The Cool Room by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 59

With the arrival of Saturday, the schedule for services promised to make for a busy day. It was not a day for preparing new clients, but for consoling the living as they sat grieving in front of the embalmed remains of those gone on before them. Within the throes of these emotions, many do not consider the idea that there could be another place – something outside the earthly. Many throughout the centuries have pondered such a place, realizing that the only people who knew of such a thing were those had entered its realm. Philosophers, theologians, and thinkers would never know of it until it was their turn. But those who sat in the viewing room seeing through tear-flooded eyes were in no place to consider such ideas, nor would it be real to them until they, too, left their earthly shell behind. The shaman, however, might speak at length of a place he visited many times. Yet, the words of this soothsayer would likely make no sense due to the means by which he traveled to this ethereal wonderland. But maybe it is enough for some to accept the irrationality of a land of light and shadows, laying a final heartbeat away. So close for some, yet so far for others.

There is an exhaustion felt only by those who work in the funeral business. Everyone knows what it’s like to tire from a day’s work, but for a funeral technician, it is a mix of the physical and the rising emotions felt from seeing their fellow human beings suffer the inevitable. They are told of the importance of maintaining an emotional distance. Yet, they are human and prone to the emotional consequences of being mortal. Such was the case on that Saturday when Frank and his staff conducted a service for a young boy who arrived in an unrecognizable state. According to medical and police reports, the boy was allowed by his parents to operate a chainsaw. Although he was under the supervision of his father, the blade suddenly kicked back, carving its way down his face. With several facial arteries having been compromised the boy bled out before authorities and EMS could arrive. They found him unconscious as the father held a rag over the wound trying to stop the bleeding.

The paramedics tried their best, applying pressure bandages while maintaining his airway through intubation, as the parents stood by in shock. Even after he was pronounced by the Emergency Room staff, the parents, having quickly drifted into denial, continued to inquire as to his condition. It wasn’t until a priest arrived that the painful truth set in, sending the parents into a torrent of hysteria. Nothing could console them; not the priest and his kind words; not the nurses who brought them water, hoping that its cold temperature would subdue their anxiety. Once they had come to terms with the reality of their young son’s demise, it was determined that his remains would go to Frank’s Funeral Home. After contacting the funeral home, Frank made it his personal business to pick up the body himself. As often as he had worked on children before, it was never easy. Premature babies were easier; they had a tended to appear rather alien-like due to their young age as well as the issues that led to their demise. But children, those who were just beginning to live their lives, carried a different emotion. Frank sensed every time, and it was always overpowering, often leading him to steady his nerves with a moderate amount of alcohol. He stopped only when he felt a light buzz set in, avoiding the crippling effects of drunkenness.

Knowing the skills Jonathan possessed, Frank was quick to pass their client off to him. Approaching him in the cool room, he gave a heavy-hearted sigh. Preparing a child had the same effect on everyone. If one was not affected by the preparation of a child they should not be working in the industry. “Jonathan,” he said. “I’m really sorry, but I’m bringing a little boy in.”

Jonathan’s expression spoke for him as he glanced down at the stainless steel table – the place where he would short be working on the fortunate youngster.

“What kind of shape is he in?” Jonathan asked. Frank let out another somber sigh. “He had accident with a chainsaw,” he continued. “Lots of facial trauma.”

Jonathan’s expression seemed almost heartsick. With only several years of experience he had worked on very few children. He hated it but it had to be done.

“Okay,” he replied. “What about Emily?” Emily was still in the beginnings of her career but also female. Both Frank and Jonathan and Frank worried that she might not be able to cope with the preparation of a child. Given a woman’s strong maternal nature, a situation such as this might be enough to push Emily out of the industry. But even children die. It is one of those grim realities no one can escape. Yet, Frank believed that Emily possessed real talent and felt she was needed not simply by his business but by the industry. Emily had value.

“Here’s what I’ll do,” Frank said. “I’m going to ask her if she wants to work on this client with you. I’ll explain everything to her. I’ll let her read the medical record and give her a chance to take a look. If she still wants to do it, she can walk out any time she wants. If she doesn’t, then that’s fine. Does that work for you?”

Jonathan nodded and until the young boy’s remains arrived busied himself by cleaning and making sure that everything he needed was within reach.

During the conversation, Emily was busy vacuuming the rug in the viewing room. A necessary part of the job, it was critical that those attending a service should be met by an immaculate viewing room. The chairs should be set up in perfect rows and the casket – open or closed – should shine as the setting sun, beautiful and possessing meaning for anyone who sees it. Funerals are often depressing but often can display unforgettable beauty, with flowers surrounding the casket and occasionally a wreath sitting atop it. Everyone took part in arranging the viewing rooms, but it took only one person to dismantle it. Today was Emily’s turn.

She was still cleaning when Frank returned with the child’s remains and having entered the side door Frank managed to escape her view. Once in the cool room, Jonathan watched in terrified anticipation as Frank unzipped the body bag. The injury that ended the young boy’s life was graphic beyond description. Chainsaws are meant to carve through logs and bring down trees, not slice their way through human tissue. As suddenly as it had happened the blade managed not only to rip through soft tissue but gouged through several facial bones, exposing sinus cavities, splitting an eye and exposing a hint of brain tissue. Jonathan was in for a challenge. Having completed the cleaning of the viewing room, Emily, hearing the sound of the cool room door close wandered back and opening the door was stopped by Frank.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Is there a new client?”

Motioning her into the hallway, Frank closed the door.

“Come with me a second,” he said. Emily was perplexed. Normally, she was involved in every step of a new client’s arrival and wondered why she was not being allowed to participate. Walking her to the viewing room, he motioned for her to a nearby chair and sitting next to her, described in detail what lay on the preparation table. “You don’t have to work on this one,” Frank continued. “But if you want to take a look, you can decide for yourself.”

Emily was confident that whatever the situation, she was more than capable of dealing with it. She had not worked on a deceased child before but had seen them come into the Albany morgue on occasion. But this was different.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I’d like to at least take a look.”

Frank nodded his head but still expressed concern. “Alright,” he said. “But remember, you don’t have to work on this one, okay?”

Opening the door, Frank let her into the room where Jonathan was making his initial examination.

Walking up to the body, Emily took in the sad, gruesome sight but making a small request asked that the deceased be covered up to the chin. “Um, sure,” Jonathan replied. “Why?” Frank stood by silently knowing that Emily was attempting to make adjustments that might allow her to cope. She was committed to doing the job regardless of whose body lay before her. “Well,” she answered. “If we’re going to work on this kid it might be a good to dehumanize his appearance as much as possible. That way, we won’t get caught up emotionally.” With his years of experience, Frank found this to be a novel idea. He had never seen a need to do this before but looking back he thought of several instances where this would have been a good idea. “That’s a great idea,” he said. “And you came up with this just now?”

Emily had started donning the usual protective garb, preparing to assist Jonathan with what would be a difficult reconstruction.

“It seems like a good idea,” she answered. Frank suggested to Jonathan that he also begin doing this. Removing some of the human element would allow him a greater degree of focus in clients needing more difficult reconstruction. Jonathan agreed, thinking it would also eliminate the potential for the splashing of chemicals when embalming.