"Eddie Kaspbrak. Eddie Tozier? Whatever you want to call him, he was Eddie. He was a germophobic, small ball of anger and that's why we all loved him I guess." Richie didn't want to do this, he really did not want to do this. But what else was he supposed to do, just sit and watch the love of his life be put in the ground?
"That's why I loved him." Richie paused, trying to fight back tears as he spoke. He fought back the crying, atleast for now.
"Eddie always said he wanted to be buried, not a natural burying of course. We all know Mr. Edward couldn't handle dirt being anywhere on him, 'Richard, if you don't sanitize my coffin I'm crawling out and dragging you down with me.'" Richie laughed, followed by small chuckles in the audience.
"I told him never to worry about it, I told him I'd of course go first. I told him I couldn't watch him get sent away to whatever heaven he imagined. But he denied it, it's like he always knew that I was gonna have to go through this. It was inevitable. Maybe that's why he talked about it more than needed, he used to tell me it was okay. Everything would be okay, and it sort of is. I...I didn't think he would have to leave this early but he did his job. He was an amazing father, husband and son, most of all he was an amazing friend. An honorary member of the Losers Club!" Richie smiled, even though at the point tears were already streaming down his face. Not Rebecca though, she wasn't crying, she just stared.
She just let the thoughts run through her mind, she didn't really know how to take it. I mean, her dad's gone what is she supposed to do?
"Red?...Rebecca?" Stephen turned towards her, extremely concerned. She didn't answer, she did feel a hand on her own. Stephen had placed his own right on top of her stiff hand.
"You know it's okay to cry, right? You don't have to hold it in." Stephen mumbled to her, she shook her head.
She just kept shaking her head.
"No."
"What?"
"No. No, no, no. None of this is right, this can't be the end. This can't be the resolution, the dumb clown is gone but he took my dad with him, that can't be how our story ends. Stephen, I'm in love with you." Red snapped her head towards Stephen, he went silent.
"Oh- um- wow..that was sudden..uh." Stephen stammered, gulping.
"But the fact the I love you is gone. I'm not even thinking about you anymore, this isn't an happy ending. The fact my dad's dead is ruining my feelings for you, my happiness for anything and it's ruining everything. I'd rather have a spooky clown run around our sewers every 27 years than have this. We can't-..." Red suddenly had a lump in her throat, she couldn't speak. The were about to lower Eddie into to the ground.
"No..NO! STOP IT!" Red yelled, running towards the coffin.
"Don't put him down there! H-He won't like it, it's too dark for him, PLEASE!" Red threw herself into the coffin, her eyes filling with tears.
The crowd watched, shocked yet obviously understanding.
"Becca.." Richie whispered softly, walking towards her.
"We- We can do something! We can bring him back or we can use science! He doesn't have to go, Pops please, don't let this happen! I'm not ready, please! He's okay, we can all be okay, just don't put him down there! He's right there, he's right inside of there, he could be okay! DON'T MAKE HIM GO!" She was screaming at this point, tears streamed down her face as she sobbed. She shook her head over and over again, she didn't want this. She couldn't do this. Richie bent down on one knee, eye to eye with his daughter.
"Does he have to go?" She said quietly, her sobs becoming smaller. Richie nodded, he didn't say anything, he looked into her eyes. Letting her know the truth.
"I'm sorry." She embraced him, his hand wrapping around her waist. He gently picked her up, holding her close to him as he stood up. He patted her on the back.
"It's alright."
Soon enough Eddie was gone, under the ground but still in our hearts.
We love you Edward, and I'm gonna miss you.
I never thought I'd react to a character death like this, man it sure does hurt a lot.
I just want to hug him, thank him for everything he's done for me. He was really important to me, and so was Stan! I love Stanley.
But it's just an Eddie moment right now, just some time to appreciate our favorite Kaspbrak.
Thank you, Stephen King.
