Say “no, thank you.”

You might want to read the first part here before proceeding.

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The man shrugged, “Welcome to the afterlife.”

“What is your name? If you’re going to call me Adam- because I’m clueless as you say—”

“No-no” the man interrupted, waving the helm of the scarf draped around his neck.

“No-no,” he said again. “I am not saying you are clueless. You are clueless… or what is your name?”

Adam tried to think but he couldn’t form a thought. “Okay, I am clueless.”

“You are learning!” flashing him a gap-toothed grin, he responded, “Let’s get you that hat.”

Adam thought it was completely irrational that he was getting just a hat for his head when the rest of his body was completely naked, he thought it was comforting that he couldn’t feel the chill one would expect walking by the beach but he followed the stranger.

“You can call me Smile, I am the entity to help you get dressed. Now remember this is not about clothes. This is getting you ready for another lifetime. Easier lifetime, really.”

Adam wondered how easy it was going to be if he had to earn his clothes and what was this business about another lifetime? His pastor said—

“Smile! I just remembered something! I have— no, had a pastor!”

Smile responded without even breaking his stride. “That counts for nothing”

“Not even boxers?”

“Not even a single thread it was made with”.

Shaking off his disappointment he started to follow but suddenly bumped into another man. A naked man much like himself. “Hi, I’m Adam”, the man said.

Adam ignored the outstretched handshake and hurried after his companion.

“Smile, how many Adams are here?” Something about meeting that man made him want to cover up even more. “Also, where’s the hat?”

“You are not getting one anymore.”, Smile answered.

“But why?!”

“You were rude to Adam.”

“I wasn’t rude, I was shocked, didn’t you see his-”

I saw, Smile said, I saw, next time say, “No, thank you”. They walked out to another clearing by the beach with hundreds of men walking around, most of them naked. Adam was stunned to silence. It was Smile who spoke.

“Now, let’s go over some rules.”