San Diego Dead: An Action Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 4) by Mark Nolan

San Diego Dead: An Action Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 4) by Mark Nolan

Author:Mark Nolan [Nolan, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-30T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 38

Jake and Terrell drove to the funeral and found many of their veteran friends in attendance.

One Marine was now a local deputy, who arrived in a sheriff’s car wearing his uniform.

Jake gave his friend a man hug and pounded him on the back. “Deputy Kowalski. You’re a stud.”

Kowalski returned the one-armed hug and slapped Jake on the back. He then did the same with Terrell.

They all glanced over at the gravesite and Kowalski said, “It’s a damned shame about Pez.”

It was a bittersweet reunion as everyone milled around, talking quietly, shaking hands and giving hugs. Jake felt glad to see old friends, but heartbroken about the reason they were all together again. There had been too many funerals lately for young veterans with their whole lives ahead of them.

When people asked Jake about Pez’s car accident, he told a white lie, saying Pez had died instantly at the scene and hadn’t felt any pain. People nodded, appearing relieved and thankful to hear that. Jake could tell it helped to ease their sorrow.

But it didn’t help ease Jake’s sorrow.

Everyone gathered together near the casket draped with an American flag. Two uniformed Marines stood at attention, ready to perform the flag ceremony.

Jake stood up in front of the mourners. “Could everybody please take a seat?”

Once everyone took their seats and the crowd quieted, Jake said, “Mr. and Mrs. Lopez asked me to give the eulogy for Sammy, who we all affectionally called Pez.”

He took a deep breath. “We’ll always remember how he collected Pez dispensers, loved guacamole, and had such a wonderful laugh that you just had to laugh along with him. He served with honor in the Marine Corps infantry, was awarded a Purple Heart, and afterward built a successful auto parts business here in sunny San Diego. Recently, he met and fell in love with Olivia.”

Olivia bowed her head, tears on her face.

Jake continued. “Although many of us served with Pez and loved him like a brother, we didn’t really know all that much about his private life. He liked to talk about sports and cars and food, but not much about himself.

“I once told him a story about how a childhood friend of mine named Charlie had died too young, and Pez said it motivated him to enjoy each day of life as if it might be his last. I’d like to repeat the story now, briefly, in tribute to Pez.”

Jake paused, took a deep breath and let it out.

“When I was nine, my best friend died. I was lucky to have a friend like Charlie. He always had a smile on his face and was quick with a laugh or a joke. He never walked past a dog without petting it, a tree without climbing it, or a puddle without jumping in it.

“All good things come to an end, and one day our lives changed. For some reason, Charlie couldn’t run as fast as he used to run. He got tired easily, and he kept getting weaker as time went by.



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