Cry, my beloved people

Sad Part 100

The funeral was really sad, family and friends across the country showed up to show their last respects to a well-known family.  Kind and hard-working people, who did not deserve to die the way they did.

Father John ended the service with the words:  "They've run the race and have won the salvation, leaving sweet memories of kind hearts.  They are safe now and have been a good example for us.  We can gladly follow in their golden footsteps.  May they rest in peace."

"How sad," Linette said.  "It reminds me of a poem from  Sloanranger  I read on Wattpad (Make Haste  -   You're killing everything that stands, that moves, walks or crawls - even yourselves - in numbers too numerous to count, now.)"  Gregory draw her into a hug and swallowed hard.

"This must be very hard for you, thank you for supporting us in this, why do you know that poem at heart?"

"I want to use it in a letter that I want to write to my dad.  He wrote me a letter and I don't know how to answer him."

"Hi Gregory and Linette, how are you doing?"

"Really sad, and you Tracey?"

"Not too bad in the circumstances, it helps a lot to have the support of a counselor for the Haven now.  If any of you need to talk to her just let me know, I can arrange it through the Haven.  I'm thinking of Paul and you, Linette, it makes a difference and can help you with issues that are hard to deal with."

"Thank you, Tracey."  Linette gave her a wry smile.  "We'll tell Paul too."

"You're welcome."  Tracey smiled encouragingly.  She gave each of them a hug as she said goodbye.

"Do you want to talk about the letter from your dad?"  Gregory asked.

"Not now, but I would like to show it to you.  We need to focus on Paul here.  He needs us now.  Is that blonde on his side Theresa?"

"Must be, she looks very protective.  She met him at the door when the service started.  She and her family was visiting her aunt in Rustenburg and came back for the funeral,"  Gregory said.

"Let's go and meet up with them, he needs our support now,"  Linette said as she took his hand in hers.

Paul introduced Theresa to them and they hugged each other.

"I'm glad it's over, I'm not sure what to do next,"  Paul said and shuddered.

"Let's go back to the house, then we can discuss it and you can calm down and take your time to decide what to do,"  Gregory suggested.

"That's a good idea, I'll text my mom and dad to let them know where to find us,"  Theresa said and took his hand.

"Thank you,"  Paul said as they were walking to the house.

"Thank you for taking care of him during this difficult time.  Thank you for being there for him."  Theresa whispered through the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"You're both welcome.  That's what friends are for, we need to be there for each other.  That's what God wants us to do."  Linette said with a teary smile.

"What am I going to do now?"  Paul asked in agony.

"You can come home with us, my dad said he would help you to get a manager for the farm and you can stay with us as long as you want."  Theresa offered.

"I wanted to ask my dad if I can utilize that piece of land near the road to build three cottages, I guess I don't need to ask anymore, it might become mine now anyway."

"Why did you want to do that?"  Gregory asked.

"I wanted to help you and Thomas to start your own farms from there.  It would have made it safer because we would be a farming community.  I guess it's too late for them now."  He shrugged and tears were running freely down his cheeks.

"Thank you, buddy, that's kind of you, but there is still plenty of time to think about that.  In the meanwhile, you'll have to concentrate to keep the farm running."  Gregory suggested.

"Oh and my mom asked: if you don't mind spending that night at our place if we still want to go ahead with the holiday plans.  My niece is visiting us and she and Jessica can have some fun together."  Theresa asked.

"That will mean a lot to us,"  Gregory said as Linette nodded.

I"m dedicating this chapter to Sloanranger for her permission to use her poem "Make Haste" in it.  Thank you so much, it means a lot to me.