Page 22 of The Time of My Afterlife

With a trembling hand, I reach over and study the paper’s contents. The words NOT PASSED – TRY AGAIN are typed in bold black letters.

‘Oh, God,’ I groan. ‘I helped Pearl sell a few books.’

She rolls her eyes. ‘I can’t believe you thought selling a few copies over a pint of cider and a bag of Scampi Fries – not to mention, while your two-timing ex-girlfriend gazes longingly at you – was the change the afterlife wanted to see.’

I stare at her as my anger bubbles. ‘At least I helped someone and didn’t just think about how to earn more money.’

‘It wasn’t like that!’ she screeches before looking away. An uncomfortable silence descends upon us both.

I can’t believe we have to carry on with the afterlife’s ridiculous test. I break the silence. ‘What do we do now?’

With a shrug, she says, ‘I’ll have another think about what else I can change.’

‘And I’ll see if I can sell any more books.’

‘You mentioned earlier about Pearl and her true love. What’s that about?’

I explain to her that Pearl married the wrong man and has spent her whole life wondering what happened to him.

‘That’s sad. Poor Pearl. He might not be alive any more.’

‘Or happily married with grandchildren,’ I add.

We both go silent. The memory of those brown sticky patches on the walls of the bedsit comes back to me. It makes me shiver. ‘Florence, we can’t fail this.’

She nods. ‘I know.’

Florence is looking at me. ‘Can you go now, please?’

‘Do you want me to walk you home?’

‘No thanks, Clark,’ she scoffs. I scowl at her before marching out of the café.

The test consumes my thoughts as I walk home, making me anxious. I wish the afterlife had given some feedback, maybe told me whether I was on the right track in helping Pearl. I remember that Mary’s book is still in my jacket pocket, and that Pearl wanted me to read it. I’d been distracted by Bread’s text and rushed off down the pub. Maybe that’s where I went wrong. I’ll make a point of reading it.

I feel like the word ‘fail’ has been seared onto my mind. As I turn into the cul-de-sac, I spot Pearl picking up a parcel from her doorstep. If Florence and I don’t pass this test, we will die, and who will keep an eye on Pearl? Emotion rises inside of me and Nan’s face appears in my mind. I wasn’t there when she needed me, and I have carried that guilt throughout my adult life. I will not make the same mistake with Pearl.

As I’m about to head up my garden path, I catch sight of Sam from across the road.

Sam is about the same age as Florence and me. He moved here about a year ago and works in the city. I can see him putting out his recycling bags. ‘Clark,’ he says, once he’s finished. ‘Do you fancy grabbing a pint?’

I recall him asking the same thing a few weeks ago. At the time, I was on my way over to Florence’s house to complain about something.

I rub my head. ‘Mate, I was out last night, and right now the talk of booze is turning my stomach.’

Sam grins. ‘No worries. I just need to talk to a man of the world about something that’s on my mind, and you, Clark, strike me as that sort of man.’

‘Another time,’ I say, before yawning. I give him a wave and head towards my house.

As I put my key in the door, I think about what Sam just said. He wanted to talk about something on his mind. I would be helping him if I took him for a pint and listened.

Maybe Sam is the key to the test?

I turn around and walk over to his house. He answers the door after I knock several times. ‘Clark – everything okay?’

‘How do you fancy a pint tomorrow evening after work?’

His face lights up. ‘Great. Meet in the street at about six?’