mom and dad and jennifer were on time for the funeral.
grandma was sitting alone on a folding chair beside grandpa’s casket, which was ready to be rolled out to the hearse. grandma had what seemed to jennifer a vacant expression on her face, like old people always did.
good morning. mother, jennifer’s mom addressed grandma, with a weak smile.
good morning to you, grandma replied in her raspy voice that jennifer hated.
jennifer’s mom sat down on grandma’s right and her dad to her left. jennifer sat down on the folding chair to mom’s right.
jennifer avoided looking at the casket, and stared at the few wreaths and flowers in the front of the little room.
jennifer’s dad. who could always be counted on to say obvious things, said to grandma, this will be over soon.
it is already over, grandma said, and i could not be happier.
well, dad replied, i am sure you will think of him always.
i will try not to, grandma said. i had more than enough of him when he was alive.
neither mom nor dad had anything to say to this, but grandma warmed to her theme.
the night of our wedding, he said something to me i could never forgive, and never did forgive. but i played the game, and was a loyal and faithful wife and all that, so he had nothing to complain about.
at this point uncle john and aunt constance arrived, and the funeral director a minute after them, and the proceedings were got on with.
driving home after the funeral, jennifer said, that was really weird the stuff grandma said about grandpa.
oh, she was just having her little joke, mom said.
i didn’t think it was that funny.
old people have strange senses of humor.
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