Tom stepped out down the city road, hurrying to his house to pick up a few things. He soon reached an intersection where no cars were in sight.
On the corner sat a homeless man wearing ragged clothes. Tom stepped into the intersection. He was halfway through when he noticed a shinny quarter on the ground.
"Must be my lucky day, Tom said, stooping down to pick it up.
That's when the car hit him.
"Whoa! Tom shouted opening his eyes.
He had just stepped out of an elevator and stood in the middle of a large, cubicle filled office. A few windows lined the area but nothing laid beyond them. Just a big white empty space outside. People's desk's were decorated with ampty frames and blank name plates. Each desk had a lap top attached to the side of the cubicle.
"Hey buddy where am I? He said, stopping a man who was passing by.
"Go to that desk, The man said in an annoyed voice, pointing to an empty desk.
The man turned and walked away, leaving Tom all alone.
Tom passed by a few people and sat down at the desk.
"But I'm on my way to visit my grandson, An old woman whispered as a cubicle worker led her by the desk.
"Yes I'm sure you were, The woman replied and turned the corner.
Tom sat twiddling his thumbs and looked at the name plate on the desk.
It was blank. He reached over to grab it when a hand slapped him away.
"No touching, A man in a white shirt said as he sat down.
"Okay, Tom Wells right? The man asked, typing into his computer.
"Yeah, who are you? Where am I?
The man glanced up and rolled his eyes.
"So many questions. Why can't they just be quiet? Okay my name is John. I work here.
John gestured around with his hands.
"You are here because you're dead.
"What!?
"Please sit down.
"Yes you're dead I'm afraid. As dead as your grandmother Ira.
This can't be real, Tom thought. That really was his grandmother's name. I'm only twenty five years old! How can I be dead so soon?
John began to type into his computer.
"And...It looks like you're going to hell, John said, turning his computer screen toward him.
It showed a large -126 on the screen.
"Hell?!
"Oh yeah it was a close one but you didn't have enough points, see if you're negative you go to hell. Positive is heaven. Heck man you only danced twice. Once at your uncle's wedding, the other time at your brother's funeral.
"What's that got to do with anything?
John looked at him. "How can you say you appreciated life if you never danced?
"Yeah but I did plenty of stuff, what about when I bought that chocolate for charity?
John typed into his computer.
"It says here you did it for the chocolate.
"Now if you'll excuse me I must be getting your forms and your decline stamp.
John turned and walked away.
Tom stood up. His heart was pounding in his ears. He rushed across the room and slipped into the elevator.
"Hey stop him! John shouted as the doors closed.
Tom gasped and leaned up. He struggled with the black plastic bag that surrounded him. Turns out it was a body bag. He quickly unzipped the bag and stepped out, ignoring the paramedic's screams.
Up in limbo people were frantically rushing around. John lead the search.
"Okay people we got a loose cannon. We gotta kill him before people realize he ain't dead.
A large TV screen showed what Tom was doing on earth. A large man with glasses sat in front of the screen.
"Okay people watch the master at work.
Tom ran down the alley and out into the street. A little girl stood holding her ice cream cone.
"Excuse me mister, can you hold my ice cream while I tie my shoe?
"Wha-? Oh yeah, sure, Tom said, holding the cone.
Hold girl's ice cream: +8 points. The computer screen jumped to -118 points.
"That's not bad. Watch this everyone, The man with glasses to the group of workers huddled around him. John stood at the back, smiling.
In the city where Tom lives there is a fairly high rate of crime. Many young kids form gangs and one of the most famous there was a group of Chinese kids called the White Dragons. They were most famous for pulling plenty of streetcar races and they had an overwhelming pride for their cars.
To damage or even dirty one is an act which will get you beaten to a pulp or even killed. It just so happens that the car that Tom held the ice cream over belonged to the leader of the White Dragons. So when John's team made the mirrors in a nearby store reflect the sun onto the little girl's ice cream, the resulting splatter of the frozen treat on the car's hood didn't please the group across the street at all.
"I'm done, The little girl said.
