Post by Jack Nifedlorry on Feb 22, 2009 18:40:15 GMT
A teacher of music Sing Chow passed away very suddenly and went to Heaven.
He was met at the Pearly Gates by Saint John who was standing in for Saint Peter while he was on holiday.
“Welcome.” Said Saint John. “Sorry we had to call you sooner than you expected. Now we must try and slot you in where you will be most useful and at the same time happy. I see you are an expert at playing the harp, so I think I will put you in the main harp band. Go with Augustus here and he will show you where you can get your wings fitted and also where you can collect your harp.”
With that Sing Chow went off with the angel who had been standing beside Saint John to collect his wings and instrument. As they floated along from cloud to cloud Sing Chow asked Augustus if anyone was ever allowed to return to earth, even if only for a short while to carry out unfinished business.
“Sometimes it happens,” Said Augustus, “But only on very rare occasions and it must be for a very good reason.”
“Well I have a good reason, so who do I see?” said Sing Chow.
“Better go back and see Saint John,” replied Augustus. “You might be lucky, he tends to be a bit more generous than Saint Peter.”
Sing Chow went along for his wing fitting and then went to collect his harp. By then it was lunchtime so he decided he would go along and see Saint John in the early afternoon.
He found the Saint sitting by the Pearly Gates having an after lunch snooze waiting for the new arrivals.
Saint John sat up straight in his chair and asked Sing Chow what he could do for him.
Sing Chow explained that he would very much like to return to earth for just one more afternoon and evening. He explained that as Saint John knew from his notes, he was a music teacher and on that very day the daughter of a very good friend of his who he had been teaching was about to get her musical diploma and he had promised he would be there to congratulate her, and attend the party afterwards in his friend’s night club. Unfortunately, his sudden death had seemed to put a stop to that.
Saint John listened very carefully then said, “ You very lucky my friend on two accounts. One is that it is me who is on duty and not Saint Peter who, although he is a very wise and kindly man, does not normally allow such journeys. He is of the belief that once you are here this is where you remain. The other reason I will grant your request is that as you passed away in your house on your own, no one has yet discovered your demise. This means that you can go back, as yourself, attend the prize giving and the party afterwards and then return here. Your friends will discover your passing twenty four hours later than they would have.”
Sing Chow thanked the Saint and said that as long as he could attend the prize giving, congratulate his pupil, put in an appearance at the party then Saint John was free to ‘recall’ him whenever he desired.
“Right, that is all arranged,” said Saint John. “ I will recall you after you have returned home. There is just one other thing, and that is you must take your harp with you. Once you have been issued with it you must have it with you at all times. Don’t worry about your wings, no-one down there will be able to see them.”
Sing Chow started to thank the Saint but had only got half way through his thanks when he realised he was back in his home looking out of the window at the one sight he would miss, that of the Golden Gate Bridge.
He realised it was about time for the ceremony so he had a shower, dressed and called for a cab to transport him and his harp to the Music School where the prize giving would take place.
When his pupil went up for her diploma no one clapped louder than Sing Chow and then when she told the assembled audience what a good teacher she had had, all eyes turned to him and he was given a very warm applause.
Following the ceremony family and friends of his close friend Sam Pan all went to his club to have a family party to celebrate the ‘First Class Honours” degree attained by his daughter. The club had been closed for the night for the occasion.
After a few hours Sing Chow went to find his friend and daughter to say his goodbyes, explaining it had been a long day and he felt a bit tired. San Pan, together with his wife and daughter, all came to the door to see him on his way.
There was an extra farewell hug and squeeze for them all, knowing that it would be the last time he would see them on earth.
He had barely entered his home when he again found himself standing in front of the friendly Saint who had granted his request.
“Did you mange to achieve all you went back for?” asked the man.
“Yes I did,” replied Sing Chow, “Thank you very much.”
“Good” said the Saint, “But where is your instrument?”
With much dismay Sing Chow realised what he had done. He slapped his forehead with his hand and said- or sang in a very familiar tune, “ I left my Harp in San Pan’s Disco!!”
