Elisa

10

Romeo's dad suffered from a heart attack. 

He was found dead in his office at work. I learned that when a person experiences a heart attack, they must get treatment within thirty minutes or they won't live. Steffano Astrella didn't receive treatment. He was only fifty-two years old. 

The funeral is tomorrow. Romeo hasn't been at school in four days. The last time I saw him was when I dropped him off at his house Monday afternoon. Neither of us spoke for the rest of that car ride. When we arrived at his house, my mom was already there with Bambi and Nico. Romeo had gotten out of the car and hugged his mom immediately. It was like he was a child again, running to his mom because he got hurt.

My own mom hugged me, too. Her best friend's husband died. He was one of her closest friends since we were just children. Now he's gone. 

That night when my mom and I had gotten home, our entire family was sitting in the kitchen. Everyone was crying--except Remi. Remi just stared out our sliding door window without a care in the world. I wanted to strangle him. A man who has basically been a second father to him just died and Remi can't even shed a tear?

Look, I get it. Guys have some weird problem with showing that they're sad. I also get that him and Romeo aren't on the best of terms right now. But Romeo's dad had just died. Even Romeo, who is a lot more macho than Remi will ever be, cried over his father's passing. 

It's always possible that Remi cried when no one else was around. Did he even talk to Romeo after everyone heard the news? I'm sure most of the Italian population in northeast Philadelphia has come by the Astrella's house to pay their respects. 

"I feel really bad for him." Ollie runs a hand through his dark hair. 

"Me too." Ruby stabs the lettuce in her salad bowl.

"Maybe this will be a wake-up call for Romeo, and he'll stop acting like a jack-ass." Frankie says, and the three of us all look at her. "What? I'm just saying." 

"He's just immature." I defend him.

Frankie takes a bite of her sandwich. "You could say that again." 

"Hey!" Ruby rolls her eyes. "Have some decency, alright? His dad just died. What if that were you?"

"You guys going to the funeral tomorrow morning? I know you are, El." Ollie asks us. 

"I'll go." Ruby says.

"I'll make an appearance, I guess." Frankie sighs.

As my three best friends sit and talk, my mind wanders to what Frankie said a few minutes ago. Maybe this will be a wake-up call for Romeo, and he'll stop acting like a jack-ass. Frankie's voice echoes in my mind. It saddens me to think that Steffano will never see Romeo mature into the guy he's supposed to be. I know he's a good person deep down. I wish his dad was here. He'll never see Romeo graduate from high school or college. He'll never see him at his wedding. Romeo's children will never meet their grandfather. 

"Yo, El. You okay?" Frankie nudges me. 

I snap back into reality. "Uh, yeah. I'll be right back." 

But I take my backpack with me and throw my lunch out. There's no way I can eat right now.  

------------------

For such a sad day, the weather is perfect. The trees surrounding our Church are blooming with white and pink flowers. The grass is freshly cut, and dandelions peek through the green strands. There are only a few clouds in the sky today. The sun beams down on my black dress. I can feel sweat start to glisten on my forehead. 

The Astrella's decided to have a closed casket, which I am thankful for. I want to remember Steffano as the bright and cheery man he was, not one who is pale and meek and laying in a coffin that soon will be buried in the ground.

The funeral procession itself was painful. There were so many people there to support the family who just lost a loved on. Speeches are made at the front of the Church, talking about Steffano and how great of a man he was. I didn't really listen. All I could think about was Romeo. He looked so sad in the front pew with his Mother and brother. His eyes were just staring at the floor the entire time. 

During the burial I was able to get a better view of his face. I never saw him look so run-down. The dark circles under his eyes were so prominent that it almost looked like makeup. His face looked sunken, like he hadn't eaten in days--which he probably hasn't. Who could eat when one of their parents just died? 

Yet despite his sickly appearance, he is still looked as handsome as ever. 

The eight of us walk to our car in the parking lot. Dom brought Jo and Eddie. Remi begins to walk off, and Mom calls after him. He doesn't listen to her. I look about twenty feet in front of him, and see Romeo and his family standing at their car. Bambi is talking to an older couple. Remi says something to Romeo, and I can tell by their body language that it's nothing hostile. For the first time all morning, Romeo shows emotion. He breaks into tears. The two boys hug each other and it's almost like I'm back in kindergarten, watching my big brother hug his best friend in our backyard.  

My mom begins to cry and my dad hugs her tightly. I think we all can agree that Romeo is going to need his best friend to get through this.