The Ferryman by Amy Neftzger Read Free Book Online

alive now that I’m dead because I’m free. No one tells me what to do now.” Karen wondered if Claude would feel the same way at the end of his life.
    “Were there particular things you wanted to do that they wouldn’t let you do?” she asked, thinking about how she had kept Claude home from a recent field trip to the town’s botanical garden because she was afraid he would have an attack while hiking with his class.
    “Of course!”
    “Like what?”
    “Going fast. Other stuff.”
    “What other stuff?”
    “You’re very nosy,” he said suspiciously. “Did my doctors send you here?”
    “Your doctors specialized in keeping you alive. They’re not concerned with you now, but I am. I’d like to help.”
    “Why?” The suspicion was still evident in his tone as he wheeled himself in a tight circle.
    “I have a son, and I’m wondering if I’ve kept him from experiencing life. If I help you, maybe I can learn more about how to help him.”
    Scott stopped turning circles and moved the chair to face Karen. He looked her over as he tilted his head to one side.
    “How old is your boy?”
    “Ten.”
    “Okay,” he replied in a more relaxed tone as he swiftly pushed the chair backwards a few paces.
    “So what other stuff were you unable to do when you were alive — besides going fast?”
    “I don’t know. There were lots of things. Every day there was something I couldn’t do. I once told my mom that I only wanted the word ‘No’ on my tombstone because it would best describe my life.”
    “Have you made a list?” Karen asked.
    “No.” He laughed at his response. “That’s my epitaph!”
    “Well, let’s start there. We’ll make a bucket list of things you didn’t get to do in life that you really wish you could have done.”
    “Are you serious? I’m dead. Bucket lists are for things you want to do before you die.”
    “Well, a post-bucket list then. It doesn’t matter what we call it, but let’s make one and start working through it. I’ll help you do all of them.”
    “Anything I want?”
    “Yes.”
    “I want to walk again.” As he spoke Karen felt as if gravity had increased enough to pull her heart through her feet.
    “I can’t do that. I’m human,” she said. She placed both her hands over her heart as she continued to speak. “But there are no doctors or family members here, and I’m not going to worry about your safety. I can also help pay for or get the things you need to do what you’ve always wanted to do. I can’t do magic, but I can help you live.” Once he had lived, Karen thought, he might be ready to die. She dropped her hands as she waited for his answer.
    “As many things as I want?”
    “Let’s say five. Pick your top five things that you wished you could do — but make them things that I could help you to do. Be realistic. Don’t ask to fly an airplane or climb Mount Everest, and I’ll arrange it.”
    “What’s your name?” he asked after he had paused to study Karen’s face for a moment. He examined her eyes and scanned her sincere expression.
    “Karen.”
    “Nice to meet you Karen,” he said, putting out his hand. “My name is Scott. Got a place to write down my top five?”
    Karen shook his hand and nodded, smiling. His grip was damp and chilled, but she clenched her teeth to steady herself and she maintained her composure. Karen took out her phone and typed up the list as Scott dictated.
    The first few items were fairly easy to accomplish. She bought him all the foods he wasn’t allowed to eat because the doctors were worried about his cholesterol level in conjunction with his inactivity. Steak, lobster, cakes, pies, milkshakes, and buttered rolls. He particularly enjoyed the rolls with real butter.
    “So simple and so fabulous,” he said as he stuffed another roll in his mouth. “They wouldn’t let me eat them because they thought it was too fattening, but this is like poetry,” he said, his mouth full. “You should eat one.” Karen