The Grave Switcheroo by Cathy Deveraux

The Dinner Meeting
     
    It was almost after six months that they had met, enjoying one of their dinner meetings, which were otherwise held more often. All four of them, wealthy and sophisticated, Sophia and Cynthia married to rich husbands, Marsha a realtor and Laura, a successful romance writer. They loved these lunches and dinners at their favorite posh restaurants, just being together...eating, drinking and talking.
     
    Tonight they felt more happier and complete as a group, because Laura who had been absent from these dinners lately, had joined them again. It wasn’t so completely odd in her case, though. At times when she was in the middle of a good story, and trying to beat a deadline, she would be gone missing for a while.
     
    “So, where have you been hiding darling ?” Cynthia smiled at Laura. “Does our writer friend have another mystery story to tell?” The other two also looked inquiringly at Laura
     
    “In fact, I do have a story to tell ….. and it may not be what you think … not something I have been writing about, but rather something I was living through.  But this will take a little while to tell. Now, do you all have time to listen? ” Laura looked around at the group, slowly moving the wine glass in her hand.
     
    “Well, if it is something about you, we wouldn't miss it for the world, right?”  Marsha said, looking around at others for agreement, who all nodded, smiling..
     
    “Ok, good, let me get it out of my system then.”  Laura sighed. They could tell she was not too happy and suddenly they felt concerned and eager to listen to what she had to say.  Besides, Laura had a flair for story telling that they all liked
     
    The waiter brought over next round of drinks. The three of them leaned back in their chairs, settling down, glancing at each other and then looking at Laura, waiting for her to speak up.
     
    “So, it all began a few months back.  As you know, I go to John’s grave often, just to sit there and talk to him for a bit.  I find it quite soothing, you know ... I mean the quiet and being with John. And if I’m having problems with a story, it never fails to talk to him. I always somehow figure out the perfect endning or what to do if I am stuck.”  Laura looked around at her friends, starting to tell her story.
     
    They glanced at each other. Laura had lost her husband John about three years ago and to them, she hadn’t moved past the mourning since then.  At least not to the point where she would start seeing other men. They often worried about her.
     
    “I was there at John’s grave, almost getting ready to leave, when I hear this man in the distance. He is sobbing so uncontrollably.  I couldn’t help but notice. My curiosity got better of me and I just walked up to him. This man, he is all hunched over a grave.  His shoulders are shaking, and his sobs are like coming out of his heart.  I got closer and saw the tombstone. It was a woman’s grave and I could read that she died about three months ago.  I stand back, looking up at the sky, asking God to help him through his  tragedy.”  Laura paused a little ... then continued.
     
    “As I’m standing there he turns around and notices me.  He apologizes for being so loud.  He told me it was his wife’s grave who had passed away. He told me I’m not the first one who’d approached him like that. 
     
    “I told him it's no problem, and that I understand what he is going through. That that  I’ve also lost my husband not many years ago.  He tells me he is sorry for my loss and understands just how hard it is, and begins to weep again. 
     
    “You know me, I’m a nice person ... so I walk up to him and put my hand on his shoulder, offering him a hug.  I’m just being niice you know,  not a come-on or anything like that. He responds like someone who needs it badly .  I asked him if he’d like to go and have a cup of coffee, maybe just talk a bit.  He agrees, telling me his name is