DENIAL'S ORPHAN by Warren Stephens

Author:Warren Stephens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DeMore March 2018
Published: 2018-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

BURIAL

“Ahhhh! Ewwww!” Gerri hears her own voice cry out but can’t connect to it or understand what’s happening. She senses a very uncomfortable, sharp burning in her nose and she shakes her head from side to side.

She hears her dad’s voice and sees him leaning over her, “That'll be better now. You'll be okay, Gerri. Those smelling salts are pretty tough.”

She glances around the room and sees she’s in the big leather chair in the lounge with her feet propped on an ottoman. She squirms and struggles to sit upright.

“Just stay there for a few seconds. We'll get everyone out of the chapel and on their way to line up for the procession. Then we can go out and get into your car, Stephen. If you’d like I’d suggest Ralph drive you and Gerri in your car to the cemetery? Then you can go on home from there and Ralph can ride back here with me.”

“Sure, Jim. that'll be fine. You a little better now, Gerri?”

“Yeah. I'm okay.” She pushes down on the chair arms and stands up. “What happened?”

“Well, you had a little fainting spell so take your time and don’t rush it. If you need to sit for a couple more minutes it’s fine. But at least you’re getting some color back in your face now. As soon as you feel up to it, we’ll go outside to the car. Fresh air will make you feel a bit better as well.”

“No, I’m okay. I’m a little sweaty but otherwise I think I’m okay. We can go anytime.”

They walk from the lounge and Gerri sees the chapel is completely empty of people, flowers and the coffins. Like nothing ever happened here. Even the lamps are turned out. The main source of light is the lobby and they gravitate toward it without being prompted. As they walk outside, the air feels cold against her perspiring skin. She realizes her clothes are damp and the cold air makes her shiver. Wow! What an ordeal. Ralph opens the back door of the car, Gerri slides in, and Ralph politely closes the door. Stephen scoots into the back seat from the other side and Ralph unceremoniously takes the wheel in the driver's seat.

The hearse begins to move and they follow, driving out of the parking lot ever so slow, the big black hearse in front and DeMore’s car next. Gerri looks out the back window at all the cars following with their headlights glowing and little “FUNERAL” placards facing out through their windshields.

The procession snakes its way through town, not having to wait at intersections, stop signs or stop lights. All the usual traffic hindrances are ignored by the slow, but apparently important, procession. There is a motorcycle policeman who dashes ahead of the procession, stopping traffic so the hearse and the cars following never have to stop. Gerri looks out the window, a tear runs down her cheek. How sad people have to wait until they die to be able to get respect and an escort like this.

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