Moments after Charlie Bobbs died, the grim reaper appeared before his weeping soul.

Grim Reaper (GR) : Now that you’re clear why you’re here, shall we…?
Charles Bobbs (CB) : Hold on. I’m not clear at all! I don’t understand why I’m here!
GR: Well, you’re dead. You just cried looking at your own body…
CB: I know I’m dead. That’s me twisted & sprawled all over the roadside. If that isn’t dead, I don’t know what is…
GR: Then you’re clear.
CB: No, that’s not what I meant! I meant I shouldn’t be dead! I’m only 30 years old, in good health, no criminal records & have a good job. In fact, I was supposed to get a promotion & run a new high-profile project. I’m in my prime & you had an ice-cream truck ran over me while I was having my breakfast! I didn’t even get to finish my tea! I deserve an explanation!
GR: Well, I didn’t drive that truck.
CB: As the Grim Reaper, you dare say that you had nothing to do with my death?
GR: Ok, let’s make things simple. I took you because there’s no other way.
CB: You could let me live!
GR: That isn’t an option. You cannot continue to live. You’re quite a threat to everyone else.
CB: What? A threat? I’m just a builder. I build homes, comfortable ones at that.
GR: That’s not all. You’re also a division head for a development in Cuba. Well, that was supposed to happen next month anyway.
CB: And why is that a reason to have me killed?
GR: You see, you’re a key personnel in having that project finished in time. And since you’re incorruptible, the project will be standing for many years.
CB: That doesn’t make any sense. I died because I do my job?
GR: That development will house some of the world’s most dangerous underworld kingpins who’ll run operations with seamless efficiency. By completing the project, all the key characters will move in, which will then lead to a chain of events.
CB: You’re telling me that by being neighbours, these bosses will have a better working environment? And that will endanger others?
GR: Something like that.
CB: THAT’S ABSURD! They would run operations regardless of where they are. They’ve been doing that for a very long time! It has nothing to do with the estate I’m supposed to be working on.
GR: Not quite. The estate you’re supposed to be working on will not only house the ringleaders. It’ll also house their families. To be more specific, 2 families will merge when their children get married. When that happens, then we’ll have a real problem because, not only do they deal in black market firearms, they instigate political tension & military pressure. Forgot to mention that the firearms are pretty badass - Five megatons bad.
CB: That’s really far from the point. Why kill me & not them instead?
GR: Ironically, killing them is bad for quite a lot of people.
CB: “Ironic” sounds so understated. Why would getting rid of bad guys be a bad thing?
GR: Although their work is detrimental to others, it’s rather essential. You see, they create jobs in various industries both legal & illegal. Without these jobs, a lot of people will suffer especially now when the financial divide is so large. The wealthy are suffocating the poor. Think of their organization as something similar to any government, regardless of policies.
CB: In that case, don’t kill all of them. Take 1 or 2. That should be enough to let me live longer right?
GR: Getting rid of the smallest mob boss will cost 50 people their jobs that will have a complicated ripple effect on their respective societies for a period of time. In your case, if we were to prevent the family merger, we would’ve to get rid of one of the boss’ children, which is not a good idea because that would make things worse. One would cease operations & cause a catastrophic meltdown among global financial institutions. The other would step up operations & eventually, run the nuke business himself. If you died, that’s only 1 life.
CB: Sounds like I was made to be a martyr. You could’ve prevented me from getting that job.
GR: I take lives, not jobs. But I understand that it was quite a dead end for you. Any progression you take from here onwards would be a threat to others.
CB: This isn’t fair. I’ve done my best to be what I am & make something for myself & you just creamed me instead of those troublemakers who you claim, are actually saints. Doesn’t sound fair to me at all!
GR: Well look on the bright side. At least you don’t need anything material anymore. You could go to what people call, “heaven”
CB: It’s far too early for me to go there. I still had not had the chance to see the world. I didn’t even say my goodbyes. Besides, what can I look forward to in “heaven” anyway?
GR: Honestly, there’s nothing much in “heaven”. The fact that people dedicate their lives to being there is rather overrated, although sometimes noble
CB: Sometimes noble? I thought it’s ALWAYS good to want to be good? Besides, I’m not religious at all & I’ve sinned many times, yet I get to go to “heaven”? I’m not only dead, I’m also confused now.
GR: Ok first thing’s first. Good is what your world tells you. Not everyone can agree on all things that are good. You didn’t agree with me that the mafia is inherently good, did you? Now, you’ll also probably disagree with me when I say some God worshipers are not quite as good as you may think.
CB: You’re right. I disagree. How can these worshipers not be good people?
