“…It has to be this way,” Grandma said. Mom nodded silently, tears streaking her face. She’d been quiet ever since Dad died. If she told me that dinner was ready or to take out the trash it was a lot. Grandma, Uncle Gus and Aunt Viv had taken care of pretty much everything.
The chores.
The cooking.
The funeral arrangements.
“The casket must remain closed,” Uncle Gus rumbled at the mortician. “Under no circumstances should it be opened.” Meanwhile, Aunt Viv and I strung garlands made of purple berries that I thought were little blueberries until I popped one in my mouth. It tasted the way a Christmas tree smells. She laughed at the face I made.
“Those are juniper berries, honey. You aren’t really meant to eat them as-is.”
We also made garlands out of little white and pink flowers that smelled nice at first, but the longer we worked with them, the more they made me wrinkle my nose. When I asked why we were doing all this, Viv just smiled.
“…It’s just a little something extra. Something special from you and me to send your Dad off with. Roses are nice, but handmade things are better, right?”
Sounded good to me. I nodded, and we continued to work.
The day of the burial came, and Dad’s casket was piled high not only with roses, but the berry and flower garlands Aunt Viv and I made. They actually looked really pretty. I really wasn’t paying attention to the priest; he droned on while I admired our handiwork, how the white and pink flowers and little purple berries added little pops of color against the red roses and dark wood.
Before I knew it, the service was over. Uncle Gus gave me a gentle nudge, and I looked at the casket one last time, saying a quiet goodbye to the man who ruffled my hair and called me a good girl, or who’d laugh so loud it scared the cat.
They wouldn’t tell me what happened to him. Not Mom. not Grandma, not even Aunt Viv, and Aunt Viv told me everything.
Grandma strewed millet seeds through the graveyard on the way back to the car. Aunt Viv threw a pinch of salt over her shoulder. Uncle Gus said the Lord’s Prayer. Mom clutched her crucifix and said nothing.
And me?
I pretended that I didn’t see the way the casket lid trembled under the chains that held it shut.
This is legit! The detail of the berry garlands is beautiful, and I love the ending!
I did not see that ending coming. Loved this!!!!