Unused, must be medium size
Preferably white
Unable to pay in cash, but can include in will
Funeral Homes refrain.
Urgent – Traveling soon (one way trip)
"Good afternoon, I am Gervasio Loperfido and I’m here regarding the ad.
"Ah yes, good afternoon, Abel Garcia" said the man extending his hand.
The poor man looked so fragile and so wrinkled, so green, so bent, so pale that his skin was translucent. It seemed like he was going to exhale his last breath any moment. "Come in please, have a seat ". Loperfido observed him with concern since it looked like the old man wouldn’t make it to the end of the interview. Abel walked towards the threadbare sofa in the middle of the enormous and almost empty room. He took a seat and immediately broke into a cough. "Pardon me. You will understand”
"Yes, of course. Don’t worry"
"So… you were saying?" said Garcia
"Well you see, I have a brand new shroud that can be of use to you. It belonged to my wife. She was very ill last year and I bought it for…. when the time came, you know …. We went on a cruise in the Caribbean -her last wish- and during the voyage she fell off the boat and drowned. The body was never found. So the shroud remained unused.”
“That is very interesting. The shroud being new I mean, not what happened to your wife. I am very sorry about that. Did you bring it with you?"
"Yes, of course. The only problem” answered Gervasio "is that it is a Small" He made a pause, looked at Abel with more compassion than arrogance and added: "Although I believe that soon it is going to fit you quite well." He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of the pocket of his coat and started to light it. But Abel stopped him short.
"Please don’t. It’s bad for my lungs”
"Yes, of course. Excuse me" Gervasio stared at Garcia with astonishment wondering how much worse that man of deathly pallor could possibly get. He then pulled some menthol tablets and offered one to Abel.
"No, thanks. They give me heartburn. Now I would like to see the shroud" he insisted. Gervasio pulled the shroud out of a polyethylene bag, unfolded it lovingly and showed it proudly to his potential client. "It is made of Swiss silk and Chantilly lace" he stated. "Perhaps that is too feminine, but you could fold the lace inwardly or just remove it." Abel took the shroud, placed it on his body, as if measuring it. "I like it" he said simply. "And I am not going to remove the lace. At this point, I really don’t care what others think. How much do you want for it?”
"The truth is that I do not know how much to ask for it. I paid $300, but I’ll be happy if I can get $100. You mentioned in your ad that you didn’t have much cash. If you like the shroud, you can pay me later, in the will…. As it said in the ad."
"Alright.” said Mr. Garcia “But on one condition.”
"And what would this be?" asked Gervasio
"I do not have a family nor friends. I need somebody to take care of me when the hour comes. I reckon within two weeks. Somebody must identify my body. Somebody must call the funeral home. I already made all the arrangements and paid in advance. Somebody should place some ads in the newspapers, at least ten, so nobody will say: Poor Abel Garcia, he died lonely as a dog. And somebody must attend my funeral. If you accede to these conditions, I will include you in my will."
Loperfido looked at Abel with so much sorrow that he thought he would break into tears. But being the strong man he was, he controlled his emotions. "Yes, sure Mr. Garcia, you can count on me. Ever since my wife died I have lots of free time. I will take care of you when the time comes" Abel watched him in a strange way and smiled. "Good. Now I must rest. If you’ll excuse me"
The following day Gervasio returned for a visit. When Abel opened the door, he was surprised to find the younger man standing at the door holding a jar of plum preserve in his hand. "Abel" he said with some embarrassment "forgive me for disturbing you. I have several fruit trees in my yard. I love to prepare jams and preserves. In general I like everything related to crafts. I thought you might like to try my home made preserve. It‘ll be good for you"
"Sure. Thanks. Would you like to come in? I was just making myself some tea" The two men marched to the kitchen where Abel put the kettle on the burner. He prepared some toast and the two men tried the home made preserve. They chatted for a while.
When he left, Gervasio thought that Abel did not look as bad as the previous day. The next day Gervasio showed up with a wooden cross. "I carved it myself" he said with pride in his face, just like a child giving his mother the first craft made at school.
"It is beautiful" said Abel. " I will have it placed on my casket.”
