Hunter or Hunted

Chapter 35- Final Goodbyes

Melrose’s P.O.V

 

We followed the black hearse down to the end of our road. The whole car was silent. Mom was driving, tightly gripping the steering wheel. Dad was blankly staring out the window.

I didn’t expect him to say much anyway. The hearse carried on the five mile per hour speed. People were gathered outside their doors or huddled in their windows, observing the procession.

They all kept silence as a sign of respect as we passed. I had never seen as many people on our road, come out at once. Because of the neighbourhood, they were mainly businessmen or women too.

I was surprised so many people were actually home at the weekend. It warmed my heart that, even though they didn’t know Beau, they had the courtesy to respect him.

Once out of our road, the hearse picked up the speed. We passed our high school; that still had the banners and the flowers covering the sidewalk in Beau’s memory.

It just showed you, that Beau had affected many lives without him even knowing it.

“I hope your grandmother made it.” Mom muttered from the front.

Our grandmother was very much like our mom. Selfish and cold hearted. It took a lot to change her mind and to start having a nicer opinion of people in general.

I tended to steer clear of her. She truly lived up to the word ‘bitching’. Once she had you in her grasp, she wouldn’t stop. She would go on and on about how her husband would ignore her or how her bingo ‘friends’ never invited her anymore.

If she didn’t attend Beau’s funeral, then it would put another strike against her name. Not a good one either.  

~

We eventually pulled into the crematorium, after what felt like a lifetime of silence. The many faces of our family and friends greeted us. I instantly noticed that Noel was standing at the front.

I got out the car and watched as my dad, his brother, my granddad, Noel, Jason and Juno carried Beau’s casket into the church. I followed the hearse drivers and the coffin bearers.

The inside crematorium was pretty basic. It had pews with pine seats and black leather. I took my seat in the front beside my other family.

I was glad to see my grandmother had arrived. She waved to us from the other side. I gave a small smile.

All too soon, the service started and the funeral conductor started to speak. “Welcome family and friends of Beau Edward Distell. I’m sure you will all agree that he was an honest and well-respected young man. He took part in school activities and made sure everyone was happy, as part of his role within the school.”