***Disclaimer: I got this idea from Pinterest, an exercise where you write a 20 word sentence, then a 19 word sentence, and so on, ending the story with one word.***
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Janet and Gertrude board the senior cruise, making a beeline for the open bar, luggage clattering behind as they gabbed.
“I’m so glad we’re finally doing this,” Janet squealed as Gertrude leaned over the counter, waving the bartender over.
“We’ve only been talking about it for twenty years,” Gertrude joked, elbowing her best friend in the ribs.
They collapsed onto stools as the piña coladas appeared, glistening with condensation and topped with paper umbrellas.
“Mmm, mmm,” Janet mumbled after her first sip, “now this is just what the doctor ordered.”
“You can say that again,” Gertrude said, looking over her friend’s shoulder, “this’ll be . . . AHH!!!”
Gertrude stumbled off her stool, gesturing to the cloaked figure standing at the bar.
As Janet turned around, the hooded skeleton with the scythe screamed, hands up.
“I’m off the clock!” the Grim Reaper cried, clutching his blade, grimacing.
“Is that supposed to spare me the heart attack?!” Janet yelled.
“I’m really sorry about that,” the reaper said, laughing nervously.
“Don’t you at least have vacation clothes?” Gertrude asked.
“Unfortunately . . . no,” he admitted, “I’m always on call.”
“Sure,” Janet relented, “but why a cruise?”
Reaper said, “Never been on one . . .
“and I’ve been dying to . . .
“sorry . . . figure of speech.”
“Ha,” Janet muttered.
“Sorry . . . again . . .
“Cheers?”
THE END