[ WP ] You die in a tragic accident . While sitting on a bench in purgatory , Mr/Mrs.Death approaches you and says , `` Pick a game , any game , and if you are the victor , I 'll send you back to the day before the accident . ''

`` Tic tac toe'' 
 
 WHAT? 
 
 `` I choose tic tac toe'' 
 
 SIGH 
 
 With a flourish a desk, a dry erase board and a marker appeared before them. With a slight gesture of death's bony hand a perfect 3 by 3 grid appeared in the center of the board. 
 
 Fred placed his circle in the middle of the board. Death placed an X in a corner. After a minute, the game ended in a tie. 
 
 `` In the event of a tie, we play again correct?'' 
 
 CORRECT 
 
 `` excellent, may the game continue'' 
 
 The next game ended in a tie, and the next. The next 4 games were all close, but ended in a tie. Fred and death swapped off going first, after a couple hours of tieing, death paused for a minute. 
 
 THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE 
 
 After a couple months, both players were simply going through the motions. Every once in a while some one would start in a corner just to mix things up, and inevitably the same moves followed after that. 
 
 I HAVE NEVER LOST A GAME YOU KNOW 
 
 `` I know, considering Bobby Fischer died a couple years ago I figured beating you was n't really an option'' 
 
 I HAVE EXISTED FOR MILLENIA, MY PATIENCE DOES NOT END 
 
 `` How did you get this job in the first place?'' 
 
 Fred casually placed a circle in the center of the freshly cleared board. After a couple more games, death answered. 
 
 THE AFTERLIFE GETS BORING, YOU KNOW 
 
 `` I admit, it is starting to look that way'' 
 
 AFTER A COUPLE OF CENTURIES, MANY OF US TAKE JOBS. 
 
 The games continue. The routine is automatic now for Fred, he barely glances at the board for each move before returning his gaze to others. In the distance, countless others were trying to best death. 
 
 `` are they all you?'' 
 
 NO, THIS FORM IS MORE OF A UNIFORM THEN AN IDENTITY. 
 
 Every now and then, a death would beat some one, their heads would slump, and with sweep of death's arm, they disappeared, then the death too would vanish. 
 
 MY SHIFT ENDED WEEKS AGO 
 
 `` Well, I'm sorry for that, but I do n't think I'm done playing yet'' 
 
 A year passed by. In that time, Fred got to know who death was, besides being death. They swapped stories of their lives while watching the souls around them compete and lose. Briefly, a forest surrounded them as one soul tried to best death in a fox hunt. Months later, they found themselves at the top of a mountain while another soul tried to out ski death. 
 
 `` Are you all universally skilled?'' 
 
 NO, WE PICK MAJORS IN DEATH COLLEGE, AND ARE ASSIGNED TO CLIENTS APPROPRIATELY 
 
 `` What did you major in?'' 
 
 RIDDLES, LOGIC PUZZLES AND BOARD GAMES 
 
 Another year passed, and neither opponent showed a sign of budging. Fred continued making conversation. 
 
 `` I really do miss my home, do you have homes up here?'' 
 
 YOU HAVE WHAT YOU WANT, UP HERE THE OPTIONS ARE FAR LESS LIMITED 
 
 `` my wife passed several years before I did, however I never did get around to finishing up the will for the children. I'm sure they can figure it out on their own, but I hate to leave them so early. Their families are barely started, and I have only met one grand child'' 
 
 LIFE IS N'T ALWAYS FAIR 
 
 `` No, it never was'' 
 
 The weeks continued stretching on, while watching a soul attempt to out basketball death, death turned to Fred'' 
 
 IT REALLY IS N'T THAT BAD UP HERE 
 
 `` It seems pleasant enough'' 
 
 BEYOND HERE, THE ONLY LIMIT IS WHAT YOU CAN IMAGINE 
 
 `` Then why have earth at all? Why let life continue as grimly as it does when the afterlife is perfect?'' 
 
 IMAGINATION REQUIRES INSPIRATION 
 
 For the first time in years, death moved his arm again, and bellow them, an image of the earth appeared. Through the window beneath their feet, the image moved across the lives of thousands, detailing their happiness, sadness, triumphs and losses. 
 
 `` were we ever only entertainment?'' 
 
 WHEN TIME IS ETERNAL, WHAT ELSE IS THERE? 
 
 Fred stared out at the other souls. Every once in a while a small poof announced another passing on to the next world. 
 
 `` No one has ever beaten death have they?'' 
 
 IT'S NOT A FAIR CHALLENGE, WE HAVE CENTURIES OF PRACTICE 
 
 `` They are n't supposed to, are they?'' 
 
 PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE MOVING ON, THE GAME HELPS THEM FEEL THEY AT LEAST HAD A FAIR SHOT 
 
 `` I have never seen some one beat death, and I have seen millions of games, how is that fair?'' 
 
 LIFE IS NOT FAIR, WE HELP PEOPLE MOVE PAST THAT 
 
 Fred stared down at the world bellow 
 
 `` Can I still watch the world when I pass over?'' 
 
 THE EARTH IS MOST OF OUR FAVORITE PAST TIME 
 
 `` Is what you can see... limited?'' 
 
 IN DEATH, NO ONE JUDGES 
 
 `` I did n't mean it like that'' 
 
 I'M SURE 
 
 The image settled on Fred's funeral. His family was in tears, and many huddled close to each other for support. 
 
 `` I had a good life you know? I do n't think I would have done much different. save for living longer'' 
 
 ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END 
 
 `` when this is over, would you mind stopping by after your shift?'' 
 
 I HAVE PLENTY OF VACATION DAYS BY NOW 
 
 Fred stared at the board, it was his opening move. He smiled, and drew a circle in a side center square. 
 
 YOU WERE A VERY INTERESTING CASE FRED 
 
 Death placed his final X, and drew a line through all three. 
 
 `` Hopefully my wife wo n't be too angry I wasted these years playing tic tac toe'' 
 
 TIME MOVES VERY DIFFERENTLY HERE THEN IT DOES DOWN THERE 
 
 Death pulled back his hood, to reveal a female face. Fred's heart skipped a beat. The face spoke: 
 
 `` I do n't mind at all dear'' 
 
 
 

