Friday, April 24, 2015

The Undertaker

It's Day 21 of  the Blogging from A to Z  April 2015 Challenge




Ebeneezer Black strode slowly down the main street dressed in his sombre frock coat and top hat, cane in hand. Behind him two magnificent black horses, feather plumes fluttering in the chill breeze, hauled a flower strewn hearse bearing a wreath adorned coffin.

Ebeneezer Black was the town’s sole undertaker as was his father and his father before him. In 1831 he retired and soon after went to the other place. Since then generation after generation carried on running the family’s firm.
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It is said that Ebeneezer Black still  appears before folk during their final few hours, standing at the foot of their bed, seen by none but them. He looks on, motionless, dressed in his sombre frock coat, top hat held to his chest, and a measuring tape around his neck.
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One morning Robert Black was sitting at his desk opening post and checking emails. The light grew dim, and slowly the image of his great grandfather Ebeneezer Black appeared before him,  looking just the way the departing described him.

Later that day Robert Black lost his life in a tragic accident. He was never blessed with children, so nothing remains of the family firm.

Except that is for Ebeneezer Black.


Tomorrow I'll have a one hundred worder for you called Victory

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11 comments:

  1. Ooooooo, a precursor of what's to come, no, no, no, don't want one of those.

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  2. seems to have his role and function too seriously, we should have sequel to this tale

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  3. Fantastic! I hope you do write a sequel. Your descriptive writing is truly admirable. Please never stop. And thanks for visiting me at http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/, which is number 1209 on the A to Z list today.

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    1. Thanks so much. I have no intention of stopping, at least not until Ebeneezer comes visiting! It's always a pleasure to visit your blog. Keep up the good work!

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  4. A somber tale. Kind of a comment on the way many businesses die out. I like the part about the ghost, but that sounds like a terrifying thing to see right before death!

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    1. Not sure I'd like it although he was a very nice man!

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  5. grim...not exactly a fairy tale.....no morticians in our family thank goodness!

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    1. Nor mine, but I do live in the adjoining town!

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  6. Okay, I've got chills!

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