The Road to Amistad by Ken Dickson

Author:Ken Dickson [Dickson, Ken]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2016-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

***

Although she was no stranger to death, having dealt with the loss of many pets, the passing of her father and numerous close calls with her mother, Beth usually left the final details to me. Nikki’s death was unfortunate, but if that was my ticket to getting back into Beth’s good graces, I was using it. I arrived at the house at six that evening. A chorus of howls and barks erupted, increasing in volume as three dogs collided en masse on the other side of the door. When Beth opened it, I handed her flowers that I’d purchased on the way. “Just something to cheer you up,” I said. I couldn’t hear her response over the rambunctious whining and barking. I sat on the floor and let the dogs lick me and climb all over me until they settled. Then, noticing my teary-eyed daughter, Hailey, I stood and hugged her.

“Hi, kiddo. It’s good to see you. Sorry about Nikki.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she sobbed. “I was wondering if you’d ever come back.”

“Life gets in the way sometimes. It’ll get better, I promise. Is your sister around?”

“No, she’s still at school. She’s got a test and couldn’t make it.”

“All right, well, let me get started.”

I powered up the desktop computer in my office, searched for a file, substituted Nikki’s name for the previous one and sent the file to the printer. I folded the page, placed it in my shirt pocket and walked to the shed to fetch a shovel. I carried the shovel to the big ficus tree in the back yard and searched for a spot for Nikki’s grave.

I couldn’t remember how many bodies lay beneath that tree or where they all were buried. I feared that I might decapitate one with the first stroke of the shovel. Instead, I exposed a red ant colony. Ants boiled from the hole like liquid. I hurriedly pitched the dirt back, not wanting to be stung by one of the nasty little buggers, burying all but a few and then I trampled it for good measure. I struck anew and hit a rock. Fortunately, it was small enough to dislodge. I finished digging the grave without further issues.

“Okay, I’m ready,” I announced to Beth and Hailey. They followed me as I carried Nikki’s hastily constructed coffin to the grave and watched sadly as I lowered it in. That done, I retrieved the paper from my shirt pocket, cleared my throat and read: “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our friend Nikki; and we commit her body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes; dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make his face to shine upon her and be gracious unto her and give her peace. Amen.” I filled the grave and then turned and hugged Hailey once more.

“Can we get another rat, Dad?”

“That’s up to your mom.” I beckoned to Beth to join us in a hug.

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