“Thanks" Gervasio perceived some emotion in Abel’s voice.
The visits continued on a daily basis. Gervasio showered Abel with his crafts and gifts. A veal stew, a hand-knit blanket, figs in syrup, homemade cheese, roses from his garden. “I will prepare a flower arrangement when the time comes" he said to the old man. Little by little both men bonded and became friends; Abel waited with anxiety for Gervasio’s arrival. Gervasio looked forward to his visits to Abel. He did not want to tire Abel given his delicate health but he felt that a little company would not hurt the man. A month went by and spring arrived. One sunny morning Gervasio appeared in Abel’s house and suggested going for a walk.
“A walk?” Are you out of your mind? I cannot walk more than two meters without getting tired"
The next day Gervasio showed up with a wheelchair and a beautiful Scottish blanket. "It belonged to my wife. Come on Abel, I’ll wheel you around."
The walk became a daily ritual. Gervasio would come by to pick up Abel and would take him to the park or for a stroll around the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, spring gave way to summer. The days became warmer and longer. The two men enjoyed their mutual company. Oftentimes they did not talk, they simply enjoyed their silence. Others, Gervasio would tell him of his loneliness after the death of his wife. Abel did not talk about his personal life. But Gervasio knew that the man was very lonely and that, to make matters worse, he did not have much money. He wondered how he would manage to cancel his debt but Gervasio no longer cared. He regretted that he was going to lose a friend, and very soon. One day when the leaves began to fall and autumn was just starting, Gervasio received a call.
"Mr. Loperfido? This is Mr. Benitez, Mr. Garcia’s attorney."
Gervasio had a premonition. He instinctively raised his hand to his mouth and held his
breath. "Abel has… ?"
"I need to see you in person. Would you mind coming to my office?" Upon arrival at Benitez & Benitez’, the lawyer greeted Gervasio with a warm handshake. The office was exquisitely decorated with wood paneling, crystal lamps and mahogany furniture upholstered in leather. "Mr. Loperfido. I understand that Mr. Garcia closed a deal with you whereby you would be benefited in his will upon his decease. This was in exchange for a shroud made of silk and… " the lawyer gazed at a paper that he had on his desk "Chantilly lace" he added.
"It is true” said Gervasio accepting fate.
"I have summoned you today to notify you that unfortunately Mr. Garcia will not
be able to fulfill his part of the contract".
Gervasio lowered his eyes and sighed. "It doesn’t matter any more. I came to sell a shroud and, instead, found a friend. I am immensely sorry that he is no longer with us. "The lawyer watched him. Then he spoke: "Mr. Loperfido, Mr. Garcia will not be able to fulfill his part of the contract because - according to the instruction letter he left this morning before leaving for Switzerland, he is not planning to die in the near future. He says that thanks to the care and attention bestowed by you, the meals that you have prepared for him during his ailment and your unreserved friendship, the doctors have declared him healthy again. His illness, which was terminal and irreversible, has disappeared, and today Mr. Garcia is healthier than you and I. A true miracle."
Gervasio could not give credit to his ears. His hands hung limp alongside of his knees.
"Due to this fact” continued the lawyer "Mr. Garcia has decided to name you his only heir. In case you do not know it, Mr. Garcia’s full name is Garcia Huergo, of Huergo Oil. His fortune is worth approximately $500.000.000. I hope that this arrangement is satisfactory to you. " "Ah, by the way" said the lawyer as he rose" he gave this to me for you." And giving Loperfido an envelope, he turned around and disappeared through the door.
Gervasio’s hands shook as he tore the envelope. Inside it, a sheet of the finest paper was folded in half. A first class airplane ticket to Geneva was there, as well as a $100 bill. The note said: "Gervasio, my friend: I am sorry to have left without warning. Matters of utmost urgency required my presence in Geneva without more ado. I regret not being able to fulfill my part of the contract immediately. Therefore, please find enclosed payment in cash. If you hurry, we might be able to have dinner together tonight. Yours sincerely, Your friend Abel”
P.S. “By the way, you better stop smoking, or it’ll be you who’ll be wearing the shroud soon.”