"We gather here today to recognize the quick, painless death of James Al Mason." says the preacher. I've been to many funerals, but this one I could not stand. All of the sad teary eyes and the blowing of noses, I can't take it anymore. I may only be 13 but heck I can do a lot of crap to people! And the fact that I took his life. But technically he's still living in the necklace.
"I can't believe this." my dad steps up to the platform. "But, he's in a better place now. He was suffering here down on the ground, so he flew up to the heavens." I think in my head 'he's still down here, just in a necklace.'
I step up to the platform. "Grandpa was my best friend." I say truthfully. "And he's still here to me. When I was little, he used to take me up to the top of the mountain over there and we slid down it together. I still remember his laugh, and the way that it was so contagious. I remember his sea green eyes that always became brighter when we went down to the lake..." I begin to sob uncontrollably. "I-I-I'm gonna m-miss him, but h-he's in a b-better place now."
I knock the microphone over and run down the stairs an into the building that is close by. I lock myself in the restroom and cry. Teardrops soak my shirt and just one lands on the necklace.
"Jenny?" I hear a voice. I look up. Standing there, young and healthy, is my grandfather.
"Grandpa!" I squeal I run over to him and give him a great big hug.
"You have to stay strong. Do you hear me? Now that I'm in your necklace, you can bring me back whenever you like, just a single teardrop is all it takes."
"Is grandma in there?" I ask.
"Yes. I'm so glad we are finally back together again." He says, my grandmother joining our hug.
"Grandma!" I sob on her shoulder.
"Honey, I don't want you to commit suicide. You have to live forever."
"Alright grandma. But why do I have to live forever?"
"Listen, I had that chance, but it drove me crazy that your grandfather was going to die and I would keep living. One request. Don't fall in love. Then you'll go crazy." she winks at grandpa.
"Never? What if they can live forever too?"
"Then definitely. Yes."
"Goodbye honey, we must go. There are people coming." says grandpa. Their souls are pulled back into the green gem dangling around my neck. Suddenly there is a pounding at the bathroom door.
"Are you okay in there?" someone asks.
I open the door, revealing a pink faced, swollen eyed me. "Yeah, I'm fine." I reply.
It is time for the dinner that accompanies the funeral. What grandpa has left for food was a turkey with delicious spices, mashed potatoes with thin delectible gravy, and my favorite, pumpkin pie.
After the dinner, they announce what grandpa left in his will. It is a short piece of paper, maybe one sentence at most.
"I give all of my personal belongings and property rights to my granddaughter, Jenny Alice Mason."
