barn and
comes out with a chainsaw and a hacksaw. I watch as he jumps on the
wagon.
“ Whatcha waitin’ on? You
move like you got molasses in your britches.”
Do people really talk like
that? “I’m coming.” I shake my head and
pray this is one saying I won’t remember.
Pops follows the trail leading to the back
part of the property. When we get to the pine trees, he stops and
shuts off the tractor. Levi and I follow him and I am once again
reminded of my childhood. This is truly country living.
“ Pick a tree, Abel,” Pops
says, looking around.
I try to remember the rules
to follow for selecting a live tree. They
look smaller in the open field than they really are. Measure it
next to you, and try to wrap your arms around it. I walk around the area with the spruce pines until
I find the perfect one.
“ Here it
is.”
Pops walks over and looks
at the tree. “This one right here?”
“ Perfect height, perfect
width, makes for a perfect Christmas tree.”
Levi hands me the saw. “Cut
her down.”
I forgot about that part. Pine needles can be
very prickly.
Once we get Momma a tree, and Mia and Levi a
tree, we also decide to cut a couple extras. One for the church,
and I cut one down for Savannah Mae. Not sure she needs it, but you
never know. We’ll have it just in case.
Dinner is delicious and the
piecrust looks like a raggedy patchwork quilt. But just as Pops
said, it’s delicious. No one says anything about the way the pies
look, but everyone raves about the delicious taste. I have no idea
how she does it, but the crust melts in your
mouth.
No one talks about the murder of Megan Rose,
although I know it’s on everyone’s mind.
After dinner, we all help
with the cleanup. While we guys put the tree in the stand, Momma
and Mia divide the leftover food up into containers. Momma still
uses the same ole Christmas decorations she used when I was home,
over ten years ago. I shouldn’t be surprised. Once the tree is
decorated, Levi and Mia leave. I shower and go to bed. I’m
whooped. I mean, I’m beat. Man, I’m
turning into a country hick.
Savannah Mae
Everyone in town is talkin’ about Megan Rose.
The killer is still at large, and the details of her death still
remain a secret. I don’t ask and I try hard not to engage in the
conversation about her demise. There’s a sayin’ — “Ignorance is
bliss” — that I firmly believe applies to cases like this.
Today is her funeral service and I imagine
everyone in town will be there. The church is small, but that’s
where the service will take place. Burial will be in the cemetery
behind the church. Sawyer Jackson and I dress in our Sunday clothes
and walk to the church for the service. Cars are lined up from one
end of the road to the other. One advantage of livin’ in a small
village is you’re walkin’ distance to everything.
I feel sad when I see Megan Rose’s parents
talkin’ to the funeral director. I sent flowers and a personal
note, but I didn’t do anything else. I knew her, so maybe I should
have gone over to her house and spoken with her parents. When
someone dies, it’s hard to know the right thing to do or say.
Sawyer Jackson and I walk up to the closed
casket, and I have to wonder if the rumors are true about her
death. Someone said that she was unrecognizable when they found
her. I shiver at the thought. I see a large, beautiful framed
picture of her taken during happier times. To the left of the
casket are several collages of pictures. Some are of her alone,
some are of her and her boyfriend, and some are of her with her
parents and friends.
Sawyer Jackson whispers, “Is she in
heaven?”
“ Yes, Buddy, she
is.”
I speak briefly to Megan Rose’s mom and dad
and then to her boyfriend before I take a seat in the back of the
room. The line leading to the casket is long, but it moves quickly.
I see Ethan come in with Heather Sue. I stiffen. I knew they were
together, but I haven’t actually seen
comes out with a chainsaw and a hacksaw. I watch as he jumps on the
wagon.
“ Whatcha waitin’ on? You
move like you got molasses in your britches.”
Do people really talk like
that? “I’m coming.” I shake my head and
pray this is one saying I won’t remember.
Pops follows the trail leading to the back
part of the property. When we get to the pine trees, he stops and
shuts off the tractor. Levi and I follow him and I am once again
reminded of my childhood. This is truly country living.
“ Pick a tree, Abel,” Pops
says, looking around.
I try to remember the rules
to follow for selecting a live tree. They
look smaller in the open field than they really are. Measure it
next to you, and try to wrap your arms around it. I walk around the area with the spruce pines until
I find the perfect one.
“ Here it
is.”
Pops walks over and looks
at the tree. “This one right here?”
“ Perfect height, perfect
width, makes for a perfect Christmas tree.”
Levi hands me the saw. “Cut
her down.”
I forgot about that part. Pine needles can be
very prickly.
Once we get Momma a tree, and Mia and Levi a
tree, we also decide to cut a couple extras. One for the church,
and I cut one down for Savannah Mae. Not sure she needs it, but you
never know. We’ll have it just in case.
Dinner is delicious and the
piecrust looks like a raggedy patchwork quilt. But just as Pops
said, it’s delicious. No one says anything about the way the pies
look, but everyone raves about the delicious taste. I have no idea
how she does it, but the crust melts in your
mouth.
No one talks about the murder of Megan Rose,
although I know it’s on everyone’s mind.
After dinner, we all help
with the cleanup. While we guys put the tree in the stand, Momma
and Mia divide the leftover food up into containers. Momma still
uses the same ole Christmas decorations she used when I was home,
over ten years ago. I shouldn’t be surprised. Once the tree is
decorated, Levi and Mia leave. I shower and go to bed. I’m
whooped. I mean, I’m beat. Man, I’m
turning into a country hick.
Savannah Mae
Everyone in town is talkin’ about Megan Rose.
The killer is still at large, and the details of her death still
remain a secret. I don’t ask and I try hard not to engage in the
conversation about her demise. There’s a sayin’ — “Ignorance is
bliss” — that I firmly believe applies to cases like this.
Today is her funeral service and I imagine
everyone in town will be there. The church is small, but that’s
where the service will take place. Burial will be in the cemetery
behind the church. Sawyer Jackson and I dress in our Sunday clothes
and walk to the church for the service. Cars are lined up from one
end of the road to the other. One advantage of livin’ in a small
village is you’re walkin’ distance to everything.
I feel sad when I see Megan Rose’s parents
talkin’ to the funeral director. I sent flowers and a personal
note, but I didn’t do anything else. I knew her, so maybe I should
have gone over to her house and spoken with her parents. When
someone dies, it’s hard to know the right thing to do or say.
Sawyer Jackson and I walk up to the closed
casket, and I have to wonder if the rumors are true about her
death. Someone said that she was unrecognizable when they found
her. I shiver at the thought. I see a large, beautiful framed
picture of her taken during happier times. To the left of the
casket are several collages of pictures. Some are of her alone,
some are of her and her boyfriend, and some are of her with her
parents and friends.
Sawyer Jackson whispers, “Is she in
heaven?”
“ Yes, Buddy, she
is.”
I speak briefly to Megan Rose’s mom and dad
and then to her boyfriend before I take a seat in the back of the
room. The line leading to the casket is long, but it moves quickly.
I see Ethan come in with Heather Sue. I stiffen. I knew they were
together, but I haven’t actually seen
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