Teenage romance is already difficult enough to navigate.
But when the one you love doesn't love you back? That's the worst pain of all.
STRANGER THINGS | NANCY WHEELER
seasons 1-2
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
( the flea and the acrobat, pt. i )
• °:.☆ . ₊°• ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆
THE FAIRER FAMILY has never been great at practicing religion. Her mom has a more agnostic belief than her grandparents had raised her with, though it didn't stop her from scaring Laura and Colleen with threats of yōkai attacking them when they didn't listen as young children. Her dad's family is ethnically Jewish but bad in custom. They don't do much aside from gathering for celebrations of Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover. Laura was never expected to keep kosher, nor did she have a bat mitzvah.
As such, it feels foreign for them to hear a pastor reading from scripture at a funeral for a boy who's probably still alive. The day is surprisingly sunny. It feels like it should be raining, or dreary at least, not so bright that Laura has to squint from the sun's reflection on the yellowed lawn.
This is the second funeral she's attended in her lifetime, and this morning had sent her into a panic when she realized she didn't have a nice jacket. All of hers are old, worn-out, or inappropriately colored for the occasion. She ends up wearing a black sweater tucked into her trousers and one of her father's suit jackets on top. It's too big, obviously, but she feels more comfortable than she would have without it.
The pastor's words are unfamiliar as he speaks of finding strength in God. Laura shifts from foot to foot, occasionally brushing against Nancy's side from how close they stand. Her family is right next to the Wheelers, meaning they get a second-row view of the polished casket with flowers placed on top.
"I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,'" the pastor recites, then closes his Bible and continues, "It's times like these that our faith is challenged. How, if He is so benevolent, could God take from us someone so young, so innocent? It would be easy to turn from God, but we must remember that nothing, not even tragedy, can separate us from His love."
She wonders who is supposed to feel comforted by this sermon. Certainly not Joyce, whose jaw is set to the side as if she thinks this is a waste of time, that she should be looking for the actual Will. And not Jonathan since he now knows the truth about the creature in the woods. Not even Will's best friends appear distraught— in fact, she thinks she notices Dustin smiling at one point, like he finds something about this situation amusing.
He whispers something to Lucas and Mike, but Mrs. Wheeler leans down to shush him. Laura's eyes flicker down to Lucas. He's trying to smother a grin by pulling his lips back into his mouth, his shoulders trembling with the effort not to laugh.
