tigers and wolves. From out
of nowhere near gale force winds are blowing great drops of water sideways and
with such force each drop stings the skin and soaks to the bone. One more time
I fight with my own umbrella trying to position it to block out the latest
torrent from the west. Every so often I see a runaway umbrella that’s been
ripped from someone’s fingers and taken flight. But it’s not the unholy weather
front that’s set the black tone for the day. I’m at a funeral. Trouble is, I
rack my brain and I can’t recall who is being lowered into the ground. I scan
my surroundings and notice that I am at a place of honor in the proceedings.
Flanking me are a sea of bikers sporting black leather cuts with the three part
patch belonging to the ever powerful Soul Eaters MC. Judging from the MC
royalty on display this afternoon I’m guessing that someone high up in the club
has died. I look around and judging by the various patches, I find the Sergeant
at Arms, Vice President, Treasurer, and after a bit more snooping I finally
locate Blackie, the outlaw biker club’s President. If all the brass is here,
who the hell is being lowered into the grave?
A hand takes me by the elbow; it’s Molly.
There are tears streaking down her face and for the first time I am really
alarmed! There’s only one person I know that could bring not only tears to my
best friend’s face, but outlaw biker royalty as well. Suddenly I feel like a
hot dagger has been plunged into my breast. The agony of the fiery blade causes
my knees to buckle and I would have gone to the ground had it not been for
Molly on my right and now Seth on my left. Together they both support me and
lead me in the last direction I want to go; towards the sleek black coffin
waiting to be lowered into the muddy pool of a gravesite. My feet catch and
drag on the soggy turf but my escorts support me and drag me along. Draped over
the upper third of the coffin is a single Soul Eaters cut. Seth relinquishes
his hold on my arm and steps up to the sarcophagus. He leans over and takes the
cut and turns and extends it to me. It takes me a minute to understand his
gesture and when I do my brain just shuts out reality. I cannot believe that
the man in that shiny black box is my little brother! With that abrupt knowledge
a scream that is a long time coming finally bursts from my chest! This time
when my knees fail me my escorts allow me to collapse to the ground where I
bury my face in my brothers cut and scream until my throat cannot make another
sound. I should have known this day would come. The night he was awarded
membership and his cut I should have known it would end like today but I just
didn’t see it. I tried to get my brother to quit the club and I should have
tried harder. If I’d only put just a little more effort, pushed him a little
harder this day wouldn’t have come. I failed him as his big sister and it’s my
fault he’s soon to be six feet under. The guilt weighs so heavy on my head I
feel like I’ll never be able to get to my feet much less hold my head up high
ever again. It doesn’t even occur to me that my parents have a major role in
shaping him. I am the last to drop the ball on him and it cost him his life.
I’m allowed to wallow in my misery for a few minutes before Seth and Molly
decide it’s time to move the service along and get me to my feet to lead the
line of well-wishers with hands full of flowers and other mementos they have
brought to leave at his coffin.
Gradually I allow them to bring me to my feet
and lead me to the edge of the black box. I drop the flowers, what’s left of
them, onto the casket and walk away. I take a few steps towards my seat and
stop again. The sea of faces around me is stunning. I had no idea just how
popular my brother and his club are in this town; it’s absolutely overwhelming!
Finally I reach my seat as the fireworks begin. I look out into the darkening
sky expecting to see red, white, and blue sparks
of nowhere near gale force winds are blowing great drops of water sideways and
with such force each drop stings the skin and soaks to the bone. One more time
I fight with my own umbrella trying to position it to block out the latest
torrent from the west. Every so often I see a runaway umbrella that’s been
ripped from someone’s fingers and taken flight. But it’s not the unholy weather
front that’s set the black tone for the day. I’m at a funeral. Trouble is, I
rack my brain and I can’t recall who is being lowered into the ground. I scan
my surroundings and notice that I am at a place of honor in the proceedings.
Flanking me are a sea of bikers sporting black leather cuts with the three part
patch belonging to the ever powerful Soul Eaters MC. Judging from the MC
royalty on display this afternoon I’m guessing that someone high up in the club
has died. I look around and judging by the various patches, I find the Sergeant
at Arms, Vice President, Treasurer, and after a bit more snooping I finally
locate Blackie, the outlaw biker club’s President. If all the brass is here,
who the hell is being lowered into the grave?
A hand takes me by the elbow; it’s Molly.
There are tears streaking down her face and for the first time I am really
alarmed! There’s only one person I know that could bring not only tears to my
best friend’s face, but outlaw biker royalty as well. Suddenly I feel like a
hot dagger has been plunged into my breast. The agony of the fiery blade causes
my knees to buckle and I would have gone to the ground had it not been for
Molly on my right and now Seth on my left. Together they both support me and
lead me in the last direction I want to go; towards the sleek black coffin
waiting to be lowered into the muddy pool of a gravesite. My feet catch and
drag on the soggy turf but my escorts support me and drag me along. Draped over
the upper third of the coffin is a single Soul Eaters cut. Seth relinquishes
his hold on my arm and steps up to the sarcophagus. He leans over and takes the
cut and turns and extends it to me. It takes me a minute to understand his
gesture and when I do my brain just shuts out reality. I cannot believe that
the man in that shiny black box is my little brother! With that abrupt knowledge
a scream that is a long time coming finally bursts from my chest! This time
when my knees fail me my escorts allow me to collapse to the ground where I
bury my face in my brothers cut and scream until my throat cannot make another
sound. I should have known this day would come. The night he was awarded
membership and his cut I should have known it would end like today but I just
didn’t see it. I tried to get my brother to quit the club and I should have
tried harder. If I’d only put just a little more effort, pushed him a little
harder this day wouldn’t have come. I failed him as his big sister and it’s my
fault he’s soon to be six feet under. The guilt weighs so heavy on my head I
feel like I’ll never be able to get to my feet much less hold my head up high
ever again. It doesn’t even occur to me that my parents have a major role in
shaping him. I am the last to drop the ball on him and it cost him his life.
I’m allowed to wallow in my misery for a few minutes before Seth and Molly
decide it’s time to move the service along and get me to my feet to lead the
line of well-wishers with hands full of flowers and other mementos they have
brought to leave at his coffin.
Gradually I allow them to bring me to my feet
and lead me to the edge of the black box. I drop the flowers, what’s left of
them, onto the casket and walk away. I take a few steps towards my seat and
stop again. The sea of faces around me is stunning. I had no idea just how
popular my brother and his club are in this town; it’s absolutely overwhelming!
Finally I reach my seat as the fireworks begin. I look out into the darkening
sky expecting to see red, white, and blue sparks
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