Page 47 of Slaughtered Firefly
He looked down and then back up before swallowing hard and saying, “Ok.”
Good boy.
I stood up, and he stood as well. I opened the door again, and he looked out and then back at me.
“She loves you, I get that now, you two make a good couple, uh thanks for the advice and good night,” Scott admitted, and he was gone down the darkened street corner before I even had a chance to respond.
28
THE FUNERAL
Twenty-Four years ago—six years old
Daddy and I spent so much time together after Momma died; it was a nice routine that we built. Everyday Daddy would wake up, ask for his medicine and his funny drink before he left. He told me to stay there in that shed and be a good girl while he was gone, and that was what I did. I wanted to make Daddy proud and live up to Momma’s expectations. She always told me to do what Daddy said even if I was scared, so I trusted in her words on the days Daddy would be gone for a long time. I still cried for Momma, though I didn’t understand that death meant I wouldn’t see her anymore. Still sobbed while I waited for Momma’s bright eyes to come through that dusty brown door, but every time the door opened it was Daddy all alone.
Daddy came home with a black dress for me today and told me tomorrow we were going someplace special. Joy filled me, and I hoped it would be to see Momma. Maybe she was in one of the hospitals that we learned about in school. She wasn’t feeling well the stormy night we left the big house, and Daddy hasn’t let us go back yet. I missed my bed, my sunflower night light and Penny, my stuffed pink deer. Sleeping on Daddy’s chest while I listened to his heartbeat calmed me enough to rest without my things though, I was glad Daddy didn’t go places at night.
Tonight Daddy brought groceries, my eyes bulged out of my skull when he pulled out my favorite chips and fruit snacks. I must have been good since he brought these things when he showed me the dress. I had been getting better at eating the things I used to hate, since there were days when Daddy would just lay on the couch and sleep, he was sick for some time and I was too afraid that if I complained he would disappear like Momma. So when my little tummy grumbled and growled, I took a chair and climbed into the cabinets to search for something to eat. Most of the jars were too tight to loosen, so I’d grab a bag of chips or some bread. One day I was strong enoughto get the lid off the peanut butter, and I spent that whole day eating peanut butter with a spoon. On other days, I couldn’t get things open and just had to wait for Daddy to be back. Daddy ripped open the fruit gummies for me and passed me a juice box. He started reading to me as I ate. The words he was reading started to sound distant. Something funny about the prince turned into a frog, and I fell asleep soon after.
Daddy shook me awake,and I jumped, rubbing my eyes with my hands. “Come on Sweetheart, we have to leave,” he coaxed as he pushed the dark fabric dress into my little fingers.
A little while later we were in Daddy’s car driving towards the city. The buildings were so tall, it was a wonder how people didn’t stop and stare at them. I watched the early morning sun rise through the window and the fields turn colors as we continued onwards with a big smile on my face. I hope Momma is waiting for us when we get there. I wanted to show her the pretty dress Daddy had me wear. We pulled onto a wide driveway that went up a big hill. When I peered over to look outside, there were stones all over the yard, some standing and some flat. It made me think about the stepping-stones game we played in school. Daddy stopped the car behind the other cars, and I thought surely this was the moment that Momma would be there. A smile stayed plastered on my face as we climbed the steps to the big building. I looked up at daddy and he gave me a weak smile in return as we pushed open the doors together.
Fourteen years old
“Dad,why do we have to go to this funeral? We don’t even know them,” I complained from the backseat of the vehicle as we pulled into the long driveway. I hated being back here when I was older, but Shaw called shotgun before we even stepped out of the house.
“We are going because there’s a lot of important people here and Dad said there were a few other kids as well so stop being such a numb-nuts and put down the book for an hour,” Shaw retorted from the front as he twisted his body to make a stink face at me. I flipped him off and continued reading, trying to get the last few pages of the sci-fi adventure committed to my memory.“You two will be on your best behavior today, go find the other kids and be nice to the little girl she just lost a mother,”Dad reprimanded as he parked the car. Shaw jerked the book from my hands.
“Give it back, you half-wit, I only have fifty pages left!” I shouted as I unbuckled my seatbelt to reach for my book.
“I’ll take this,” Dad’s hand grabbed the book from Shaw and my face fell, “You can have it back after the funeral, don’t get your suits dirty or your mothers will kill me,” he chucked the last part as we got out the car.
Shaw made faces at me the entire time we walked up those large stone steps. l finally had enough of his taunting and elbowed him in his ribs. He clutched them, prepared to tattle, but Dad had just opened the door.
“Ah Micah, glad you could make it,” a tall man with a beard clapped Dad on the shoulder and shook his hand.
“Likewise Jeffery,” Dad replied before gesturing to Shaw and me. “these are my sons, Dustin and Shaw.”
“Hello,” Shaw and I said in unison, unsure of why we had to meet this guy.
“I am sure they will get along with the other kids, out by the lake, service starts at ten so we have some time to catch up and find you a drink,” Jeffery looked pointedly towards Dad with a sick smile across his face. I got chills just from being in his presence. I wanted to get away from this creep.“Come on Shaw let’s go,” I pulled Shaw’s arm, and we headed towards the altar at the back of the church.
“What do you think that guy wants with Dad?” Shaw asked as we paused at the frontmost pew.
“He probably wants Dad’s business or something, I don’t know. Let’s just find the lake for now and get away from all these watchful eyes,” I shivered as many adults watched us now.
“Race you to the lake,” He shoved me into a pew and sped out of the room, following signs to the exit.
“That little asshole,” I muttered before I raced behind him. I wasn’t going to lose a race, and he knew my height was my advantage. He was just ahead of me, laughing as he ran.
“Come on slowpoke,” he teased as we were running around another bend further into the back of the church.
“You cheated, and I will still beat you,” I shot back as I came up on his side.
“You wish,” He stuck out his arm to block me as we both tumbled through the exit door. The door opened onto a slope, both our feet catching as we rolled down the hill towards the lake, a jumble of arms and legs. Finally, stopped at the edge of the lake, we looked at each other’s messy suits and laughed.
“Dad’s going to kill us,” I finally managed after the laughter subsided as I saw the mud coating us both.
