Laying Out the Clothes Page #2

Women perform the most fundamental and homely tasks associated with the milestone events of life.

• Fiction

								


“The sign behind her saying ‘ladies’ didn’t bother her?” Gail asked.

“Not as much as that water spot.”

“I think she’d like a corsage -- but it’ll have to be silk to stay nice.” 

Gail turned to look at Beth. “Well, it’s not like somebody’s going to crush her gardenia while they’re dancing. About the relatives -- I think they’ll show up. And if they come, we feed them. Kind of like ants at a picnic. Except these aunts travel with uncles.”

“Some of them still do. I haven’t been to many regular funerals. Mostly scatterings,” Beth told her.

“Scatterings?” Gail asked.

“Where they scatter ashes. One time, we had to hike into a game preserve and everybody got a little bag lunch and a bottle of wine.” Beth added, “I think there was candy, too.”

“Good God.”   

“It was an okay day. Beats the heck out of what we’re trying to do now. What are we trying to do?” Beth stopped for a moment, and sighed. 

“We’re just trying to do it right. Do you think she needs a program?” Gail asked her. 

“You mean a booklet? It might be a good idea,” Beth replied. “Some things about her life, maybe a poem, pictures. Reminders -- that sort of thing.”

“In case we forget why we’re dressed up and crying on a Tuesday morning?”

Gail stood up and motioned for her sister to follow. “Let’s quit for the evening. We’ll finish later. Tonight, there’s still later.”

Beth picked up her purse and her sweater, and looked at the stack on the bed. “I guess we can leave these until tomorrow. I’ve got to check on silk flowers and a harpist.”

“I’ll call the caterer. I think we’ll be expecting about fifty people, don’t you?”

Beth nodded. “That should be fine, and if there’s anything left over, we can send people home with something. That’s what Mom always did.”

They walked down the hall, turned off the light, and stepped out onto the porch. Gail turned the key in the lock, and the tumblers clicked softly. The doorbell light glowed yellow with its empty welcome as the city sounds came forward to meet them.


     
     


 
     
 
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