Cold Rain

Gloomy grey overcast and chill winds met everyone at daybreak. The arctic rain was not due for another twelve hours, but it had moved in overnight. Scattered winter showers of ice and freezing rain were predicted for the day, but the family gathered around the house did not care. The day was set to be a dreary affair, the weather only seemed to match the mood. Huddled inside the small living room, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, all dressed in Sunday's best, doing their best to break the tension to come with small talk and visiting with relatives living too far away. New babies and pregnant bellies were crowded around, white hair was pointed out, jokes were made, but no reference to the task to come slipped passed anyone's mouth.

This day sat heavy on everyone's hearts.

The time came for everyone to file out, carpool, and follow each other downtown, literally only a block away. Main Street was crowded, stores were closed, people milled about - quite unusual for a Monday morning. Two businesses stood out amid the bleak and empty storefronts; the flower shop's lights burned bright alongside the open doors of the funeral home.

The beautiful service seemed at odds with the gloomy weather, yet accentuated by it.

The small chapel inside the funeral home seemed too small and cramped with the mass of townspeople, family, and friends gathered around to honor the forever sleeping lady. With heads bowed, prayers spoken, and tears fallen, last respects were given one by one as the multitude of people filed out through the rear doors. One single cry could be heard above all the rest; the cry of a mother-in-law, too young to have to attend such an event for someone half her age. Heartbreakingly heard were sobs and hysterical shouts of "You're only sleeping, Baby Girl, tell me you're only sleeping! Wake up, Baby Girl, please wake up!"

The old woman, tiny and frail looking as she was, had to be forcibly carried out against her will, as she went into hysterics trying to wake her daughter-in-law. She was taken out into the cold, to be calmed by the mass of people and the chill wind. As the last few people hugged the family on their way out, the pall bearers led the casket through the crowd to the hearse.

Driving a funeral procession is slow business; the mournful mood of those in line was echoed by the clouds, who finally began dropping a very fine mist. Pin-needles pricked the skin only with the wind, which had calmed for the grave-side prayers.

A cold sprinkling rain fell as, one by one, the cars left the cemetery.