The Grave Side

Mitch and me were in the front next to the grave. They brought us up there on account we were Harry's best friends. We had ties on we tucked into our pants. Everybody smiled little sad smiles at us. The priest was going on and on. Harry's mom was standing next to me. She was white white white like paper white in the face. Harry's dad stood tall. He looked fake brave and awful, like any second he was going to cry. There was sniffling and little burried sobs coming from people behind us. I felt it coming on, and I didn't think it was possible. I don't know what it was but somehow the whole thing--me, Mitch, me standing next to Mitch with the priest and the sniffling and us in our father's ties. I was sure that I could stop--I know I could have stopped-- but then Mitch's shoulders began shaking just as hard as mine were, and that sent me over the edge. We both had to hold our hands over our faces, and it was like the flood-gates opened all around us but we covered our faces with our hands and me and Mitch looked at each other between our fingers and I don't know about Mitch, but I came damn close to wetting my pants.

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