Gordon was terrified of one thing: being put in a coffin with the lid nailed shut when he was not properly dead.
What if he woke from a deep sleep to find himself trapped in a box? Buried even. He made it clear to his wife, Germaine, that he was to be cremated. Better to be burned into the certitude of death than be entombed inside a box for several days.
None of this was a trouble to Germaine. A few pills created a spousal temporary sleep.
The Bang! Bang! Bang! emanating from the coffin in the lounge for two and a half days was deeply satisfying. Deeply, deeply satisfying, thought Germaine.
O happy end! Happy, happy end!
Thump! Thump!