Today My Name Is Billie by Neile Parisi

Author:Neile Parisi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Green Writers Press
Published: 2019-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Becky Sue’s Funeral

I WAS COMPELLED TO VISIT the Belmont home after the fire. I knocked on the door, and her younger brother Thomas answered. “Hi, Miss Billie, how y’all doin’?”

I replied, “How are you doing?”

“Y’all want to talk to my momma and daddy?”

“Yes, please.”

Becky’s parents entered the room, somber and quiet. Fear, sadness, and doubt shadowed their faces. I just didn’t know what to say. I held them in my arms, and we all wept for a long time. What can you say? You cannot say, “I know how you feel,” because you don’t know how they feel. You can’t say, “She’s in a better place,” because how can an innocent five-year-old need to go to a better place? You say you’re sorry, but what does that mean? You talk about how the good die young, and see their hollow eyes and know they don’t believe that.

I said, “She was the most beautiful young girl, and she made everyone happy. That was because of you. Because you loved her, and she knew it. I cannot imagine how awful this is for you. I don’t know how you are dealing with this tragedy. I only know that Becky Sue is smiling down on you, and looks forward to the day you will all be reunited in Heaven. I imagine that Heavenly Father has brought her to her relatives, where she is getting reacquainted with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, her brother, and new friends. They are sharing stories and memories and laughing and loving. She misses you all, but she knows the plan. She knows that when she came to this earth, she didn’t know how long she’d be here. She only knew that she had to spend her time learning and loving, and when she was called back, she would go willingly. She promised that she would be happy and share that happiness with everyone, and she did. I know we don’t understand. We ask, ‘Why? Why her? Why now?’ And I don’t know why. I only know that I trust God that He knows why. I believe that one day, we will comprehend, and until then, we just have to have faith. There are no words, no explanations, no excuses, no solutions. There is only love and forgiveness.”

“Well, we don’t understand, and we are angry, sad, and upset with everything and everyone,” said Mr. Belmont. “We don’t know what to do or how to do it. We’ve never had to do this before. We don’t believe like you do. We’ve lost faith in God. Why would He let this happen?”

“That’s why I’m here. I want to help you. Let me help you pay for the funeral, pick out some clothes, talk to the undertaker, and please, please let me speak at her funeral.”

Mrs. Belmont said, “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say to anyone. I just can’t believe this has happened. Who can I blame? I hate everyone. I hate all those parents whose children are still alive.

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