Eddie

Abstract

need in puttin' it off 'till tomorra. I done called preacher Alvin an' he said he could come then, an' I'll git Benny Holt's boys ta he'p me with the coffin." I did as he asked and went on back to my mother's to wait until time for the funeral . I found Mom in the bedroom pressing her navy blue funeral dress and the steam smelled old. "I guess you heard already?" I asked, knowing. She nodded. "When Dad sets his mind to do something, he doesn't waste much time in getting it done. Gladys called me early this morning. Said she couldn't figure out why he wanted to embarrass all of us when he could afford to buy a real fine coffin. Course, I know that's not how Uncle Wash wanted it." She put more weight on the iron and moved it slowly, intently over the dress. I sat down on the big high bed, tired from nothing I could remember. "That's just the point, Mom. The way I see it, the only thing that should matter to any of us is what he wanted." It seemed a simple thing to me—too simple I guess. "Sometimes, Melissa . . ." She reached over and unplugged the iron cord. "SomeJanuary is the worst possible time to hang clothes outside. Even the welcome sunshine doesn't.warm the freezing atmosphere . I stood there in the muddy snow, freezing and watching the clouds roll overhead in blue-gray layers. I wasn't hanging up the diapers I had in my hand. I iust stood and looked and sensed the calm in the silence of the day. The silence was beautiful. I loved it. "Here, let me get them," Mama said. times a person has to consider the living." I had the feeling then, that Granddad was thinking about both. Word travels quickly on a ridge, and a good crowd had already gathered by the time Mom and I got to the church house, but no one was milling around outside as is usually seen on such occasions. Inside, there was not the usual low murmur of voices in exchange. Everyone seemed to reflect the mood of the little scene before them. Granddad had covered the old coffin with a lovely royal blue velvet spread edged with fringe, and on either end a candle burned, rendering mellow hues to the velvet. Granddad sat on the front row with his shoulders held proudly, and the atmosphere was one of quiet dignity and respect. I feel sure everyone there knew what was beneath that spread, and I don't believe any one of them would have wanted it any other way; for when preacher Alvin stood before them, there was etched on each of their faces, the knowledge that they were about to be a part of what would later be told as a warm, cherished memory. I stood there stupidly and let her do it. I was thinking about Eddie. The army had stationed him in Panama and a sevenmonth separation seemed endless. "Did you put anything on your hands before you came outside?" I asked. Her hands were chapped and they cracked in the cold air. "No, I forgot. But I will before I come out again. Don't worry. I guess that's everything. We'll hang the rest of these Eddie bv MARY ALICE ARROWOOD 8 in the house so they'll dry faster." It seemed like there were twice as many clothes since Stevie was bom six months ago. I hated to have clothes hanging in the living room but I didn't say so. Her hands were bleeding. We walked to the house through the backyard mud and left our boots on the porch. More peeling paint fell off onto the spongy ground as the door slammed. The kids were fighting when we went in. "It's your turn to do the dishes and you know it! So I'm not doing 'em." "It is not. It's yours because I marked it on the calendar." "But you're supposed to make up a day because I did 'em for you last week...