"Can't Wait To Get To Heaven" by Fannie Flagg Quiz

Answer: She fell off of a ladder while picking figs

Elner went out early that morning to pick figs to make some fig preserves for a friend. She accidentally poked a wasps' nest, and ended up falling off of the ladder and being stung by numerous wasps. Fortunately, Elner's neighbor, Tot Whooten, saw the accident and went to another neighbor, Ruby Robinson, who happened to be a nurse.

After trying to revive Elner and failing, they called for an ambulance. Then Tot called Elner's niece, Norma.

Answer: She had died

The Emergency Room doctor informed Norma and her husband, Macky, that Elner died at 9:47 am from anaphylactic shock due to her old age and many wasps' stings. Poor Norma was totally devastated and fainted numerous times throughout the day. The more information she was given, the more she fainted!

Answer: Her sister Ida

Ida had died some years before. Elner was very confused when she first saw her; she thought that Ida was still alive and asked her: "What in the world are you doing here in Kansas City? We all thought you were dead. Good Lord, honey, we had a funeral for you and everything!" After Ida had convinced Elner that she was really dead, it finally dawned on Elner that she had died also. Ida then took a key from the desk and opened the door. Elner asked her, "What's going to happen when I get inside?" Ida answered, "What do you think is going to happen, Elner? You're going to meet your Maker!"

Answer: Luther Griggs, Jr.

Luther was the son of Luther Griggs, Sr., who had tormented Bobby Smith in the book "Standing in the Rainbow". Luther Jr. started off as bad as his father until Elner befriended him and straightened him out. He felt Elner was the only person who had ever really cared about him.

She was like a second mother to him. He even decided to marry Bobbie Jo Newberry, a girl he had been casually dating, since Elner thought that they would make a good couple and didn't want him to be alone after her death.

Answer: Doc and Dorothy Smith

Elner found herself back in Elmwood Springs the way it looked in the 1940s. Ida led her to Doc and Dorothy's home and instructed her to enter by herself. She was so surprised to see Dorothy first. Dorothy told her that they always chose to appear before the person who had died in a form that would be comforting to them, and so they wouldn't be afraid. Dorothy then took Elner in to see Doc, but his name was now Raymond. That confused Elner for a while, but she accepted it after visiting with him. It was found out later that Doc Smith's full name was Robert Raymond Smith.

Answer: Her time on Earth wasn't over

After visiting with Raymond, Dorothy invited Elner to come out on the front porch for cake and coffee. After Elner had visited with Dorothy for a while, Raymond came out and informed Elner that she was being sent back. Dorothy wrapped a piece of cake in a napkin and gave it to Elner.

Then Elner found herself floating in the air, and woke up back in her hospital room. She ended up scaring everyone nearly to death when she sat up and started talking! The news that Elner was still alive was quickly spread all the way to Elmwood Springs, and everyone was relieved!

Answer: No

Of course not! Norma thought that Elner may have suffered some slight brain damage due to the fall. Macky assumed Elner dreamed the whole thing. One of the hospital staff assumed Elner had a "near-death experience". Norma begged Elner not to tell anyone about her experience, fearing people would think she was crazy.

Answer: An orderly took it home for her mother

The orderly, La Shawnda McWilliams, had been called to collect Elner's personal belongings. As she was folding the bathrobe Elner had been wearing when she was brought in, she felt something in the pocket. She reached in and pulled out the piece of cake that Dorothy had given Elner. Since La Shawnda knew Elner would not be allowed to eat it, she decided to take it home to give to her mother, who was almost crippled with arthritis.

Her mother was happy to get it. The next morning, La Shawnda was shocked to see her mother up cooking breakfast! She told La Shawnda that she had a dream that she saw hundreds of tiny golden hands rubbing her all over, and when she woke up, she felt almost completely well!

Answer: Sonny

Elner started with an orange kitten that Dorothy had advertised as needing a home on her radio show. As each one died, always of old age, she would get another one. She chose the name "Sonny" after Dorothy's theme song, "On The Sunny Side Of The Street".

Answer: 95

This time Elner did die, just as she always wished, in her sleep in her own home. She returned to heaven, and was so happy to be there. She got to see all of her family that had died before her, as well as her husband Will. Her house in Elmwood Springs was sold to Luther Griggs, Jr., and he also kept Elner's latest cat Sonny. Everyone in Elmwood Springs missed her, but all thought of how much she had touched each one of their lives and realized how lucky they were to have known her.