The Missing Senator

Only three "senators" were sitting on "their bench" under the Vega Millionaire Banco sign, Marc, Pierre, Jacques.

Once there had been six of them, all recent retirees at the time, kicked out of their homes each morning by wives wanting to cook and clean without them being underfoot.

At first they talked about their old jobs, which gave way to chatter about grandchildren and the dismal performance of the local rugby team.

Their wives had thought it disrespectful to Jean to wear their regular sweats. They thought it showed respect to him being dressed as the did for their morning meetings.

Marc put his hand on the cool spot next to him. Last week Jean was there warming the wood. 

A hearse drove by on its way to the church a block away. They saw the flower-covered coffin through its windows.

"We can wait for the bells," Marc said. No sooner had he spoken and the bells started their dirge.

The men stood, removed their caps and headed for the church wondering who was next but none wanted to be the last man on the bench.