Post by Radrook Admin on Dec 21, 2022 17:01:02 GMT -5
Eternal Youth for a price
by
Radrook
by
Radrook
Martha and Jim, both of Irish descent, had been married in their early twenties and had spent an entire lifetime together. Yes, there had been many quarrels and disagreements. Yet, he at age ninety, and she at age eighty five, had remained faithful despite the many temptations. It was something that baffled many observers, since other couples would break up for far lesser things.
Such faithfulness had not gone unnoticed, however, by those who enjoyed seeing marriages founder and dissolve. Those who believe that mankind can not resist such persistent temptations. Those who had always held mankind in low esteem. These individuals, or powers, had been stymied. So they decided to prove once and for all, that this couple was merely an anomaly. That deep down, they were just as unreliable as any other couple. To accomplish this, they assigned someone whom they chose to call Mr. Miracles, established a bogus business address, and waited for the results.
It was a late winter Sunday afternoon when Martha and Jim were interrupted by a knock on their apartment door. When they opened, standing there in a navy-blue wearing a wide-brimmed black Fedora hat above a black suit, was a young man with a white briefcase. He was dark complexioned, round-faced, and had a beguiling smile that conveyed innocence. But most surprising was, that he introduced himself as Mr. Miracles.
"What may I do for you you young man?" Jim said immediately with Martha by his side.
"Is this the Smith Residence?" the young man asked smiling broadly, his blue were eyes the most fascinating that Martha had ever beheld and she gazed at them mesmerized for a few moments. .
"Yes it is." Jim answered tentatively, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable about the young man's roundabout way of doing things and about Martha's reaction.
"May I come in?" the young man said taking a small tentative step forward.
"First state your purpose young man, and show some ID. What do you take us for? - Senile old fools?" Jim said gruffly
"No harm intended Jim"
"No! Call me Mr. Smith"" Jim immediately responded and was only prevented from telling the man to leave by Martha's tightening of her fingers on his arm.
"Now Jim, there is no need to be so hard on the young man" Martha whispered into Jim's ear. "Maybe he's new at his job"
"The rules still apply! "Jim said, feeling as if they were being driven into another of those arguments.
"Absolutely no problem Mr. Smith."" the young man who had been observing them intently said. "Here is my photo ID. and office phone number where my identity can be verified. And here is a brochure that explains the purpose of my visit." he added handing Jim a rectangular glossy brochure.
After putting on his bifocal reading-glasses, Jim read the brochure carefully. It all seemed extremely unreal. It was promising things that were patently beyond human ability to accomplish."
"Is this some kind of a joke! "Jim said gruffly after having read the brochure for the third time and finally putting his glasses away!
"No Mr. Smith. This is 100% legit. We can accomplish every singly thing that the brochure promises such as restoration to whatever physical age our client chooses."
"But how?" Martha asked
"Well Mrs. Smith, it is new secret hormonal innovative treatment that is safe, and quick."
"There are certain requirements, of course." the young man said with a slight mischievous grin after an extended pause.
"What stipulations are those?" Martha asked
"Well, in your specific case? In your case, it requires that you and Mr. Smith immediately separate and get a divorce.""
Noticing their shocked facial expressions and hesitation, he added:
"Is that really such a high price to pay for such a wonderful gift? Eh?"
"Excuse me!" Jim said, while still blocking the door so that the young man would not feel welcomed.
"But what exactly is your company getting from all this?"
"Good question Mr. smith! Excellent question indeed! Of course, we expected it. You see, Mr. Smith, this procedure is in its experimental stages, so your results would be invaluable to us. They would provide us with the feedback we need to further refine the procedure. Nothing more."
Jim and Martha were silent for a while and gazed at one another. Then Jim spoke:
"That part I can understand perfectly Mr. Miracles." Jim said, "But why are you requiring our separation and divorce?"
"Well Mr. Smith, as much as I understand your concern and appreciate the legitimacy of your objection, I am afraid that part is not open for inquiry.?
"Why not?" Jim asked eying the young man even more suspiciously than he had been doing all along.
"Well Mr. Smith, I am merely an employee who follows company policy."
"Well, OK young man. That is understandable. But you see, we, Martha and I, are persons who are choosing not to abide by your company policy! Isn't that so Martha?"
"Absolutely!" she responded while holding on to Jim's arm even more tightly.
Suddenly the young confident man seemed dumbstruck. Neither did he appear as innocent as he had when he had first arrived. In fact, his appearance was becoming a bit unusual and was causing both Martha and Jim to back away from him. His eyes, for one, had turned from blue to black. His features had taken on more of an aquiline aspect that the Teddy-bear appearance they had originally displayed. They also began to notice that his feet seemed to hover a bit above the carpet.
"So is that your final decision? "the young man growled more than speak.
"Yes! Martha said. You can keep your youth. The memories we have are more precious than any youth you can provide." With that, the young man suddenly grunted, wheeled around and walked away while mumbling under his breath.
