The Pain of Parting

The Pain of Parting

Joe sat silently as the large black car he was in strolled down the street. It was a nice car; he had seen one other like it on TV once. He never really thought he would get the chance to ride in one. Despite the thrill, he was silent. His aunt Lucinda was beside him and his little brother Noah. His aunt was holding a tissue and constantly wiping big, warm, tears from her eyes. Her large elaborate black hat with black feathers around the rim was hardly necessary for the occasion. Her skirt was short, and looked like it was out of a twenty one year olds closet, not a grown married women’s.
As the car rolled to a stop, Joe looked out at all the graves. There were gray ones, black ones, big and small… but none that Joe considered pretty, for death was not a pretty thing.
“Be strong Joe… for Noah if for no one else.” Lucinda whispered in Joe’s ear as she climbed out of the car. He didn’t answer her, but she knew he understood. He climbed out right behind her and reached his hand back in waiting for Noah. Noah was only five; he knew nothing of what was happening… and Joe didn’t want to be the one to explain the whole situation to him. As Noah climbed out of the car he looked around with his eyes wide, taking in everything. He smiled and pointed as a couple of squirrels playing in a nearby tree caught his eye. Joe grabbed his hand and gave a little tug giving a signal for him to come on. Noah followed Joe, but kept looking back at the squirrels.
They walked up to a few rows of chairs, and seated themselves in the very back. Lucinda was talking to some other people… talking, crying, but acting pitiful mostly. Joe thought to himself for a moment. He could hear her voice still… talking on the phone, or reading a story to Noah. Just as Joe got deep in thought, Noah began to pull on his sleeve and whispered in his ear.
“When’s mommy coming?” Noah whispered. Joe hesitated to answer… he couldn’t tell him.
“Soon…” Noah looked up at Joe and smiled, with tears bulging out of his eyes, Joe smiled back.
About that time Lucinda seated herself by Joe. She had been crying as well. Her mascara was running, and she looked as if someone had dashed a bucket of water over her head only her hair was dry. As the pastor made his way to the podium in front of the casket people began to take their seats, and more people Joe knew began to appear.
“Today we lay to rest Jane Maria Jones. A beautiful women, great career, and a person we hated to see leave this world. She left behind two boys Noah and Joseph…”
Joe began to drift off again. Thinking of all of the good times he had had with his mother. Before he knew it people where beginning to leave, the funeral was over. He gave a slight shake to the sleeping Noah on his arm. He rose up and gave a quite yawn as Joe stood. Lucinda looked at him and then out of no where wrapped her arms around his neck giving a great big hug of sympathy. She felt sorry for Noah and Joe… but herself mostly. She had always treated their mother like dirt… but she never said anything, she thought violence was a bad way to solve something. As this thought crossed Joe’s mind, he jerked away from Lucinda’s open arms. She was sort of puzzled but she understood.
That night Joe had to sleep at Lucinda’s house. The outside looked like something out of a horror film, with bad need of a coat of paint. With the outside cold and brutal looking, the inside was warm with smells of exotic foods from the kitchen. It was big and maybe a little lonely but it was somewhere to stay.
He shared a bed in the guest room with Noah; who was the worst in the world for kicking in his sleep, and a major cover hog. They had to sleep together once when they went to visit there grandma, Joe swore he would never do it again since he woke up cold and bruised… but he didn’t wont to make a bad day worse by being a butt.
The room was dark and the door was barely open to were a little light from the fireplace downstairs shined in. Joe could hear Lucinda and her husband Mike talking in their room; since the walls were paper thin. He was surprised that he could hear anything over the sound of Noah’s snoring.
“I already called social services, they said they would have to inspect the house and make sure the boys want to stay here and then we would be able to keep the.” Mike sounded so proud to issue the news to Lucinda… but she wasn’t quite as happy.
“Michael… it will be fine for Noah to stay, he… shouldn’t be a problem. But…”
“But what? So you want to keep one and through the other away?! Is that what you are saying?” Mike interrupted, with his tone now a little louder.
“Shhhh… you’re going to wake them. No… no… I’m just afraid he’ll cause trouble.”
As their voices slowly faded out and the glow from the fire disappeared, Joe felt as if he could cry. He didn’t want to be somewhere he wasn’t wanted… and he could feel it here. Despite the uncomfortable feel of everything… he closed his eyes as a small tear streamed down his chin, and soon drifted into a dream.
The next morning Joe awoke cold as he had expected with no cover, but also to find Noah gone. He climbed out of bed quickly and ran downstairs… sure enough there sat Noah at the table, trying to get a fruit loop out of his nose. He walked over to Noah and gently pulled it out for him as they both laughed together. As the site of Lucinda with no make-up entered the room they both stopped laughing. Noah tried to hide it but he was laughing harder then before… but he tried to hide it. As she stepped out of the room, Noah followed in curiosity and Joe concentrated on the scenery around him. The shades of light so softly beaming through the fabric of the curtain seemed like something out of a movie. He found it funny how something so simply could make your thoughts shift like that. The dawn was closing in outside and Joe decided that he had hung around in his pajamas for long enough and quickly headed upstairs. He looked around for Noah on his way, but he was no where in site. As he walked into the room he found a pair of jeans on the bed with a white shirt. As he put them on he caught a glimpse of Noah outside with Mike. They were playing around by the pool; Joe could feel a disaster coming on. Just as the thought of something horrible happening crossed Joe’s mind, Noah gave Mike a karate kick to the butt, knocking him in the pool. Noah just covered his mouth and tried to help Mike out without getting wet. As he gave Mike his hand; Mike pulled Noah in for payback. Just as the fun really started to begin a voice startled Joe from the door.
“Funny… aren’t they?” Lucinda stood leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed on her chest… she smiled, but not a smile of happiness. Joe didn’t answer he continued looking forward, out the window. “You don’t want to stay here do you?” Again Joe stayed silent. “Its what you want…”
“I want my mother…” Joe interrupts.
“Well, I’m sorry Joseph but I can’t bring her back. I wish I could… I would in a heartbeat. But I can’t… Its not my fault she… the least I can do is keep you and Noah here with me… safe.”
“You don’t want me… all you want is Noah.”
“Joseph, now that…”
“No… I heard you… last night in your room. You said you didn’t want me.” Lucinda’s head was hung low with guilt. She was ashamed of her mistake. She stood and walked toward the door, and stopped before she exited the room.
“You start school Monday.” She walked out and headed down stairs. Her high heels clicked on the floor… and then it was silent.
Joe buried his head into the pillow and began to cry.