One Less Stiff at the Funeral

When he hung his brand new psychology degree on the wall, Jason Harvey had imagined working at one of the many hospitals or clinics in Melbourne. The want ads, however, hadn't cooperated. Now Jason finds himself facing the newly bereaved across the counselor's desk of the Newlin Funeral Parlour.

Certainly all people deserve sympathy and patience in their time of loss, but Jason's current client has him at wit's end. What's worse, the deceased has included a bizarre request in her final wishes: that her passing be commemorated…with chocolate.

Things start looking up for Jason when amicable young Fred takes over the funeral coordination duties from his sour aunt, but despite their best efforts to honor the departed in the manner she's requested, they find the memorial service sliding inexorably out of control….

Novelette - 12700 words