Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (3)

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

Challenge No.41 - One Last Wish.

Write a scene or story that includes a character fulfilling someone's dying wish.

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Too late now, Dora was dead.

One had to be anchored in oneself when facing the force of nature called Dora. She organised everything and everyone. She was obsessive. Looking back, Clive realised that there was probably a medical term for what ailed his mother.

It was no surprise to anyone with the most fleeting knowledge of Dora, to find out that she had a Will, she'd laid out her funeral service - and paid for it in advance and she'd hired and paid for the hall, caterer and DJ. All folks needed to do was... show up. Oh yes. Dora ensured that Dora went out in style!

And so it was that Clive was called to the law offices of RAM: Rambally, Augustine and Moore - solicitors and notaries royal, with regards to his mother's instructions.

"Clive." The senior partner, Ms Rambally, shook his hand. "So sorry to hear about your mum." She waved him to a comfortable seat.

"Hi Martina, thanks." He sat. "What's up?"

"It's regarding Dora's burial arrangements."

"Everything is on autopilot. All I've been doing is confirming items. Did you know she even planned the wreaths? Who does that?"

"Your mother, apparently."

"Voila!"

"Dora had one final instruction. I say final because after that she died. I have no doubt, had she lived, there would have been more to come."

"I have to agree with you on that. What is it she wants done?"

"She wants you and Penny to take her ashes to Anbas Ti Kai and have a drink on her. Then to scatter her ashes onto the river that runs to the back of her home."

"Penny? To the Japanese restaurant? I didn't know mum knew the place."

"Ah... well..." the lawyer in Martina came out.

"What." Clive got suspicious.

"The funeral is on Wednesday; you and your ex-wife shall take Dora to the restaurant on Thursday and the Will will be read on Friday. My indiscretion leads me to at least admit that Dora had a financial stake in the place."

She stopped Clive. "More than that I cannot and will not say."

"With Penny, you say."

"I do indeed say. No Penny. No restaurant, no reading of the Will. Those are my instructions."

"So, what? We're supposed to pose with a copy of the newspaper of the day?"

His sarcasm was lost on the lawyer. "That will be eminently acceptable."

"I was joking."

"I wasn't."

Funerals in Saint Lucia came in three parts. The church service, the burial and the farewell party. Every phase was accompanied by its own degree of drama. Dora's was no exception.

Clive met with Penny.

"Now that Dora is not around to tell you what to do, what are you going to do?"

"Place her in a hole under the mango tree, sell everything, and win my ex-wife back, before some man makes his move."

Penny frowned. "That's not what she wanted - none of it."

"Exactly." He clinked her wine glass with his.

© 10 April 2022

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