Boy Meets Girl, Girl Loves Boy

17-Funeral

"Dad, it's time. You have to see people and interact with the world. Ryan is acting like this, but I didn't expect it from you. Come on!" Jackie didn't want to push him too far but she was tired of being the only one providing. Damien had just accepted that he was needed but Ryan and their father were still moping about.
"Okay. What time is the actual service?"
"In two hours."
"Okay. Okay. I-I can do this... I think."
"That's better than nothing. I'll walk you?"
"Yes, please and thank you."
"No problem, Dad, I love you."

"Ry, you have to come out. You can't miss this. Everyone wants to know where you went. No one has seen you in nearly a week!" Damien spoke loudly and banged on Ryan's bedroom door.
Halfway through the banging Ryan opened the door, "How do I look? Good enough to speak for mom?"
"More than good enough. You always looked great to her. Even mud covered! Come on well go together. I love you, Little Bro," Damien held back tears and used a nickname he hadn't used in years.

By the time the funeral service started all four of them had red blotches from all the crying.
"I've said my dues, and knowing this woman personally I can say it's better for all with her around but we will Fina a way to manage without her." Their preacher had to speak loudly over the thunder and rain. He said a silent prayer and walked to an empty seat next to Jackie. "Ryan, it's your turn after your father. Okay?"
"Okay." As his father spoke he listened to none of it all he thought about was how much he missed his mom.
"Ryan! Get up there!" Jackie whispered next to him when it was his turn.
"Honestly... I-I don't know what to say except these are dark times for everyone. Shoot! Even the earth is very upset over Mom's passing. Its having a fit and crying its eyes out; I cant blame it though. I'm gonna miss her so so much. She was amazing. She never thought twice about helping anyone, she lived to work, she made time for everyone and thing in her life, she never left a single detail out of a story, she made the best food, she didn't mind stopping to help an injured animal, give a hitchhiker a ride, let someone sleep on the couch when they needed it, and there are so many other good things to say about Mom. She did make some horrible joke though! Then some of those hitchhikers were people that stole things from her, or that animal was sick and scared then bit her. With her impeccable kindness came some bad times, but she still didn't care. She kept making those jokes saving those animals and people, and not giving a damn what other people told her to do! Those are the reasons I loved her so much. It still doesn't feel real and I don't know what I'm going to do with out her... ever, but we'll all figure it out eventually. Also we'll see her again, I don't know when but we will. Love you, Mom."
As Ryan finished up his small speech some were laughing, others crying, but all of them we clapping. When he sat down his aunt, as teens they grew apart and barely talked through the years, got up and spoke. Slowly everyone who wanted to speak did.
"Now that everyone has spoke anyone who would like to throw a shovel of dirt is welcome to, but I'd like to keep the most immediate family for last. When you've said your private goodbyes you are free to leave. Thank you for coming, everyone," the preacher stood up one last time said his own personal goodbyes, and sat back down next to Jackie.

"Nearly everyone is gone now. Can we go and shovel dirt?" Damien asked their preacher.
"Yes we can go up there after those few people. I expected just you four but who are these guys back here? 1, 2, 3, 4... 9 extra people?"
"Um they are family now. This is Michael, Leah, Landon, Morgan, Shelbi, Jacob, Bly, Braelyn, and Alex. That's in order of age. Leah and Michael have been together 20 years, Morgan Shelbi and Jake are their bio children. Landon belongs to Morgan, Shelbi is my girlfriend, Bly and Braelyn are in foster care and siblings, and alex was adopted by Leah and Mike. They are a big family but they add to us. We are all together all the time."
"That's very nice. I'm Tom, I'm the preacher at the church the Crutchfield family goes to."
"Oh okay. Nice to meet you. Is sad that we couldn't meet on better terms." Mike said for everyone.
"Well the reason I wanted to save you all for last iw wanted yall to be able to add more than just one scoop of dirt if you'd like and I didn't want yall to be crowded around immediately after the service. Yall can say your goodbyes and everything. I'm going to head out. I actually have another funeral to attend except I'm in the crowd at this one. Have a nice night, everyone."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. You have a good night too." Leah responded and took Bly, Braelyn, and Alex to say goodbye when they begged her to.
After they had all said goodbye, threw dirt, and cried some more they all left. Everyone congregated at the Crutchfield home and gave food and just talked together fr a few hours before everyone went home. All the craziness of the previous few weeks dwindled down in a few hours and it was all over
After the funeral their dad went back to his normal self but Ryan barely left his room and never ate in front of anyone.

