Saying Goodbye to Grace

Ginger packed Grace’s things in a shoe box. A photo of she and Grace at the beach. A tatterd Elmo doll and Grace’s pearl-studded dog collar.

When her dad finished digging the hole he walked back to the garage, where he had spent the night constructing the coffin, and carried it out to the burial site. It was made from the pine boards he had been collecting. He was going to build a book case to house his Mark Twain collection. It would have to wait.

Grace watched from her bedroom window and knew it was time to gather up the shoe box and head out to the back yard.

Her mother and baby brother, Harold, were waiting in the kitchen and did not speak a word as Ginger led the way out the back door.

Grace had been a part of the family ever since that day, almost nine years ago, when they found out they were going to be first time parents.

“The child will need a dog," her dad had said.

“The child?" her mother said. “I’ll remember that when pheasant season starts."

“Well," her dad said. “I’ll have to keep it busy until the child is old enough to care for it."

“Uh, huh," her mom said. “I see."

Grace never did make a good bird dog. But she was a terrific kid dog. Never being far from Grace’s side since that day she was carried into the house and placed in the bassinet.

“There goes your bird dog," her mom said.

“Oh, pheasant hunting is overrated anyway," he said.

Her dad didn’t like being far away from Ginger’s side, either.

Once they had gathered around the burial site, Ginger reached down and placed the shoe box on top of the coffin. She then flinched as she felt Simon, the family cat, brush past her leg and step into the grave and onto the unpainted pine box.

“Simon!” she said. “Get out of there!”

Simon scooted out of the hole and scampered up the trunk of the billowing weeping willow that swayed over the grave site.

“And don’t you dare fall out of that tree!” she said.

Ginger leaned into her mother and tried not to cry, but it was no use.

She then unfolded the piece of paper she was clinging to. And read aloud.

“Dear Grace,

I have never known a day without you. You have been the best friend ever and I know you will wait for me. But please don’t get too lonely. It will be a long time before I get to where you are. I only hope you remember me when I get there. I will never forget you. How could I?

I love you,
Ginger

Ginger’s dad waited until they were all back in the house before grabbing the shovel and laying Grace to rest.