The Loved One

Dennis asks for a leave of absence from the Happier Hunting Ground to attend to Sir Francis’s funeral arrangements. He tells his boss, Mr. Schultz, that he could learn some methods from Whispering Glades that they might use at the pet cemetery. Mr. Schultz responds that he’s interested only in “cheaper fuel, cheaper wages, harder work […]” (53).

At Whispering Glades, the embalmer, Mr. Joyboy, admits that he makes corpses smile for the cosmetician, Aimée Thanatogenos, whom he has a crush on: “It’s true, Miss Thanatogenos. It seems I am just powerless to prevent it. When I am working for you there’s something inside me says ‘He’s on his way to Miss Thanatogenos’ and my fingers just seem to take control” (60). Aimée gushes that the Loved Ones from Mr. Joyboy lately “have the most beautiful smiles” (60).

When he sees Sir Francis’s body in the Slumber Room of the funeral home, Dennis is appalled. He compares the corpse to “the wax-work of Marat” (66) and describes the face as “ageless as a tortoise and as inhumane; a painted and smirking obscene travesty by comparison with which the devil-mask Dennis had found in the noose was a festive adornment” (67).