Can You Pass the Sugar, Please

Amy McDougal was sitting in a restaurant one day, enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee and biscotti-- when a rough looking gentlemen -- from the other end of the counter yelled to her -- -- can you pass the sugar, please?

Certainly, Amy replied -- and because the counter was long and sort a narrow -- Amy rose to her feet and hand carried the sugar to the man.

As she started to leave he said to her -- would you sit down and join me, Miss?

Reluctantly, Amy sat down and immediately-- he wanted to know her name.

“My name’s Amy -- Amy McDougal.”

“You live in the area, Amy?” he asked.

“Not far,” she replied. “How ‘bout you?”

Amy looked at the man beside her -- and wondered if perhaps he wasn’t homeless. By the way he was dressed -- she thought he could have been. He looked as if he hadn't shaved in months -- and his hair was quite long -- not having been cut perhaps in quite a long while also.
Amy began to feel sorry for the man --- and as she continued to look him over -- discreetly -- her train of thought was suddenly interrupted when he replied--

“No -- I don’t live here -- I was just passing through and thought I'd stop in this quaint little cafe -- and treat myself to a cup of coffee.”

“Oh -- I see!” Amy replied --- “Then where are you from?”

“A little town called Welcome -- and -- it's a great place to live.”

“I don't think I've heard of your town -- but then again -- if you say you're not from around here --- I'm sure that's why.”

Welcome’s a nice place -- and the scruffy lookin’ man went on to describe it to her in some detail. “You'd really like it there.”

Amy smiled at the man and said -- “I'm sure I would -- it sounds like a very nice town -- but -- it’s almost nine o’clock -- and I really must get to work. It was nice talking to you” -- and climbing down off the stool -- Amy waved goodbye to him -- and left.

The following week -- Amy was having some health problems and she went to her doctor. He said, “Amy -- this is very hard for me to tell you -- but you have Leukemia.”

“Leukemia!” she cried -- “are you certain doctor?”

“Yes -- unfortunately, I am Amy -- I’m very sorry.”

Amy went home devastated! She called her sister immediately with the terrible news -- and cried the whole time she relayed it to her.
“Whatever shall I do?” she asked her.

“I want you to come stay with me Amy -- and I’ll care for you.”

Amy packed her bags --- sold her belongings -- and the following week --- moved into her sister's home -- where she stayed until she passed away.

After Amy died --- she suddenly found herself in a strange place. She wondered where she was -- and then suddenly -- she saw again -- the scruffy looking man -- she’d seen in the coffee shop.

You? -- Amy shouted.

Hi Amy -- how nice to see you again! ---

“Welcome -- to Welcome.”

I wonder  --  How ready are we ever for the Angel of Death?  We rarely have any notice of  his coming.