Somewhere In-Between ~ An Adventure in the Afterlife

CHAPTER 30 - THE VIEWING

"This is totally weird," Max muttered to himself as they entered the visitation room. It was filled with rows of chairs, with the casket housing Max's body at the very back of the room. Family members and friends that he hadn't seen in years were scattered about, talking softly and wiping tears from their eyes.

"You're telling me," Lizzie whispered. "This is totally weird for me too. Your body's over there in the casket, but here you are standing right beside me! This is the strangest thing I've ever experienced."

Carl overheard, and whispered, leaning in. "Oh my gosh, Max is talking to you right now?"

"Yeah, Carl, he's been with us the whole trip over here."

Carl slapped his forehead. "Oh, no. Can you tell him I'm so sorry about what my stupid brother said in the car? That was so insensitive!"

Lizzie smiled. "You don't need me to tell him, Carl. I'm not an interpreter. He can hear you just fine. Besides..." She crossed her arms. "I think Max got him back for it anyway."

"You mean... the radio? Dolly Parton – That was Max?" Carl laughed, and quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, reminding himself he was in a place of mourning. He took his hand away and whispered with a wide grin, "That was so awesome!"

The three wandered to the back of the room with their own set of emotions, heading for the open casket. The room was fragrant, flooded with floral bouquets and wreaths.

The three approached the coffin together, looking down at Max's body. He was dressed in the suit he wore to his aunt's wedding last year. He hated wearing suits and felt a little ticked off that they ended up burying him in one. "Why do they always have to bury people in fancy clothes and monkey suits?" Max frowned. "I mean, it's not like I ever really liked dressing that way when I was alive!"

Lizzie was caught with so many emotions, a tear came to her eye and she wiped it away quickly before Max could see.

Carl stared at Max's dead body, and leaned over to Lizzie. "Um, shouldn't we say a prayer or something?"

"Sure," she said, and motioned for him to start.

Carl bowed his head and folded is hands, Lizzie doing the same, feeling a little weird when the soul they were praying for was standing right beside her. "Dear God," he started, "Please welcome Max's soul into your Kingdom. I wish I would have gotten a chance to know him when he was alive, but thank you, God, for giving us the opportunity to get to know him a little better these last few days." Carl looked at Lizzie. "You want to add anything?"

Lizzie smiled at him. "Wow, Carl, that was a good prayer – I don't think I can top it." She bowed her head again, eyes closed, and simply said, "Amen."

Carl made the sign of the cross and they stood to turn and find a seat. Lizzie noticed that Max didn't follow. He just stood and stared down at himself. "God," he said softly, "Is it too late for me to pray?"

"It's never too late." He heard a familiar voice behind him. Turning around, he saw it was Bertha, dressed in a large polka dot black dress with obnoxiously puffy sleeves. Tucked in her hair was a little black net covering half her face, topped with an enormous, red carnation. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, Maxie. It's never too late to pray."

"I've never felt this scared before," Max said. "I feel so confused. I thought the light would be here today, but I don't see it anywhere yet. Am I too late? A part of me isn't even sure if I want to cross over into the light. At least I have Lizzie, here. And I'm even getting used to Carl. What's waiting for me in the light, anyway?"