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We pulled away from the funeral home and turned down the one-way alley "Go faster!" Steve Lucas ordered looking over her shoulder

"Relax we've ton Avenue, I looked back to see headlights illuminate the alley It was the elder Lucas's hearse "Yeah, by the hair on your ass," Steve said

Steve Lucas wasn't the only anxiety ridden pallbearer I was petrified Mrs Johnson had me freaked To make matters worse, with Shannie on e I had of Mrs Johnson, or how I ie was not strong enough to overco didn't help matters As we turned onto Cemetery Street, and the truck started up the hill, the casket slid in the truck bed and slaave the four of us a start Steve Lucas farted, pro Shannie to roll down theand stick her head out Steve snickered, "I shit myself every time I'm scared"

Once the after back at the bed of the truck, said, "I knee should have tied it down"

"Will you sit still," I told Shannie "I've got a cra cramp," Shannie teased

"You can sit on my lap," Steve told Shannie

"Not for all the Bananas in Bangladesh," Shannie sneered

In Fernwood, Count backed the truck up against the maintenance shed Luckily for us, the shed was hidden froreens Without a word, we slid the casket out of the truck into the shed, resting it upon sawhorses

"Clear the workbench," Count ordered "Lucas," he continued 'There's a tarp in the corner Go get it, spread it out on the workbench"

I was so focused on replacing wrenches and pliers on the oil-splattered slat board, I didn't noticed Count next to h" As Count and Steve Lucas spread the tarp atop the workbench I noticed Shannie standing just inside the door, keeping watch I was surprised by the professionalism exhibited by Count and Steve Lucas They both derandfather used to say, "to knohen the chips were down"

Without a word, Count guided me out of their way Steve Lucas opened the top of the coffin Within laid a pleasant faced grandmother with curly white hair I've since heard a person's face in death reflects their temperament in life; if that's true, Mrs Johnson was a pleasant person Her lips were turned slightly upward, hinting an eternal smile It was said that in her day, Mrs Johnson was quite a looker, blessed with raining golden curls not unlike Shannie's "A free spirit to the end," she was eulogized; I hoped she got a good laugh over this