"Uh oh, Tom whispered as the men pulled out their beating clubs.
"Here kid, Tom said, shoving the cone into the kid's as he rushed away from the car.
"Get him!!
Tom stumbled down the alley and looked around for an open store. He rushed in the nearest one without looking. The store was filled with people around a dance floor. Tom looked at the sign.
"Tango classes?
Just then a large Italian woman grabbed his hands and pulled him across the floor.
Tango: +10...20...30...40...
"Someone stop him! John shouted.
As the total amount reached +83 the White Dragons jumped into the store and Tom split.
The computer screen now read -35 points.
"Move out of the way Herman, John said, pushing the man with glasses aside.
"He's mine now.
Tom had finally lost the White Dragons when he realized he was in the middle of his girlfriend's neighborhood. He used his key and stepped inside her apartment.
"Alice? Tom asked as he opened the door to her room.
"Hmm? Alice replied, half asleep and not opening her eyes.
"Alice, it's me Tom, He said kneeling at her side.
"Hey Tom, She replied, rolling over.
"Look I don't know what happened but apparently I'm gonna die soon and I'm going to hell. Apparently I didn't dance enough or I bought chocolate for the wrong reason.
"That's nice.
Tom rolled his eyes.
"Look in case I don't see you again take this. He put his MasterCard in her hand.
"This is my credit card, there should be some money on it. Do whatever you like with it.
"Thank you baby.
"I love you.
"I love you to, Alice replied and rolled over, facing away from him.
Tom slipped out of the house and out into the street.
Give Alice MasterCard: +12 points. -23 now flashed on the screen. Around the office people had gathered a betting pool on whether or not Tom would make it to Heaven or Hell. John rubbed his eyes.
Tom checked his clock. His dad would be home by now, so he headed in that direction.
Up in limbo John had just clicked a button and the man selling hot dogs on the street's cart began to roll after Tom.
"Oh man, Tom whispered as he ran down the street.
Just before the cart could run him over he dived into the church.
"Hello my son. Would you care to confess your sins? A priest asked.
One hour later Tom stepped out of the church while the priest ran to the nearest bar to get Tom's sins out of his head.
Confess to Priest: +11 points. The screen flashed -12 points.
In a few minutes Tom had reached his dad's house and was rapping on the door.
"Hey Tom, come in son, Tom's father said.
"Would you care for a smoothie?
Smoothie with Dad: +9 points. -3 points remain.
"So Tom? What brings you by here? Tom's dad asked.
"Well dad, to tell you the truth I've done a lot of bad stuff in my life, and I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry if something happens to me. Tom said, sipping on the drink.
Tom's father sighed.
"Tom take a seat here.
"Tom when you were a baby...I dropped you.
"What?
"Yeah it was the last few seconds of the game, the cowboys were down. They fumbled the ball, I fumbled you.
"Now I know you may think you've done some bad things.
"Trust me dad I know.
"Maybe, but have you ever dropped a baby?
"No.
"Well then I guess you didn't screw up too bad, Tom's father said and slapped him on the back.
"Thanks dad.
Tom stepped out of the building and arrived at the same corner the car had hit him. The homeless man still sat on the curb. Tom passed him and dug into his pocket but found nothing.
"Sorry man, He said and began to cross the street. That's when he saw the quarter. Tom stopped and picked it up. He looked at it for a second then turned and walked toward the homeless man.
Then the car hit him again.
"Yes!! John shouted, standing up. Herman sighed and a few people groaned. John stood up and grabbed his decline stamp, then he headed toward the elevator.
As Tom slid off the car, the quarter flew from his hand. And this time it didn't just hit the ground. It flew and it flew, all the way and into the homeless man's cup.
Give to Homeless: +4 points.
The screen dinged and flashed. John turned and glanced at the screen, his mouth open.
Total balance: +1 point Destination: Heaven.
The elevator opened and Tom stood looking out. The decline stamp slipped out of John's hand. Tom looked around as the elevator doors closed and the small, red, up arrow on the elevator began to flash...