"Who do you suppose that young man really was Martha? "Jim asked as he draped his aged arm around her aged shoulders.
"Oh just some confused young man who has his values all wrong. That's all Jim!" she responded as she snuggled up to his chest and warmly embraced him on their 50-year old sofa.
Such faithfulness had not gone unnoticed, however, by those who enjoyed seeing marriages founder and dissolve. Those who believe that mankind can not resist such persistent temptations. Those who had always held mankind in low esteem. These individuals, or powers, had been stymied. So they decided to prove once and for all, that this couple was merely an anomaly. That deep down, they were just as unreliable as any other couple. To accomplish this, they assigned someone whom they chose to call Mr. Miracles, established a bogus business address, and waited for the results.
It was a late winter Sunday afternoon when Martha and Jim were interrupted by a knock on their apartment door. When they opened, standing there in a navy-blue wearing a wide-brimmed black Fedora hat above a black suit, was a young man with a white briefcase. He was dark complexioned, round-faced, and had a beguiling smile that conveyed innocence. But most surprising was, that he introduced himself as Mr. Miracles.
"What may I do for you you young man?" Jim said immediately with Martha by his side.
"Is this the Smith Residence?" the young man asked smiling broadly, his blue were eyes the most fascinating that Martha had ever beheld and she gazed at them mesmerized for a few moments. .
"Yes it is." Jim answered tentatively, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable about the young man's roundabout way of doing things and about Martha's reaction.
"May I come in?" the young man said taking a small tentative step forward.
"First state your purpose young man, and show some ID. What do you take us for? - Senile old fools?" Jim said gruffly
"No harm intended Jim"
"No! Call me Mr. Smith"" Jim immediately responded and was only prevented from telling the man to leave by Martha's tightening of her fingers on his arm.
"Now Jim, there is no need to be so hard on the young man" Martha whispered into Jim's ear. "Maybe he's new at his job"
"The rules still apply! "Jim said, feeling as if they were being driven into another of those arguments.
"Absolutely no problem Mr. Smith."" the young man who had been observing them intently said. "Here is my photo ID. and office phone number where my identity can be verified. And here is a brochure that explains the purpose of my visit." he added handing Jim a rectangular glossy brochure.
After putting on his bifocal reading-glasses, Jim read the brochure carefully. It all seemed extremely unreal. It was promising things that were patently beyond human ability to accomplish."
"Is this some kind of a joke! "Jim said gruffly after having read the brochure for the third time and finally putting his glasses away!
"No Mr. Smith. This is 100% legit. We can accomplish every singly thing that the brochure promises such as restoration to whatever physical age our client chooses."
"But how?" Martha asked
"Well Mrs. Smith, it is new secret hormonal innovative treatment that is safe, and quick."
"There are certain requirements, of course." the young man said with a slight mischievous grin after an extended pause.
"What stipulations are those?" Martha asked
"Well, in your specific case? In your case, it requires that you and Mr. Smith immediately separate and get a divorce.""
Noticing their shocked facial expressions and hesitation, he added:
"Is that really such a high price to pay for such a wonderful gift? Eh?"
"Excuse me!" Jim said, while still blocking the door so that the young man would not feel welcomed.
"But what exactly is your company getting from all this?"
"Good question Mr. smith! Excellent question indeed! Of course, we expected it. You see, Mr. Smith, this procedure is in its experimental stages, so your results would be invaluable to us. They would provide us with the feedback we need to further refine the procedure. Nothing more."
Jim and Martha were silent for a while and gazed at one another. Then Jim spoke:
"That part I can understand perfectly Mr. Miracles." Jim said, "But why are you requiring our separation and divorce?"
"Well Mr. Smith, as much as I understand your concern and appreciate the legitimacy of your objection, I am afraid that part is not open for inquiry.?
"Why not?" Jim asked eying the young man even more suspiciously than he had been doing all along.
"Well Mr. Smith, I am merely an employee who follows company policy."
"Well, OK young man. That is understandable. But you see, we, Martha and I, are persons who are choosing not to abide by your company policy! Isn't that so Martha?"
"Absolutely!" she responded while holding on to Jim's arm even more tightly.
Suddenly the young confident man seemed dumbstruck. Neither did he appear as innocent as he had when he had first arrived. In fact, his appearance was becoming a bit unusual and was causing both Martha and Jim to back away from him. His eyes, for one, had turned from blue to black. His features had taken on more of an aquiline aspect that the Teddy-bear appearance they had originally displayed. They also began to notice that his feet seemed to hover a bit above the carpet.
"So is that your final decision? "the young man growled more than speak.
"Yes! Martha said. You can keep your youth. The memories we have are more precious than any youth you can provide." With that, the young man suddenly grunted, wheeled around and walked away while mumbling under his breath.
"Who do you suppose that young man really was Martha? "Jim asked as he draped his aged arm around her aged shoulders.
"Oh just some confused young man who has his values all wrong. That's all Jim!" she responded as she snuggled up to his chest and warmly embraced him on their 50-year old sofa.