From the Very Apropos Series
by
Jake Taylor
The People inside the Mirror
Jack: “Manny, imagine this; in my old country they say that we die three times.”
Manny: “What exactly do they mean?”
Jack: “Well, according to their tradition, the first death occurs when your body gives up, when you can no longer breathe, when your soul abandons your body and walks towards the mirror.”
Manny: “Towards the mirror?”
Jack: “Yes, inside the mirrors live the people of the first and second deaths.”
Manny: “Jack, there is no second death. Once you are dead, you are gone, that’s it.”
Jack: “Yes there is; the second death refers to the people that knew you when you were alive. It is as simple as this: if you die before I do and I am the only person that knew you, then the second death will not come to you until after I die. As long as someone who knew you continues to live and to remember you, you will continue to live in his or her memory, and also inside the mirror.”
Manny: “So, my grandfather is inside the mirror because we continue to remember him?”
Jack: “That’s right. As long as someone who met your grandfather continues to live, your grandfather will live in his or her memory and inside mirrors.”
Manny: “And, how come you know that?”
Jack: “Because I saw many souls of dead men inside a mirror.”
Manny: “And where was this mirror?”
Jack: “In a women’s locker-room, inside a gym.”
Manny: “And what exactly were you doing there?”
Jack: “I arrived there in a dream.”
Manny: “Oh, that’s nonsense.”
Jack: “It is not. There were lots of men’s souls in there; they were taking a quick peep at the girls because the latter were very attractive. In addition, they are the most popular mirrors because they happen to be full-length.”
Manny: “Okay, okay, Jack, fine, but what is the third death?”
Jack: “The third death occurs when none of the people that heard of you continue to be alive. For example, if your grandfather was a great teacher and one of his students spoke of him to another person, let’s say to one of his daughters, then your grandfather will not suffer the third death until the daughter of that man dies or no longer remembers him. As long as she speaks of a teacher that her father knew or talked about, then your grandfather shall continue to be inside the mirror.”
Manny: “And when nobody refers to him in his or her conversations, then, what happens?”
Jack: “The third death comes to fetch your grandfather’s soul to take it to the place he deserves, according to the way he behaved here on earth.”
Manny: “So, according to you, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Lincoln, Napoleon, et cetera, et cetera, are still inside the mirror.”
Jack: “That’s right, international fame will keep you inside the mirror for a long time, although not for an eternity because, sooner or later, this world will come to an end.”
Manny: “And what exactly are the souls of these men doing?”
Jack: “They’re looking at the girls, of course!”
© Jacob A. J. Taylor 2011