He was met at the Pearly Gates by Saint John who was standing in for Saint Peter while he was on holiday.
“Welcome.” Said Saint John. “Sorry we had to call you sooner than you expected. Now we must try and slot you in where you will be most useful and at the same time happy. I see you are an expert at playing the harp, so I think I will put you in the main harp band. Go with Augustus here and he will show you where you can get your wings fitted and also where you can collect your harp.”
With that Sing Chow went off with the angel who had been standing beside Saint John to collect his wings and instrument. As they floated along from cloud to cloud Sing Chow asked Augustus if anyone was ever allowed to return to earth, even if only for a short while to carry out unfinished business.
“Sometimes it happens,” Said Augustus, “But only on very rare occasions and it must be for a very good reason.”
“Well I have a good reason, so who do I see?” said Sing Chow.
“Better go back and see Saint John,” replied Augustus. “You might be lucky, he tends to be a bit more generous than Saint Peter.”
Sing Chow went along for his wing fitting and then went to collect his harp. By then it was lunchtime so he decided he would go along and see Saint John in the early afternoon.
He found the Saint sitting by the Pearly Gates having an after lunch snooze waiting for the new arrivals.
Saint John sat up straight in his chair and asked Sing Chow what he could do for him.
Sing Chow explained that he would very much like to return to earth for just one more afternoon and evening. He explained that as Saint John knew from his notes, he was a music teacher and on that very day the daughter of a very good friend of his who he had been teaching was about to get her musical diploma and he had promised he would be there to congratulate her, and attend the party afterwards in his friend’s night club. Unfortunately, his sudden death had seemed to put a stop to that.
Saint John listened very carefully then said, “ You very lucky my friend on two accounts. One is that it is me who is on duty and not Saint Peter who, although he is a very wise and kindly man, does not normally allow such journeys. He is of the belief that once you are here this is where you remain. The other reason I will grant your request is that as you passed away in your house on your own, no one has yet discovered your demise. This means that you can go back, as yourself, attend the prize giving and the party afterwards and then return here. Your friends will discover your passing twenty four hours later than they would have.”
Sing Chow thanked the Saint and said that as long as he could attend the prize giving, congratulate his pupil, put in an appearance at the party then Saint John was free to ‘recall’ him whenever he desired.
“Right, that is all arranged,” said Saint John. “ I will recall you after you have returned home. There is just one other thing, and that is you must take your harp with you. Once you have been issued with it you must have it with you at all times. Don’t worry about your wings, no-one down there will be able to see them.”
Sing Chow started to thank the Saint but had only got half way through his thanks when he realised he was back in his home looking out of the window at the one sight he would miss, that of the Golden Gate Bridge.
He realised it was about time for the ceremony so he had a shower, dressed and called for a cab to transport him and his harp to the Music School where the prize giving would take place.
When his pupil went up for her diploma no one clapped louder than Sing Chow and then when she told the assembled audience what a good teacher she had had, all eyes turned to him and he was given a very warm applause.
Following the ceremony family and friends of his close friend Sam Pan all went to his club to have a family party to celebrate the ‘First Class Honours” degree attained by his daughter. The club had been closed for the night for the occasion.
After a few hours Sing Chow went to find his friend and daughter to say his goodbyes, explaining it had been a long day and he felt a bit tired. San Pan, together with his wife and daughter, all came to the door to see him on his way.
There was an extra farewell hug and squeeze for them all, knowing that it would be the last time he would see them on earth.
He had barely entered his home when he again found himself standing in front of the friendly Saint who had granted his request.
“Did you mange to achieve all you went back for?” asked the man.
“Yes I did,” replied Sing Chow, “Thank you very much.”
“Good” said the Saint, “But where is your instrument?”
With much dismay Sing Chow realised what he had done. He slapped his forehead with his hand and said- or sang in a very familiar tune, “ I left my Harp in San Pan’s Disco!!”