An elderly Irishman lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of
impending1 death, he suddenly smelled the
aroma2 of his favourite cheese
scones4 wafting5 up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed.
Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. With laboured breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen.
Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for here, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were dozens of his favourite cheese scones.
Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his
devoted6 Irish wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?
Mustering7 one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a
rumpled8 posture9. His
parched10 lips parted, he could almost taste the cheese
scone3 before it was in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life.
The
aged11 and
withered12 hand trembled on its way to the nearest scone at the edge of the table, when his hand was suddenly
smacked13 with a
spatula14 by his wife... "Get OUT! "she said, "they're for the funeral!"