"Ryan! Ryan, come out of your room! You need to eat!" Jackie yelled through the locked door.
"I'll be fine," was all he said when anyone tried to pull him out.

J: Hey I need your help
S: is it ryan? What's wrong?
J: yes it is. I haven't seen him come out in like 4 days. He's not eating either.
S: I'm on my way I have to bring landon or Morgan. I get my license in two weeks.
J: that's fine. Please hurry.
S: I will. See you in ten.

"Great you are here. I'm so sorry it's getting really late I just can't do this anymore!" Jackie said as Shelbi and Landon walked up to the door.
"It's totally fine! I'm happy to help you shouldn't have to do it alone," Shelbi then turned to landon and whispered, "get her! Make sure she's taken care of she's over stimulated and needs to be soothed."
"Got it!" He whispered back then looked at Jackie. "Hey C'mon let's get you some water and food. Are you hungry? I can make you stuff and we'll watch TV while things get handled. Okay?"
"Mkay," Jackie mumbled as they walked toward the kitchen.
*Sigh* you can fix this. I'll try the door ad if that doesn't work I'm goin in. Shelbi thought to herself as she climbed the stairs to Ryan's room. "Ryan? It's Shelbi. Can I come in... or you come out?"
"Not right now. I'll be fine you didn't have to come out here."
"Well I worry about you. I think I did. Please let me in? I haven't seen you since the day after the funeral. I missed you."
"Sorry. I can't get up right now."
Damn it! Welp guess I'm lettin myself in.

"Ryan! What the hell is going on with you?"
"I'll be fine," He replied to Shelbi's voice before he realized she wasn't at his door any longer. "Oh. I forgot you could climb that tree and get in the window."
"Yup. I let myself in. Now tell me how to get you out of this room and active. Jackie says you haven't come out in four days and haven't been eating for like two weeks! That's not okay. You are going to die if you don't eat, drink, go to the bathroom, and at least walk around your house!" She didn't realize she had started yelling at him until she noticed his flinch. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to yell... I just care and don't like to see you like this. It's not fair to anyone who cares about you or yourself. Why?"
"I... I don't know. I just can't bring myself to eat anymore. I was eating at night when I was the only one awake. I can't sleep or bring myself to move from the bed. I-I just... cant... since mom left. She was my favorite person and she helped me get through everything and I just don't wanna leave her out of everything. She won't be there for anything now. My wedding, my kids, my college years, or even my high school graduation! She's going to miss it all and I just can't do it anymore, not without her."
"She's going to be there for it all. She's not gonna miss anything. You won't be able to see her but you'll feel it and you'll know. She's gonna be there. She wouldn't want you to just sit in your room and rot forever. She'd want you to go out and live! Finish school' get a good job, marry someone, have gorgeous kids, and tell all of 'em about the adventures you two went on together. That'd what she'd want you to do with your life. Honor her and make her even more proud of you than she already was!"
"But how? I can't even deal with the fact that she's gone! Every second of the day something makes me think about her. Every day when something happened I'd come home and tell her and now I can't do that."
"Yes you can just tell her. She'll hear it. Just have faith and believe. I promise you will get through this."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because I did it. If it can do it you can do it. You know I can get so emotional at times, but I did it."
"Okay. Can we just sleep first though? Instead of live life can we sleep then get some water and food... then live life?"
"Yes we can. That sounds great you lay down and I'll be back to lay down in a few minutes."

"Jack? Lando?" Shelbi said when she hit the bottom of the stairs.
"Hey she fell asleep on my lap. How did it go? I noticed you walk out the front door earlier."
"Yeah I went through the window because he wouldn't let me in the door. He's laying down and I convinced him to eat later. He hasn't slept in a few days and wants me to lay with him. I'll be up there tonight can you come pick me up in the morning? I wanna make sure he eats tonight and in the morning."
"Sure. I will just head out because I promised Morgan I'd prep for the week tonight. See you tomorrow."
"Okay see ya."