It’s time for Fandango’s Story Starter. Click here to join in. This week our story starter is:
When the detective pulled back the sheet, he knew immediately that…
When the detective pulled back the sheet, he knew immediately that it was time to look for a new job. He couldn’t take it anymore and threw up in a nearby wastebasket. Unlike his peers. Roger never did get used to seeing mangled, tortured and ultimately dead, bodies. Especially kids. Those are the worst but they’re all bad.
After 30+ years you’d think, he’d long been used to it. But no. It broke his heart and made him sick to his stomach every time. He never should’ve stayed in this profession. But months turn into years turn into decades. The pay was decent, and he didn’t have to be home all that much, which is a huge plus and another story.
What Roger would have liked to become was a Forensic Anthropologist, like on the TV show Bones. That’s what he was studying for in college, until someone had talked him out of it. Oh yeah, his then girlfriend and future wife — Simona. She pointed out that it was a highly competitive field, and most people ended up as coroners or in academia. Back then, he would’ve done anything for Simona. They were crazy about each other. That was a long time ago.
Roger had maybe five years until he could retire, a little late in the game for a big career move. But the thought of doing this for another five years seemed like a death sentence. Life without parole, sort of like marriage.
Then, Roger had an idea. Why not take early retirement, divorce Simona and move to Costa Rica? Better yet, Liechtenstein. He liked cuckoo clocks and could speak German so that might work. It’s expensive to live there, but what else is he going to spend his money on aside from the divorce lawyer‽
Maybe I should get the divorce first and see what’s left before I go anywhere. Yeah, that’s the smart thing to do.
For the first time in many years, Roger felt hopeful about the future. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. He had a plan, sort of, and he no longer felt stuck.
He finished up at the morgue and stopped at Ye Olde Tavern for a few drinks. He felt like talking and there was always plenty of people to talk to.
People like Roger.
aka, The Abject Muse 
Leave a reply to Fandango Cancel reply