The Claw

Chapter 2. The Ceremony

Mr. Schultz had been well known in the community. His insurance business had insured many of the people in Fred. When it was time to retire he advertised the business for sale and would train the right person.

A young fellow named Trimore was that guy. He was a young husband and father of three little boys, a five year old and twin three year olds. Young Trimore was energetic and out going. He would become to perfect addition to the community. Now Mr. Schultz could retire in peace to Florida and enjoy the rest of his life.

But all good things must come to an end and now Mr. Schultz was being laid to rest. Many friends and family were coming to pay their last respects. Mrs. Schultz was now 85 years old. She was 7 years older than her now late husband. Needless to say she was in a bit of a quandary over the loss. The two sons had completed the arrangements as per fathers last requests. Now the family was back in town for the week of what would be an eventful laying to rest.

Mom was with the youngest son and his family at the old estate on the Hanson Lake resort. He was the new golfer at the Front Nine Greens, nestled neatly in the Hanson Lake Resort. The resort consisted of nine larger homes on the front side of the lake. The rest of the lake was golf course and a few sparse cottages strewn here and there. What could have been a great resort turned into a hodge podge of not enough business and banker people to fill out the lake front. Instead the resort was eventually forced to sell the remaining back lots to the Darden Contracting Corporation to put affordable cottages in place. The resort had sold out and the few members were humiliated.

But the humiliation didn't end there. With only nine members in the club and a lot of upkeep they had to offer memberships to lower class duffers. These consisted of middle class and lower class weekenders with cottages in the back lots not the larger estates as on the front end of the lake. Maybe it was wishful thinking or a lack of counting the number of upper class families in the area, that caused the resort to gaffe, but it was clear that the old back woods Front Nine thinking, wasn't thinking this time around.

The Darden Corp. built twelve quaint little cottages on the lake and everyday families moved in. Many said that this horrific gaffe took twenty years off the life of the town Banker, poor Mr. Arden Bannon. Mr. Schultz took the whole thing in stride. After living in Fred for several decades he was not surprised at the constant screw ups of Bannon. Even if they were no big deal he enjoyed Bannon's continual agony. He purchased a home in the front of the resort and two cottages in the back. His acceptance of the gaffe only added to Bannon's agony.

Schultz purchased the two cottages from the youngest member of the Darden family, young Jeffy as he often called him. Young Jeffy was now fixing the window in the chapel of Mr. Schultz final resting place. When Jeff took over the family business Mr. Schultz was continually his best customer. Jeff would never forget his kindness in helping a young contractor get through his first few awkward years of life without his father.

Business sometimes lagged and Jeff would get lost in one job and be late getting to the next. Mr. Schultz was the person to help Jeff get on track and finally become the Contractor he was today. For better or for worse he owed his professional life to his insurance man and long time family friend.

Jeff would spend the day of visitation and funeral with the family. The two sons had become friends of Jeff over the years and even though dad had moved to Florida they never lost touch.

Moms confusion was in high stride as the day of the funeral began. She continually called the day a wedding and the participants names completely escaped her. When this week was over the boys would have the cottage in Florida cleaned out and the property up for sale. They would go to Florida to speak personally with Mr. Anderson at First National Bank.

Unknown to them, their friend Kevin Bradley would clean out the house and make it ready for sale. Had they known he was there they could have spent time with him in Florida. The World was truly a small place.

The pastor came to the podium to start the ceremony. The organ was playing softly in the background, 'Nearer My God To Thee'. Mrs. Schultz began to sing to the top of her lungs and amazingly off key. Some of the people snickered as the pastor stood quietly. Other folks knew the brevity of the situation.

"I knew Mr.Schultz for forty years," the pastor began. "He was saved when he was a boy. He continued in the faith all of his life. Those who knew him knew the good man that He was." As the ceremony continued a few of the people in attendance stood to express their thoughts of the man.

Mrs. Schultz was one of those. "I knew that man for 70 years. He was a good man. Not as good as some of you said He was. But a good man none the less. He fathered two boys and loved them dearly. I never knew his wife or if I had I've forgotten. Not surprising! I have forgotten much more important things. He was a great friend and stayed by my bedside when my children were born."

After speaking she started another verse of, 'Nearer My God To Thee'. Some of the people were now singing along. Soon the verses were complete and the music ended.

She continued, "this has been a beautiful wedding ceremony. I hope you are as happy as Herby and I were. We were married 70 years and my Herby went home to be with the Lord. Now let me see..., he died in 1995."

She took her seat and the pastor closed. When the procession of people stopped walking past the coffin the pallbearers carried the casket to the hearse. The day would continue with people talking to the family at a special dinner, held by the church ladies in the V.F.W. hall. The heroic stories of what Mr. Schultz had done for the community continued. As the day would wind to a close the family was becoming weary. The community was a big family of citizens who were laying to rest one of their own. They were proud of this man and his accomplishments.

For days, talk of this man would continue. The people of the town had come together to comfort this family. Even though they had moved to Florida the two sons stayed in the community and were a part of life in the tiny town. As owners of the Chevrolet Sales and Service Center on main street they had continued the family custom of charitable giving. The tiny town had many needs and the Schultz family was always there.

Tomorrow was another day. The sons would be taking a trip to Florida.