Not much of a consolation prize...

"I'm confused."

"It's a medal, Jerry!" the overly chipper man flashed unnaturally white teeth, his cheeks stretched beyond what seemed plausible.

"Yes. I can see that it's a medal."

"Ahhh! ok! Because you said you were confused and I was trying to clear up any misunderstanding!"

The voice was as plastic as the face of the man before Jerry. He inhaled slowly, placing the thumb and forefinger of his right hand onto the bridge of his nose, pressing right, pulsing, hesitating before speaking again.

"I understand that you are giving me a medal but I thought that after everything that I went through, I would have received admittance through those gates right there."

The head before him nodded up and down shoulders shrugging emphatically, and the voice...that voice! It rose 3 octaves, painfully condescending.

"Oh Jerry! Those gates are for very specific people! The VIP of the afterlife, you might say! But you?" The man reached over the podium to place a heavy platinum medal around his neck. "The medal!" After seeing Jerry's lackluster appreciation of his medal, the glowing man beamed even brighter. "See the detail in it? If you look carefully, you will be able to see all the fine print engraving all your wonderful deeds!"

"But... but what am I supposed to do with a medal?

The man sniffled out a giggle through punched nostrils. "Why! You wear it, Jerry."

"Can I wear it through there?"

The man flinched a bit, showing the first signs of impatience. "I already told you that is only for our VIP."

"And what am I?"

"Sub par." The man's eyes narrowed, his voice containing a bit more acidity this time around.

"I see." Jerry hadn't held any illusions that he might be elite, but he figured he could scrape by and sneak in those gates by the seat of his pants. "So where do the sub pars wear these beautiful medals?"

"In hell, Jerry. In hell."

And with a snap of his fingers, Jerry and his medal vanished for all eternity.

I'm cracking up!!! I had no idea where this story would end up and with only 5 minutes it was a speedy descent for dear of Jerry!!! 🤣. I hope you enjoyed the quick trip! lolol

This post was created for the 5 minute free write community founded by @mariannewest and now lovingly tended to gy @felt.buzz

Our dreemers this month have been invited to try out 5 minute free write with DreemPort every Tuesday! I hope they get a kick out of it!😀

My cover image was made by me and Midjourney hehe...and that's my take on a gameshow St. Peter...lololol