Cardboard Coffins and Gold

The coffin was made of cardboard that he stole from a recycling bin behind the food warehouse, still stained from the GM foods it once held. It pained his soul to see his wife of thirty years lying in it waiting to be pulled through the black curtains at the crematorium.  He had dressed her in her favourite black dress and shoes, she looked beautiful.  He was glad he had traded some ofon the proper preparations.The coffin was made of cardboard that he stole from a recycling bin behind the food warehouse, still stained from the food rations once held. It pained his soul to see his wife of thirty years lying in it waiting to be pulled through the black curtains into the church crematorium.  He had dressed her in her favourite black dress and shoes.  He wished he'd had something to trade to for a wooden coffin, but it wasn't to be. He kissed her head, she looked beautiful even in death then walked to his position at the front of the church.

He looked around at the people that turned out to the funeral all good people, honest and hard working.  Most had holes in their clothes, around the knees and elbows, but at least they had survived the purges.  John Carouther met his gaze and gave him a slight smile no teeth just the upturned corners of his mouth, the sort of smile that says don't worry old friend things will get better.  

He never thought it would come to this, a lawyer would always be able to make money he thought.  That was before the plague began to rain down, but his wife had always had a positive attitude that lifted him up, in the end after they made it through the purges love and companionship was all they could give each other.  

He had scraped together what money he could that was left over from the funeral costs and bought a wreath of white roses that he had placed on her cardboard coffin.  It was the roses or food but he knew he didn't really have a choice he wasn't going to see her laid to rest with no flowers in a cardboard coffin. Her last piece of unpawned jewellery around her neck, the beautiful gold heart shaped locket that he had bought her when times were good.  He told himself he would need to take it off before she went through the curtains to be cremated. The trades it would bring would allow him to make his next few weeks meals until he could find work.

The priest stood up to give his eulogy.  His robes were threadbare in places.  He made his usual plea for funds, pointing towards the hole in the roof and smashed windows.  Hank knew that the people around him had nothing to give but their faith.  The bowl was passed and a few coins slid into it but not so much as to pay for the electricity for the church hall. 

The priest had said his peace and the coffin was about to move on through to the other side.   Hank was moved to tears and thinking of how things might have been if they could have afforded the treatment.

He watched as the coffin made of cardboard that held the love of his life slid through the curtains. He panicked at the sight of the heart shaped necklace sliding through the opening, his heart pounding, mind racing, but he stood perfectly still.  He made no attempt to move, how could he? No.  He couldn't interrupt her last journey, he would rather beg and steal for the next few months.  

The guilt he felt as his wife slid through that curtain stuck in his mind like a gaping wound, throbbing like a dull ache that he couldn't shift. When he should have been mourning her death he was morning her lost jewellery, he felt a sick anxiousness in the pit of his stomach as the curtains drew back and the music his wife had picked played in the church.  

As the coffin slid through to the other side Jim Rowles moved it down towards the incinerator looking inside as he always did he saw the bright gold necklace on the cadavers neck. He couldn't believe his luck.  He leaned in, unlatched and pocketed it before sliding the body, fully dressed into the cremation chamber.

Hank got up from the pew and made his way to the edge of the row, he thought to ask the priest about the necklace but his pride got the better of him.

"Thank you for your kind words father", he said.

"You heyare welcome my son. The ashes will be ready in a few days would you like to have a look at our selection of urns? Or will you be happy with the complementary jar?" 

"The jar will be fine."

"Of course.  I agree that it is better to spread the ashes."

That old demon pride on his shoulder, he swallowed hard and lied to the priest, "yes that is what she wanted."

In truth Hank would place his wife's urn on the bedside table.

Hank stayed a while shaking hands and talking with those that had attended.  They spoke of his wife and offered their condolences but Hank's mind drifted into thoughts of his predicament and his next meal.  

He was speaking to the priest when Jim Rowles walked past him, his pocket lined with gold

The coffin was made of cardboard that he stole from a recycling bin behind the food warehouse, still stained from the GM foods it once held, it pained his soul to see his wife of thirty years lying in it waiting to be pulled through the black curtains at the crematorium.  He had dressed her in her favourite black dress and shoes, she looked beautiful.  He was glad he had spent some of his last credits on the proper preparation.

He looked around at the people that turned out to the funeral all good people, honest and hard working.  Most had holes in their clothes, around the knees and elbows, but at least they had survived the purges.  John Carouther met his gaze and gave him a slight smile no teeth just the upturned corners of his mouth, the sort of smile that says don't worry old friend things will get better.  

He never thought it would come to this, a lawyer would always be able to make money he thought.  That was before the plague began to rain down, but his wife had always had a positive attitude that lifted him up, in the end after they made it through the purges love and companionship was all they could give each other.  

He had scraped together what money he could that was left over from the funeral costs and bought a wreath of white roses that he had placed on her cardboard coffin.  It was the roses or food but he knew he didn't really have a choice he wasn't going to see her laid to rest with no flowers. Her last piece of unpawned jewellery around her neck, the beautiful gold heart shaped locket that he had bought her when times were good.  He told himself he would need to take it off before she went through. The money it would bring at the pawn brokers would allow him to make his next few weeks meals until he could find work.

The priest stood up to give his eulogy.  His robes were threadbare in places.  He made his usual plea for funds, pointing towards the hole in the roof and smashed windows.  Hank knew that the people around him had nothing to give but their faith.  The bowl was passed and a few coins slid into it but not so much as to pay for the electricity for the church hall. 

The priest had said his peace and the coffin was about to move on through to the other side.   Hank was moved to tears and thinking of how things might have been if they could have afforded the treatment.  

He watched as the coffin made of cardboard that held the love of his life slide through the curtains. He panicked at the sight of the heart shaped necklace sliding through the opening, his heart pounding, mind racing, but he stood perfectly still.  He made no attempt to move, how could he? No.  He couldn't interrupt her last journey, he would rather beg and steal for the next few months.  

The guilt he felt as his wife slid through that curtain stuck in his mind like a gaping wound, throbbing like a dull ache that he couldn't shift. When he should have been mourning her death he was morning her lost jewellery, he felt a sick anxiousness in the pit of his stomach as the curtains drew back and the music his wife had picked played in the church.  

As the coffin slid through to the other side Jim Rowles moved it down towards the incinerator looking inside as he always did he saw the bright gold necklace on the cadavers neck. He couldn't believe his luck.  He leaned in, unlatched and pocketed it before sliding the body, fully dressed into the cremation chamber.

Hank got up from the pew and made his way to the edge of the row, he thought to ask the priest about the necklace but his pride got the better of Him.

"When can I collect Maria's ashes?" He asked.

"They will be ready in a few days would you like to have a look at our selection of urns? Or will you be happy with the complementary jar Mr Oswold?" 

"The jar will be fine."

"Of course.  I agree that it is better to spread the ashes."

That old demon pride on his shoulder, he swallowed hard and lied to the priest, "Yes, yes that is what she wanted."

In truth Hank would place the urn on his wife's bedside table.

Hank stayed a while shaking hands and talking with those that had attended.  They spoke of his wife and offered their condolences but Hank's mind drifted into thoughts of his predicament and his next meal.  He was speaking to the priest when Jim Rowles walked past him, his pocket lined with gold.