Pseudopod 253: Trying To Stay Dead
Show Notes
The Parade music is “Restless Spirits – Underscore – Halloween 2” by Film Composer David Beard. Music from Music Alley.
Trying To Stay Dead
by Richard S. Crawford.
Doctor Bell’s assistant led me into the tiny exam room and gestured at the leather-padded chair in the center. ‘Are you ready to do this?’ she asked, smiling.
I hesitated. I’d been psyching myself up for an animectomy for two months, but now the exam room gave me pause. It reminded me of a dentist’s office: The chair in the center of the room sat benignly beneath a single circular lamp that could be moved and aimed in any direction, while beside it lurked a movable desk with a tiny computer and a single instrument that looked like a dentist’s drill. ‘I suppose.’
‘You’re nervous, I can tell.’ The assistant wore a simple pink smock, the kind dental and mental hygienists all over the world wore. Her teeth gleamed an almost unnatural shade of white, and her silky brown hair cascaded lushly over her shoulders. She looked like a model.
And why not? The tiny scar on her left temple and the ever so slightly unfocused look in her eyes told me she’d already had the Snip. She acted happy and well adjusted and was unaware of anything she or I were saying or doing.
About the Author
Richard S. Crawford

Richard S. Crawford is a writer and web developer who lives in an appropriately ancient and drafty house in Sacramento, California. In his time Richard has worked as a video store clerk, a barista, a secretary, a street actor at the Renaissance Faire, and a number of other jobs all leading up to the glamorous and jet setting life as a full time Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP developer. He holds a degree in Philosophy from UC Davis, and isn’t afraid to use it.
For a list of Richard’s publishing credits and random fiction, click here.
About the Narrator
Steve Anderson

Steve Anderson has lost track of just how many stories he’s narrated for Escape Pod, PodCastle, and PseudoPod (which includes a Parsec Award-winning story for PseudoPod). When he’s not behind the microphone, he produces animated explainer videos at SGAcreative.com, and he performs original live storytelling programs at GreatTalesLive.com.