GR: First of all, should it depend on what they’re worshipping? Buddhism, Catholics, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Mormon, Shinto & even Scientology: which do you think is the correct religion? It’d also depend on who’s worshiping. Just so you know, most mafia members are very religious people & some of them even sponsor churches. You think they’d go to “hell” because they’re in the mob? Sometimes yes sometimes no.
CB: Even if the religion is not entirely correct, the fact that they’re worshiping a greater power has to account for something, right? I mean, although the practice may not be the same but in the end they live by the teachings. Basically tells us not to be an asshole to others at whatever the cost.
GR: Frankly, I’m surprised at how naïve you can get. Although religion can offer us some very good advice in life, not everyone practice religion for that reason. Some practice religion because they think they have to. Some practice religion because they want something in return. Some practice religion because they’re afraid of God. Some practice religion because their parents did. Not everyone is sincere.
CB: I know very good religious people who are always kind, helpful & thoughtful to others. They never ask for anything in return & yet they’re always charitable
GR: Which is why I said not everyone is sincere. In fact, step back a little & think, are all non-religious people you know not as kind, helpful, thoughtful or charitable as the religious ones?
CB: Well, some non-religious people I know are not so bad themselves
GR: You see the concept is to have a good life & to be the best you can be. Do not harm others because that doesn’t make you a very nice person. Basically that’s it. If people practice religion so that they can go to “heaven”, then they’re just insulting the religion. Religion is not a competition & “heaven” is not the prize. If people practice religion because they’re afraid of going to “hell”, then they’re just as bad. It’d make more sense if people view religion as a guide & not treat it like a law.
CB: But you mentioned that there’s nothing much in “heaven”, why would people want to go there so badly?
GR: You didn’t know that “heaven” is nothing much before I told you about it, right? Some believe that you can get everything in “heaven”. Even if it’s true, in “heaven”, you can get everything your heart desires: A big house, a supercar, a yacht, hundreds of virgins & a nice little koi pond, I suppose that sometime during eternity, all this would be meaningless. There’s no sense of achievement anymore because there’s no sweat put into it. You don’t appreciate all of it as much because it’s always there for you. Luxury will be tasteless & wouldn’t that scare you? Having everything & forever not able to appreciate any of it. If that were the only thing in “heaven” I would be pretty depressed after a few thousand years.
CB: I’ve not had the chance to enjoy anything when I was alive. Are you saying that, even in death, I can’t be enjoying all that I missed? Sounds like I got the bad end of the deal.
GR: Well, true that it does sound sucky now. But think about it this way, your death saved, potentially, thousands of lives. That’s something not everyone can achieve. In fact, some people are not even worth their own lives.
CB: I was about to say I don’t care about those lives & that I just want my own, but that sounds rather selfish of me.
GR: Well said…
CB: I guess there’s no use in me complaining now. So, what’s going to happen? Will I hang around “heaven” & not enjoy anything? Or is there something else I can do?
GR: After a few thousand years, you could be like me. Or do another job working for the higher power. You could do that in a few hundred years if you’re good enough.
CB: Like you? You mean replace you? I thought you are omnipresent. You can never be replaced?
GR: Who said anything about replacing me? I said be like me. I’m not the only grimreaper here. Thousands of people die each day & I can’t possibly meet all of them & still have time to chat like this with you.
CB: You mean there’s more than one grim reaper?
GR: Makes sense, doesn’t it? Everybody who goes to “heaven” shall be in service of the higher power. They can be the grim reaper, guardian angel, seer or all 3 if they like. Alternatively, they can do nothing. Whichever they prefer. I chose to be the grim reaper because I’m not very good at math.
CB: I suppose I have a seer watching over me, right? Otherwise you people wouldn’t know what would happen if I continue to live. Problem is, I don’t think I have a guardian angel since I’m talking to you so early in my life.
GR: Well, she tried her best. Tried to make you fail on a few occasions but you were too persistent. So you got yourself a good life, which was the death of you
CB: We’re on an irony streak.
GR: Sorry that it had to be this way.
CB: This all sounds strange. It’s as if all my life’s knowledge & beliefs have been ridiculed just by talking to you, a soul working as a grim reaper
GR: Weird isn’t it? Could you imagine, when I died, I was illiterate. I couldn’t understand anything the grim told me. Took me 20 years to finally realize I’m dead. If you’re ready, perhaps we should get back to business?
CB: What business?
GR: Now that you’re clear why you’re here, shall we take a walk? My name is Thomas & I am your guide.
CB: You have a name?
GR: Souls come from people & people have names. Give me some credit here.
CB: Sorry, I honestly didn’t mean it. So what’s it like being dead for so long?
GR: Not much really…