Love Lock Down

Chapter 31 (Navette)

I had to pull myself together. Leroi was walking Ms. Judy into the church and was going to come back for me. I watched the cars pull up and pack the small, but not tiny church. Mrs. wise was so nice to let us use her church to have the funeral because we would've had to have it at a funeral home which I really wasn't feeling at all. I was not ready to face my father because I hadn't seen him since the hospital when he tried to blame me. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. I looked at my reflection in the window and I no longer looked 16. I looked like I was a grown woman. Ms. Judy had made me a beautiful dress. The black satin poured over my frame and clung to the small curves that I did have. The top of the dress was v-cut , but not too low that it showed too much cleavage, and Leroi had bought me a beautiful pearl necklace that sat perfectly on my collar bone. The bottom of the dress hugged me and came just about my knees. My stockings were the same color as my legs so they seemed transparent and my shoes where some black, satin open - toe pumps that I had to learn to walk in. I nervously patted my hair that was pulled up into a beautiful bun with small curls cascading down in the front. I had turned around just in time to see my daddy going into the church with some woman on his arm. I wonder who that could be I thought as Leroi walked up from behind startling me.

"My bad I thought you heard me coming. Come on let's get inside and get you a seat because it is filling up pretty quickly. Leroi grabbed my hand and even with my heels he was still taller than me. When we walked inside of the church I felt as if all eyes were on us. Leroi was wearing a very nice black suit with a white rose in the lapel. I could hear the whispers as we walked down the aisle and to the very front of the church. I looked at the floor the whole way until we reached the casket. Shayla was resting on her white pillow with gold lace that Ms. Judy had personally made for her. She was wearing a beautiful satin gown with long sleeves that made her look angelic. Her tiny hands were covered in lace gloves and a white, childrens Bible was placed beneath them. I could feel my knees buckling and that's when I felt somebody else grab my right arm and loop their arm through it. I looked and it was Mrs. Nadine with a slight smile of comfort. I allowed myself to look at Shayla's face and she had gotten so much darker than she used to be, but she was still beautiful. Her long hair was curled into perfectly shaped spiral curls and it covered up her bald spots on the side. Her lashes didn't look real because of how thick and long they were, and her lips seemed to be slightly upturned into a slight smile. I leaned in to kiss her, but somehow I ended up hugging her to my chest. Leroi tried to comfort me by rubbing my back, but he was worried when I wouldn't let her go. Ms. Nadine leaned over me as I held my sister for one last time.

"Navette you can let her go now baby. I promise you that she is happier there than she ever was here."

I held onto her a little while longer and when I let her go I could see the funeral director standing at the head of her casket with a white veil.

"It's okay sweetheart take all the time you need." He said.

I raised up and Leroi held me around my waist to keep me steady. I turned to sit down on the front pew with Ms. Judith. Mrs, Nadine walked over to the other side of the church to sit next to her husband. sat btwen Ms. Judy and Leroi and they each l held my hands as the funeral workers adjusted Shayla into the coffin and put the veil over her. I looked around and didn't see daddy so I just looked forward. Mrs. Wise's husband stepped up to the pulpit and behind the glass podium.

"As the family requested we do not want to be before you long and we will follow the program as written. My name is Richard Wise and I am the shepherd here at Greater Faith Greater Love Worship Center. My wife Nadine and I would like to express our most sincere condolences to the family of the late Shayla Carlisle." He said looking over to me and nodding his head. I returned his nod and he turned back to the congregation.

"I ask that everyone please stand in your feet for a word of prayer. When we all stood up I felt a tap on my back and turned to see it was my daddy. I just kinda nodded at him and turned around.

"Most gracious father we come to you today with heavy hearts, but Lord you said in your word that you would be the lifter of our heads. We know that everything is by design and that nothing happens by chance. We may not understand it, but you know the reason for everything that you do. Lord you know the plans that you had for this baby when she was yet in the womb and you know the plans that you have for her in glory. I ask that you look over her sister and father Lord and give them the strength that they need in this time. Please give them the comfort of knowing that she is in a place that is much better than the one that she left, and that she will never have to deal with the evils of this old world ever again. And most of all Lord please let us all look at this moment as an opportunity to examine ourselves for no man knows the day or the hour that you will take us back home to be with you Lord and we want to be ready. Father we thank you for the lives that this little baby touched in her short time here and we know she will never be forgotten. We thank you and we praise you. Amen.

"Amen." The church repeated in unison. We sat back down and Reverend Wise looked down at his program.

"At this time we would like to call on Sophia Bridges for a song please."

A beautiful chunky, chocolate, little girl dressed in a huge, pink and white  dress walked up to the pulpit where he handed her the mic. She began to sing Precious Lord Take My Hand. The power that came out of that little girl made everyone stand to their feet . Ms. Judith started moving around and I thought she was going to start shouting. I turned around and even daddy was standing up with tears in his eyes. When the little girl sat down the piano began to play Order My Steps and we were given instructions to go up and view the body. The ushers started with the back of the church and I watched as each person went up to her casket and looked in. Many people I recognized from our old neighborhood and they all stopped by and hugged me on their way back to their seats. I was surprised at how many of Shaya's teachers were there. One woman walked up to the casket and my eyes rested on her the whole time. She wanted to lift up the veil and the funeral director politely told her no. she had a fit and began screaming "My baby....not my baby!!!!!!!" Oh my God it was Diamond, Shayla's mother. I rushed over to her and she instantly recognized me and hugged me. We held onto each other even though we were blocking the casket. Several people just looked the best they could and went around us. By this time it was time for daddys row to view the body. We were still hugging and crying so we didn't even notice him approaching us.