’t even try to hard sell me cause it won’t do you any good. Just tell me the truth. The truth works.”

“I think I know what the problem is. You’ve got me confused with that other fella…the horny guy with the tail. Am I right?” He leaned forward waiting for an answer.

The room went deafening silent. I hated to admit it but he had a point. I’d never let him talk before now. I shut him out every time he came in the past. I just assumed. One thing for sure he was a persistent fella mild mannered all- in-all; I’d give him that. He was a nicely dressed, rather suave kind of man. His glasses made him look like a professor of some kind. In talking to him it was like we’d met somewhere before. He was exactly what I’d been looking for but he was dead, Death himself, or was he I thought to myself.

“I guess to tell you the truth, I did. So let me see.” He stood up and turned around. “No tail, okay.” I looked him straight in the eye and asked, “Are you…dead?” I blushed a bit while adjusting my oxygen tube. He seemed to be growing on me.

“Nope, not dead nor alive either. Neither either, never was and never will be. Just am. Like the sun and the moon, the Spring and the Fall, the Summer and the Winter, it just is; I just am.” He kind of hung his head down like he’d been saddened for the moment. “What’s it like?”

“What’s what like?” I asked.

“Being alive. Most don’t even want to talk about it. They’re glad or sad, happy or mad. Don’t have many who fight to stay like you. Actually most are relieved it’s finally over. You seem different. What’s it like?” He asked with a deep curiosity.

“Well I guess it’s been okay for the long haul. I just hate to cash it in. I mean who dies these days of pneumonia? That’s so lame after a full life. I’ve just always wanted more. Wanted longer. My mind was never ready.”

Death sat there and looked at her tired eyes, failing kidneys, arthritic hands and wondered what it would take to convince her it was time. “Did you ever have regrets? Was there anything you wanted that you didn’t get, or wanted to do something you didn’t do?”

“Just one I guess, but that was long ago. It doesn’t matter any more, he’s gone now.”

“Who would that be? The young man in the picture in your locket?” He smiled warmly and filled the room with a smell of hot chocolate.

“Yes, how did you know?” I asked as my eyes filled with tears he extended his hand offering a Kleenex. You could see the hurt in his eyes.

“He told me. He’s been waiting a long time Virgie. How long will you keep him waiting, he wants to know.” I looked at him and his eyes went melty brown and his face transformed into that boy I knew long ago.

At that moment I reached for his hand then he helped me up out of the bed. As we headed out of the room and down the hall nurses ran into the room in response to the alarms. I stopped, looked back at this life one last time, and took the boy’s hand and we headed for home.