and Dying.

veryone agreed it was far too nice a day for a funeral. It was late spring, and the cemetery was in full bloom: flowers smattered against lush green, soft cotton clouds overhead, gravestones aglow in afternoon light. Even the coffin, Lorraine thought to herself, was beautiful: deep red cherry wood, lacquered so well you could see your reflection in it (she’d used it to make sure there wasn’t any lipstick on her teeth before she began sharing condolences with the other funeral-goers).

Now she smiled with determinedly clean teeth at an approaching Mrs. Watson, who returned it with a smile of her own. The extent of Lorraine’s knowledge of the other woman was that both their sons attended the same elementary school; nonetheless, there was nothing like the odd funeral to bring two loosely acquainted people together. Both of the women stood for a few moments in comfortable silence, feeling sorry for themselves and for each other. Then Mrs. Watson asked, “How did you know Mark?”

“I’m a regular at his store.”

“Oh,” said Mrs. Watson. Something in her tone made Lorraine feel self-conscious suddenly. She wondered if now was a good time to start crying. She’d already cried a few times that morning during the service, but now struck her as a particularly appropriate time to cry. Dabbing at her eyes with her already damp Kleenex, she asked, “How did you know him?”

“Been neighbors forever,” Mrs. Watson said. “I’ve always been terribly fond of him and his family. Such a pity.” Then, lifting a hand to shield the sun from her eyes: “Oh, dear,” she sighed, and Lorraine followed her gaze, where a tall, gangly figure had made its way over to the coffin.

The young man’s head was bowed, but even from this distance Lorraine could see the stark inky blackness of his hair, like a gaping hole in the daylight. She watched as he stretched a hand out to the coffin. For a moment she thought he might try to open it, but instead he just let his fingers splay out over the smooth cherry wood. Then he sank silently to his knees, shoulders trembling.