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"She, the speed demon, was not even at the wheel of the car It was one of the others as driving, and they were in a blinding rainstorhteen-wheeler truck The driver was decapitated Lynelle was pronounced dead at the scene, only to be revived and linger on life support for teeks without ever regaining consciousness Most of Lynelle's face had been crushed

"I only learned of the accident when Lynelle's family called to tell us about the Memorial Mass that would be said for her in New Orleans Lynelle had already been buried in Baton Rouge, where her parents lived

"I walked up and down for hours, saying 'Lynelle' over and over I was out of my mind Goblin stared at me, obviously bewildered I had no words Just her name: 'Lynelle ¡¯

"Pops and Sweetheart took me to the Mass -- it was in a modern church in Metairie -- and Goblin became very solid for the event, and I itatedon I could hear his voice in ed, turned his pal the words 'Where is Lynelle?¡¯

"The Mass was said by a very elderly priest and had a certain elegance to it, but for htmare When people went to the microphone to speak about Lynelle, I knew that I should step up, I should say all that she'd meant to me, but I couldn't overcome my fear that I would sturetted that I didn't speak at that Mass!

"I went to Co Communion, I told Goblin flatly and furiously to shut up

"Then caht not expect, I believe strongly in the Catholic Church and in the miracle of the Transubstantiation -- that the Priest in the Mass turns the wafers and the wine into the true Body and Blood of Christ

"Well, as I knelt in the pew after having received Co Goblin to shut up, I turned and saw hiht beside me, his shoulder not

an inch from my shoulder, his face as vivid and ruddy asat htened me

"He appeared quickened and cunning, and he gave me the creeps

"I turned away froainstover my left I prayed I wandered in ain -- dazzlingly solid -- and I felt the coldest escalating fear

"The fear did not pass On the contrary, I beca those in the pews in front ofto the sides at others and then turning boldly to look over my shoulder at all those behind I had a sense of their norain I looked at this solid specter beside me; I looked into his brilliant eyes and at his sly smile, and a desperate panic seized me

"I wanted to banish him I wanted him dead I wished that the journey to New York had killed him And who could I tell this to? Who would understand? I felt murderous and abnormal And Lynelle was dead

"I sat in the pew My heart went quiet He continued his efforts to get my attention He was just Goblin, and when he cleaved to e and wrapped his invisible self around me I felt myself relax in his embrace

"Aunt Queen flew ho fro, Russia, and there was a delay out of Newark, New Jersey, she did not make it in time When she saw her room decorated in Lynelle's favorite blue, she cried She threw herself on the blue satin comforter, turned over and stared up at the canopy, and looked like nothing soboudoir dolls, with her high heels and her cloche hat and her wet vacant weeping stare