KT’s alarm clock read 8am. She wondered why her phone was ringing so early.
She wiped sleep out of her eyes as she took her time getting to the phone.
She resisted the urge to let it ring. With the way things had been going
with AJ lately, who knew what kind of news would be on the other end of the
phone.
Ten minutes later, KT was attempting cartwheels through her apartment. She
knocked over plants and lamps, but her smile never faded. She screamed out
loud and collapsed into a heap on her carpeted floor.
She jumped to her feet quickly and returned to the phone. She dialed the
number that had become so familiar to her. She bounced in one spot as she
waited to be answered.
A groggy Seven mumbled something that translated into “Hello…”
“Wake up! You’ll never guess what happened?” KT screamed.
“My executive director called and offered you a contract to handle all of
the printed material for our organization…”
KT stood there in silence twirling the phone cord around her fingers while
plotting how to strangle Seven with it. She sighed deeply and audibly. Seven
hung up the phone and went back to sleep.
Three hours later, Seven met KT at AJ’s apartment. Against everyone’s
advice, AJ was attending her father’s funeral. They held their breath as
they knocked on her door. They didn’t know what condition they’d find her
in.
AJ answered the door smiling and offering hugs. She grabbed her bag and her
keys before ushering them back outside. Seven and KT shared looks of
confusion and concern.
The ride to the funeral home was quiet and uncomfortable. KT attempted to
make conversation by filling AJ in on her contract, but everyone seemed lost
in their own thoughts.
Upon arriving the girls sat in the back even though the place was empty.
This wasn’t where her father was from or where he lived so expectations were
low. A man introduced himself as the funeral director and asked them to move
to the front. AJ refused and ignored the dirty look he gave her.
“How did you know the deceased?”
“He was my father.” She spoke without emotion. He looked confused, but
walked away. An older woman entered and smiled when she laid eyes on AJ. She
walked over slowly.
“AJ? I’m your Aunt Agnes. I didn’t expect you…” They exchanged an awkward
hug.
“It was a last minute decision.” She looked behind her aunt at who she
assumed was her family. A man that looked to be close to the same age as her
and four men that were probably their kids.
“My son, James is going to do the funeral. You don’t want to sit up front
with the rest of the family?” AJ quickly declined.
A few more people joined them, but the room still remained half empty. AJ
sat in the middle between KT and Seven. She held both of their hands as her
new cousin James started speaking. AJ hung her head low as certain phrases
started to swim around her head.
“…God fearing man…”
“…A strong sense of family…”
“…A role model…”
Before KT or Seven could stop her. AJ got up and walked to the front of the
room. James looked confused and he stopped in the middle of his sentence.
“That man was my father, but the person my cousin is speaking about isn’t.
Let’s be real about this. He led a hard life and everyone around him paid
for it. That man,” AJ turned around and pointed, “abused me every way he
could. He changed my life and not in a good way. Seeing him in that
coffin…” She shook her head, ” I have my life back, but I never should
have let him have it in the first place.” AJ walked back down the aisle and
out the door leaving AJ and Seven to scramble out behind her.
AJ started giggling and threw herself into Seven’s arms. She whispered, “I
love you. I’m sorry for the things I said to you. ”
Seven held her tight wrapping her in forgiveness. She pulled away from her,
but continued to hold her hand. KT walked up and took AJ’s other hand. They
left swinging their arms and laughing.
THE END
