Calvin

Calvin

By Cody May

This is a story about the Marshall family. They spent all evening getting ready for the funeral of their neighbor's child. They felt horrible for the family; they could only imagine the hardship of watching their child die of cancer during his two-year battle.

Earlier in the day, the Wife picked up some beautiful flowers for the funeral from the flower shop, owned by a charming young fellow named Cody May. She also ordered some fresh doughnuts from the local bakery, which they would pick up on their way to the funeral. She wanted to be as lovely as possible, and while she knew doughnuts and flowers wouldn't cure their pain, it would hopefully show them that they care.

The Husband was putting his dress clothes on and fixing his messy, black hair with hair-gel. He felt odd showing up even though he knew he had no choice because not going would be very disrespectful. He felt strange because the two families weren't close. No, they didn't hate each other; it's just that they didn't talk or hang out like two families who are buddy-buddy would.

The Wife was getting their seven-year-old son named Calvin dressed up. Calvin wasn't happy about going to this funeral. He never played with the boy who died, and since his Grandpa passed away just two years prior, he's been scared of funerals. No human likes them, but when you're 5, looking at your nice Grandpa laying in the casket, and you're trying to comprehend just what death even is, it can warp you.

Everyone was in the SUV, including the flowers. They stopped at the bakery and picked the doughnuts up, just glazed, of course. As the Husband drove towards the chapel, he could smell the glazed doughnuts. They didn't know which kind to order, because they had no clue what kind the family would like. The same Husband licking his lips while driving towards the chapel told her to order glazed because they were his favorite; they were also very standard, which meant more people would likely enjoy them. Admittedly, he was secretly hoping nobody would eat them, so he could take them back home, warm them up, and feast.

They arrived 20 minutes early. Calvin hid his eyes into his Dad's side as they walked in together, holding hands. The Wife hugged Michelle, who's son, dressed in a black suit with a red tie, lay in the casket. The Husband handed the doughnuts to Richard, Father of the son with the same black suit and red tie, lying in the coffin. Richard packed the doughnuts into the kitchen of the chapel, and both men talked. The Husband told Richard he'd do anything for him; all he had to do was call. Richard thanked him and asked if they'd be interested in going to dinner soon. The Husband agreed. The offer warmed the Husband's heart cause he could tell more than anything that after what Richard and Michelle had been through, what they needed now more than ever was a friend.

People gathered in, and the service started. Calvin lay in his Father’s lap, with his eyes never making contact with the casket. Calvin was scared he might see dead Grandpa.

The singing was over now, and the preaching started. The preacher man talked about washing your sins free and about the fire of hell. He spoke about the path of righteous-nous. The Husband didn't think this was appropriate at a child's funeral, that if there was a heaven, this kid surely was in it.

Michelle and Richard sat in the front, crying as the preacher man sang amazing grace. Calvin was getting scared and asked if they could leave, but they wouldn't leave because that would be disrespectful.

The Wife told Calvin that there was a playground attached to the church outside; she told him if he saw kids out there to play with them, but not to get around strangers.

Calvin, not looking at the casket, walked outside. He saw a kid out at the playground, so he went to play.

The Husband, who wasn't much on funerals himself (or church services for that matter), got up to take a piss. He was thinking about the basketball game that was on right now as the pee flowed from his penis. He thought about asking his Wife when they got home if she wanted to have sex, and he was also thinking about those glazed doughnuts.

He got a cup of water from those water tanks that just so happened to be at every church in existence, then walked to the kitchen to see how many of his glazed doughnuts were left. He cracked open the lid to see an empty box, which upset him. Sure he was happy that they enjoyed them, but dammit, those were his for later. There wasn't an empty seat tonight, so no, he wasn't shocked, but the disappointment was still immeasurable.

He walked back into the chapel and sat down next to his Wife. 'No more doughnuts, he whispered to her as she slapped his arm and told him to grow up.

Calvin came running back in, not looking at the casket, asking his Dad for his iPhone.

"Why do you need my iPhone, Calvin?"

"Me and this cool boy are playing on the slides. I told him you have a cool phone and that it takes pictures and stuff. Can I please show him? Pleaseeee."

"Ugh, sure, okay, don't break it. Oh, hey, also don't stay out there too long."

"Okay," Calvin said as he ran out the front doors.

About 15 minutes went by, and the preacher picked back up on his talk. He warned the sinners in the crowd to seek God's light and to be born again. He told those in the audience that the world would end soon, that God was warning everyone before it was too late.

Calvin ran back in with a smile on his face and hopped into his Dad's arms. He asked Calvin why he was so happy.

“Me and the boy took funny pictures and had so much fun!” Calvin said as quietly yet enthusiastically as he could.

"Oh, great honey, you made a new friend." The Wife said.

"Yea sucks he had to leave. He was cool."

The Husband asked him to show him the photos (partly because he was bored with this preacher's sermon).

Calvin turned on the phone and opened the photos app.

The Husband grasped the phone from Calvin and stared at the little boy in a black suit and red tie, sitting next to Calvin. Horror set in when he realized the boy in the photo and the boy in the casket were the same person.