In the anteroom people wait their turn. Standing in line, pressing into one another, they wait to enter the smaller room. Mindlessly, they stare at a dilapidated broken clock whose second arm stubbornly tries to move but is ceaselessly returned to its original position. The loud, perpetual jerk counts down to catastrophe.
They size each other up: men, women, and children. Pleading quietly with their eyes. Shuffled steps lead to gentle jostles which lead to probative pokes.
“Pardon me,” the man said, skipping the line.
How he longed to gain access to the smaller room. He really had to go.
Eulogy
I can’t understand why The Anteroom has not been picked up. It is humorous and familiar to all readers. Maybe some readers just don’t get how annoying waiting and anticipation can be. I have a feeling the readers of Laid to Rest are more astute.
