Rest In Peace

 

Rest In Peace      

By Paul McCann

 

Margaret was an artist with a promising future . She had been commissioned to commence a collection of artworks for the tourism industry and her Father Joseph was so proud of her achievement . Margaret loved to sing as she painted and many had commented her voice was that of an angel .

After the good news of her new commission Joseph went out to celebrate with some of his work colleagues . That evening as he sat there with his friends , he had a phone call from his wife Bernadette , to tell him the sad news that Maragret had died in a  car crash on her way home from work . It had bee discovered that there was some ice on the road had had caused her car to go into a skid and her car crashed head on into a power pole . There was nothing she could have done to prevent the collision .

The shock of her untimely death left her family and friends severely traumatised  . After the funeral Margarets family lived in a silence for weeks trying to come to terms with what had happened .

Although she was one of five children she had been her father’s favourite child and Joseph found it difficult to talk to anybody about his feelings after the accident  . He would come home everyday after work and just sit in the garden until night fell . This concerned his wife and his other children

On the first Christmas after her death , Joseph and Bernadette went with their four children as a family to church for midnight mass . That night after the service , a children’s choir stood at the back of the church singing Silent Night as the congregation were leaving the church .. The choir were all holding candles in there hands . Joseph noticed one of the children in the choir looked  very much like his beautiful daughter  Margaret . As they made their way out of the church Joseph could not take his eyes of that girl in the choir ,

All of the choir held lighted candles except for that one who resembled Josephs daughter . The candle she held was unlit . The congregation all their way from the church building to the car park . Joseph , Bernadette and their family got into their car . Joseph was troubled by what he saw and before he started the car he made an excuse he needed to use the toilet .

He returned to the church and approached the girl in the choir that resembled his departed daughter and asked he  ,

‘Why is your candle not lit “?

She replied ,

“All the tears you have cried have put out the flame . The longer you grieve for me , the harder it is for me to rest in peace .”

Her stood there in a state of bewilderment., as if he was in a trace , A bus pulled in a t the front of the church and all choir got on board and in that moment she was gone .

He returned to his car and drove home without saying a word . Thinking no one would believe him he never mentioned that experience to anyone . Bernadette always enjoyed going to the local markets . She thought maybe a change of scenery would be good for Joseph so one Saturday she asked him if he wanted to go along with her .

They made their way to the outdoor markets and started to browse through the stalls .There were all kinds if things there . Leather gear, rings for your ear or nose . Sharp knives to carve or slice , scarf’s for your head, make up and perfume , plants in pots , buckets and mops , clothes and clocks , slippers and rugs , China cups and beer mugs, radios and writing pens and there stalls with artworks and handmade greeting cards .

Joseph decided to take a look through some of the stalls that interested him while Bernadette browsed through the ladies fashions .

He was looking at the greeting cards and other artworks on one of the stalls and noticed they were all in black and white  . He looked at the girl who sat there by the stall . She had wore a veil over her face and seemed to be deep in thought .

“Excuse me , I’m really interested in some of your artworks but they are all in black and white . Would you have anything in colour. “

 

The girl looked over and removed her veil ,she looked just like his Margaret .

and she said  ..

“I can’t see colour’s anymore because you keep grieving for me and that makes me sad . Please stop grieving so I can  be at peace”

 

Joseph was shocked and lost for words . The got up and left the stall unattended .  

 

Bernadette saw Joseph standing there looking a little lost and went over yo talk to him .

 

”Have you found something you like yet “

Joseph looked at her and mumbled

‘”No not yet ?’

.Bernadette could see he was troubled and said .

 

“Is everything ok ?”

Yeah its just I wanted to buy one of the greeting cards and there’s no one in charge of the stall .”

 

At that moment another lady came and stood there at the stall .

“Can I help you ’”

 

Joseph replied

“I was talking to the other girl who runs the stall . She said all the artworks are in black and white but I was after something with colour in “

“I thing you may must be talking about another stall case I’m the only one who runs this stall and there are plenty of artworks with colour”

The lady shook her head and pointed at lot of colourful artworks that were there and they were all in colour.”

 

Joseph apologized and purchased a greeting card and walked away.

Bernadette stayed at his side as he looked a little confused , Together they walked around the markets and Joseph never said a word , 

There were stalls with linen and ropes , tobacco and soaps , toy trains and collectors antiques .There was something for everyone and all day to shop for that special thing .

At the end of the day everybody made their way out of the markets and returned to their cars .

As Joseph and Bernadette made their way home through the traffic they heard a loud crash that was followed by a burst of smoke .A few cars in front of them had that collided .Joseph got out of the car and he just knelt down and prayed hard .Bernadette went over and put her arms around him and said .

 

“It’s ok now come on I’ll drive the rest of the way “

She helped him to the passenger seat and got behind the wheel and steered around all  commotion . It wasn’t too long and they home again .

 

Joseph just sat there in silence for the rest of the day. In the silence he thought a lot about Margaret . He remembered how happy she was singing and painting in the studio he had built for her .

It was difficult for him to let her go and there were times in the silence he felt someone touch his face .

One day he went to buy a bird in a pet shop . He thought it might be nice to have a small bird in a cage around the home . In one of the pet shops he saw an injured bird that seemed very quiet . He asked the one of the shop assistants about the bird and if it was able to sing . The shop assistant said she would call one of the experts on birds .

While he was waiting Joseph went to look at some of the other birds .

In a short while a voice behind him said ,

 

“The bird can sing with a broken wing but not with a broken heart “

Joseph turned around and was Margaret who was standing there , Beside her was another person .

“Don’t be afraid Joseph I am a messenger who has been sent to tell you  about a choice that you have been given . Your daughter Margaret, is not doing so well on the other side so you have been offered the chance to be with her and help her to adjust or to remain on earth with your wife and family . The choice is yours “

 

Joseph thought for a moment and replied

 

“I know my wife Bernadette needs me as well as my other children , But I also know they will be ok as I have enough life insurance that will pay off the mortgage on the house and I also have a funeral fund and death benefit with my employer . After my death the amount payable is enough to support my wife and children for the rest of their lives . As much as I love my wife and children I think I need to be with Margaret so I choose to be with her” .

The angel approached Joseph and reached out his hand saying

,“:Thank you for making the right choice for your little girl .“

.

A  handshake was exchanged and at that moment Joseph fell to the floor clutching his chest . The little bird in the cage with a broken wing suddenly burst out in song ,

 

Some people tried to administer CPR but Joseph died of a massive heart attack .

 

At his funeral Bernadette spoke to all those present ,

“I have lost my Prince but in my heart he will always be there . Joseph really stopped living the day Margaret passed away and I know he is now with Margaret again . I know they will both now be able to rest at peace “

Everyone gathered there applauded and they lowered his coffin into the same grave as Margaret

THE END