Down Among the Dead Men_ A Year in the Life of a Mortuary Technician - Michelle Williams [48]
Six o’clock arrived and I presented myself back in the chapel. Herbie was standing at the door to the viewing room with it wide open, almost as if he was on guard. I asked him if everyone had had a chance to see Mr Diggins, and he replied that still a few people had not. He said he was pleased that I had come in as he needed to ask me some questions.
The waiting area was in chaos. Children were running around and jumping on and off the elderly members of the family who had been given the chairs. A few had charge of the couple of newborn babies. On the coffee table in the middle of the room, the Bible and various information leaflets for bereaved families had been pushed to one side or onto the floor, and replaced with home-made sandwiches, packets of crisps, empty baby bottles and various chocolate bars. This family had come prepared and, from the feeling I got, were planning on staying.
Herbie approached me and asked me to confirm that his father would not get ‘cut open’. I was taken aback by this and asked him if he meant by that a post-mortem. ‘Yes, that’s it; I can never remember what they call it.’
I had to be honest, but didn’t know how it was going to go down. ‘Has your father been to see his GP recently?’ I asked Herbie.
‘He hasn’t got one,’ was the reply.
So, then it came, the news he did not want to hear. ‘I’m afraid that Mr Diggins’ death will be reported to the Coroner, and he will have to investigate. He’ll then request a post-mortem if needed, which in this case will be likely, seeing as he won’t be able to find any medical history on your father.’ I stood back.
‘He wouldn’t want that,’ was Herbie’s stern, firm reply.
Calmly I said, ‘I’m afraid there won’t be anything anyone can do if the Coroner requests it, Herbie.’
The elderly members of the family began to shake their heads in a negative manner and tut. ‘We don’t want it to happen, and neither would my father, Michelle.’
I was surprised he had remembered my name, but knew he was making a huge statement by using it. All I could say was that I was sorry they felt that way, and that the law is the law in this country. I explained that it would give them answers and closure on why he died, but that I certainly had no control over whether it happened or not. I informed him that one of the Coroner’s officers would be in touch with him, but also gave him their office number anyway.
Clive always encouraged us to pass this responsibility back to the Coroner’s officers. ‘They have a lot more clout than us, Michelle,’ he would say. ‘We’re just looking after their work for them, that’s all. No need for us to get more involved than that.’
But Herbie and his family were not pleased and the atmosphere changed instantly. Herbie said in a loud voice, ‘I’ll be speaking to them first thing. This will not happen, you mark my words.’ He waved his finger at everyone in the room, me included. I encouraged him to sit, but he refused and walked out on to the street. The rest of the family carried on as if nothing had happened and continued to go in and out to see Mr Diggins.
I thought about following him but, worried about his state of mind and the actions he might take, I decided it was best that I stayed on hospital property. I returned to the office. I knew there and then that I wouldn’t be leaving before seven that evening. Luckily Luke was at home with Oscar and Harvey, so that was one thing I could relax about, but I really wanted to go. I had had enough for that day, and was getting increasingly concerned about what time this family were going to leave. I had a feeling that tempers would be raised if I was bold enough to ask them to depart. I had to think of something, but had no idea what.
As I sat in the office staring at the clock, which was by now approaching seven-forty-five, the red double doors were unlocked and the porters came in with another body.