Aunt Augusta

Chapter 1: The End and Begging

I never put much thought in the afterlife or death in general. I guess no one really does until you loose someone or people close to you. Oh yeah, Hi i'm Cassie Lancaster i'm 16 years old and at this very moment i'm attending my parents funeral.

My life was what you would call "normal" or "typical". My dad was a local banker and my mom owned a bookstore in the small downtown area of our town Kettlesburg. I attended the local high school, got straight A's and was the vice president of the drama club. Every Sunday we would go to church and Saturdays I volunteered at our local hospital and after hung out with my best friend Aimee. We usually hung out at Spezie's Vynils and Silk's the vinyl and coffee store across the street from my mom's bookstore. If I close my eyes I can see her inside at the front desk making funny faces at us as we'd pass by. "You're mom's so rad Cassie! I wish my mom was like yours. " Amy would always tell me. I'd always roll my eyes and change the subject. I didn't realize what I had.

After we we're done hanging out i'd drive Amy home and then drive to my moms shop and hang out with her. She would tell me old corky stories about her high school days and how she met my dad. She would always start off by saying "I remember my hormonal adolescents."

I loved my mom, inspired to be like her, so carefree and lively. She was beautiful too, she was about 5'6, had thick long wavy brown hair, amazing emerald green eyes, her smile would light up the whole room, timeless flawless skin, the perfect shape, and the best personality you could ever imagine. My dad would always say whenever my mom would walk into a room the party started. But even with all the talking she never mentioned her home life. I tried to pry it out of her once, " What was your mom like?" I said slyly while helping her stack books after school one day. I could tell the change in her body language for once in my life, she seemed uneasy and sad. She responded,

" My mother was very strict, when I fell in love with your dad and got pregnant with you she..... kicked me out and told me to never come back. She always had really high expectations of me some..... I couldn't live up to."

After that I never asked about it again. I knew that it was emotional for her and I didn't want to pry any further. Maybe I should have.

My mom loved the simple life. Even with all the nice things we had she would always say that even if we had a box she would love it because it didn't matter whether we were in a mansion or not as long as she had us. These days I miss her optimism the most i'm lost without her..... mom I miss you.

" And now we will hear a few words from Serena and Nathaniel's daughter Cassandra. "

The reverend broke my daze. It was my turn to speak..... It was my turn to speak at MY parents funeral. What do I say? I did have a speech written up but now all of it seems stupid. As I walk towards the podium I take a last look at Amy who's sitting in the front row next to the empty space where I was once sitting, she nods at me as an assurance that everything's gonna be okay. I get to the podium and look at the crowd. " I came up here thinking I knew exactly what I was going to say but I..... I was wrong, I can go on about how wonderful my parents were and, " I paused and looked Amy one last time feeling the tears rise and fall from my eyes to my cheeks and continued, " and how i'm going miss them but truthfully there isn't enough words in the world to explain my grief. I ask everyone not to remember them as the way they died but the way they lived, giving, lively, happy, and without regret. Thank you everyone for coming today my mom and dad would have appreciated it. "
I stepped away from the podium in complete silence it wasn't just me who was silent but, the whole room was silent. Once I got to my seat, Amy gripped my hand with care, I didn't have to look at her to know she was crying her eyes out in fact I didn't look or pay attention to anyone for the rest of the service I sat there in a daze. All I could here in the back of my head was my dad saying, "Its okay June bug be strong. "