Nice And Spice

9

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have a problem to discuss when we get home. It’s time to get moving.” I say over the walkie talkie.

“Computer shut everything down and pack it all up.” I say as I hear rotors a few seconds later. It takes only a few minutes for everything to get back and for us to leave. 

We left the way we came in, headed to the lake to have the memorial. It's about a five minute drive over to the lake, it's a small area as it comes into view. Theo looks up as we pull closer to the waters shore. I pull around to the left with my mom and dad following behind me. Brett and Nolan pull over to the right.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask Theo, who looks sad. This is hard, and I can tell that he doesn’t want to say goodbye to her forever. Theo nods, tears welling up in his eyes. I get out of the truck and walk around to the other side to walk with him to where the others are gathered.Tane has lit a torch and passes it to Theo. Theo looks at all of us and starts speaking, trying hard not to cry.

“I miss you already, but you did your job. You raised me to be strong, happy and a great person. Here I stand saying goodbye to the strongest mother I know, the person who made it her life goal to protect me. I love you mom and I promise to make you proud.” Theo says, looking at me. 

I step forward with Theo and start saying the Rite of Passage. Theo lights the casket as I speak slowly. 

“As we stand here today, we honor the Mother that was Professor Yvonne Jackson. She was an empowered woman who did the best to raise an amazing son. We stand here today to say goodbye to the one we loved. Like a torch in the dark, where the light comes to brighten the path, we ask that it guides her to her final resting place so she may watch over us all in the journey of life.” We push the casket out into the water and then I take my mom, dad, Brett and Nolan aside.

“You guys start heading back, I’m going to sit here with Theo for 5 minutes. Tane can ride back with us.” I say as they nod. I walk back over to the truck and open the tailgate. Theo and Tane come sit next to me as I grab out a drink from the cooler bag in the back of the truck. Theo curls close to me resting his head on my shoulder. 

“I love you, babe.” I say as Theo wraps his arms around me. We sat there for about five minutes before getting ready to leave. I move the cooler bag into the backseat before Theo crawls in to lay down. I jump in the driver seat as Tane gets in the passenger seat. I start the truck and pull off onto the road headed back towards Nordegg. Theo looks to have fallen asleep immediately as Tane and I sit there talking. 

“It definitely hasn’t been easy for him. The best I can do though is be there for him as much as I can.” I say as we are pulling by Nordegg. 

“It is tough. It was tough for me when I lost my grandmother to cancer. We were so close and it almost felt like she was ripped from my heart.” Tane says. I see Theo stirring in the back seat. 

“You had support to help you through that pain though?” I ask. Tane shakes his head. 

“I didn’t let people help me. I carried that weight on my own. If I knew then what I know now, yea I definitely would have asked for help, but I thought it was my own thing to carry. I didn’t learn to let people help me till I met you. You wouldn’t let me shut down.” He continues. Theo rolls onto his back, and looks at me. 

“It pains me to see people in pain and hurting. I couldn’t just sit by and watch it happen. I still can’t, especially when it’s happening to the ones I love. Some days I wish we didn't feel pain.” I add on. I feel a hand slide into mine. I look up to see Theo resting his head on my shoulder. 

“I know that pain is a natural human emotion. We need to experience it, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch. It’s always best to believe in yourself, it’s also good to ask for help and that’s the hardest thing. It’s hard to admit you need help, and to ask for help.” I continue saying as we near Edmonton. 

“I will always need help. I now need to learn to live with my mom, not here, but she will always be with me. The best teacher is learning things with the help of the ones you love. You taught me that, Little wolf!” Theo says. I pull into the yard and go park in my stall. I reach out the window and hit the button to trigger the elevator. It’s around 6 am when we get down to the garage and park. Tane heads upstairs to bed, while Theo and I lay down in the back of the truck. 

“I’m happy that I met you! My mom can rest easy knowing that I’m safe with you.” Theo says slowly, running his hand down my body. I lay on my back and fall asleep as Theo falls asleep on my chest.