[ WP ] You 're in bed with a terrible cold when you look up to see Death sitting in chair on the other side of the room . He is reading a thick book when he looks up and says , `` Do n't worry . Take your time . I just started this ... . ''

After a moment of fear, knowing that you may be on your death bed, you decide to respond. 
 
 `` What book is it?'' you whisper. 
 
 `` A Tale of Time,'' Death responds. `` Really you mus n't worry, it is a long book. And Sometimes I do n't finish in one sitting.'' 
 
 `` Why are you here?'' you whisper again. 
 
 `` Why, I'm waiting on you of course, or I guess you're waiting on me, not sure which way that goes. But I've been eager to make your acquaintance.'' 
 
 `` Why? What have I done?'' you cough out. Your cough only seems to be getting stronger. 
 
 `` It is n't what you have done so much as it is what I expect you will do. You see, when old people die and greet me, they are ready. They come to me tired of life, ready to rest. What am I to do with them? They are useless to me. But young people. Children. You have yet to live. I am eager to see what we can accomplish together.'' Death looks back down to his book. `` Now where was I?'' he mutters. 
 
 You pause for a moment to think. If you let him finish that book, you're done for. 
 
 `` Why are you reading that book?'' you ask. `` What is it about?'' 
 
 `` I have n't gotten very far,'' he responds, slightly annoyed, `` but it is about the flow of life, how it only moves in one direction, and always seems to achieve more as time goes on. I quite like it. I still have a lot to learn about you humans.'' He smiles at you briefly and then looks back down at the book. 
 
 `` Huh,'' you are interrupted by a coughing fit. `` Huh,'' you continue, `` that sounds quite informative. I've never heard of it. Do you have a spare copy? I have been terribly bored.'' 
 
 `` Why do you want to read this?'' he asks. `` You are a young boy. Are you not interested in dragons and tales of heroism?'' 
 
 `` Actually, no, I am not.'' 
 
 You roll over to the other side of the bed by your nightstand. You pick up a book of reasonable size. 
 
 `` This is the last book I read. It is about a man I admire. He grew up as a farm boy and moved into a huge city and became one of the greatest businessmen of his time. He died old and happy. He gave life all that he could. Would you like to see it?'' 
 
 You wait in eager anticipation as he thinks for a moment. You shuffle your body up the best that you can so that you are leaning against the headboard. You hold the book out towards him. 
 
 `` I suppose,'' he pauses. `` I suppose I could give it a quick look. I've never read of business before. You are only 13 are you not, Boy? ” 
 
 “ Yes I am. ” you reply. 
 
 “ Interesting. Well, as I said, I am in no rush. I will read this book and then my own, if you would let me. Is that alright? ” 
 
 “ Yes. ” you reply. 
 
 He glances at the cover, scans through the back, and then pops it open to begin. 
 
 You prepare yourself for a nap, supposing your body will let you. You shut your eyes and drift off. 
 ____ 
 Hours later you wake up and glance over to see that Death has already put down your book and continued his own. 
 
 “ What did you think? ” you whisper. 
 
 “ Ah you are awake. Well, I agree, he was an interesting man. In fact, I think I might remember him. He may govern a district of the Underworld. ” 
 
 “ Govern? ” you ask. “ But you said that old people are useless. ” 
 
 “ Well, ” he says as if he is pondering something. “ Yes, it is more of a general rule than it is a fact. ” 
 
 “ Do you think he would have been as much value to you if you took him earlier in life? ” you ask. 
 
 “ I am not sure, generally, the younger I find you, the more we accomplish. ” 
 
 “ It sounds like you are not taking this on a case by case basis. ” you retort. “ I don ’ t think that is particularly fair. And I know you never said it was fair. But, ” you pause to gather direction. “ he was a businessman after all correct? ” 
 
 “ Yes, that is clear. ” 
 
 “ So perhaps he was more useful to you based off of what he learned during life. He learned to never generalize your audience, he learned to specifically target a defined audience, and to take things on a case by case basis. Never judge things so black and white. ” 
 
 “ Yes I suppose that could be why he has been so effective. ” Death replies. 
 
 “ In that case, I ask that you would leave me be, and let me recover. You can count on me bringing all that I have learned in life, and applying it all down below. ” 
 
 “ Well, I suppose I can finish my book another time. I do appreciate the talk boy. ” 
 
 Death rises from his seat, grabs his scythe, and fades away, leaving his copy of the book behind. 
 
 “ You hold onto that book for me. ” You hear from an erie, distant voice.
