Gangrey.com

The Obit

and the story behind it

Wow. Kruse: CLEARWATER — The obituary was only the beginning.

It read like this: Czernia, Oren, 34, of Clearwater, passed away on Jan. 16, 2010. A University of Miami graduate, he is survived by parents; daughter; sister, nieces and nephews. Mitchell Cremation Chapel.

A post then appeared on a message board for Bruce Springsteen fans at Backstreets.com. It was written by someone called MrBaseball907. That was Oren's screen name.

Hello, the post began.

My name is Michael — the name of one of Oren's friends — and today I come to you with a very heavy heart. I know how much this place meant to him so I thought I should notify all of you. After a brief illness Oren passed away … He was my best friend and I will mourn him for the rest of my life.

The responses to the post started immediately.

my god no

Comments

Re: The Obit

Now, that's a story. Where'd you find it, Michael?

Re: The Obit

Absolutely loved the ending. Very well chosen.

Re: The Obit

Michael, on a busy morning I read your story from beginning to end. It falls into a much needed new category of stories that should have a name, something like techno-realism. In an age of techno-triumphalism, it's important to explore the unintended side effects, including the kind of messed-up psyches revealed here. It would be a strong enough story without your meetings with the "dead" man, but each one raised the ante, like the way that Lane DeGregory met the mother of the girl in the window. Cheers. You hit a home run.

Re: The Obit

very well done.

Re: The Obit

Hello, I knew Oren many years ago when we attended the same elementary school back in Irvington NJ. I recently logged in to my facebook and saw that he was no longer on my friends page. I am saddened to hear of his passing.

None

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