Justin's Funeral

There was only one cemetery in Malrich. The eerie part about this cemetery, Sineas thought, was that it was just two kilometres from the school. He could only see about a hundred if not a hundred-and-fifty tombstones. 'White people only die of old age if not cancer,' he had once heard his mother say to his grandmother when he was five. The rich green grass had been trimmed neatly, probably everyday since the first tombstone was erected in the cemetery. Most of the guests were wearing fancy, black tuxedos as if they had been saving them for a special occasion such as this. A multitude of people had shown up for Justin's funeral: Justin's squad, the teachers, the principal and Justin's family and relatives. Basically, the entire school had shown up. Sabrina and Doreen were even appropriately dressed for this occasion. They were wearing mourning cloaks with see-through veils covering their faces. They were standing behind Justin's mother and little sister. Justin's mother was sobbing softly into a handkerchief holding her daughter by the hand. Clarissa was also dressed the same as her two former friends.

Sineas was wearing the same clothes he had been wearing in school: his leather jacket, denims and sneakers. He had accompanied Clarissa at home first and waited outside her gate while she changed into the appropriate attire then they got into a cab and came straight to the funeral.

Her tears looked authentic as she pricked the edges of her eyes with a crumpled piece of toilet paper. She was standing right beside Sineas. The two were a little far behind the rest of the crowd. A decision they had made to stay far from reach of the wrath of Sabrina and Doreen. Just in front of Justin's mother and sister was his piano-black casket. It glistened even in the absence of sunlight. It was ready to be lowered into the grave.

The clouds had concealed the sun as though aware of this event as an old and bald reverend gave the eulogy from the opposite side of the casket.

Sineas could not see a single black person anywhere. Maybe it was an all-white event. He scratched Clarissa's elbow and moved his lips to her ear. 'So, they just threw all the pieces into the coffin?' he asked her.

She shrugged. 'Yeah, I think. I mean…I guess so. What else could they do?' She sniffled and pricked her eyes harder.

Finally, the verses were over and they began to lower the casket into the grave. Justin's mother began to wail. A lot of people were actually weeping, including Mr. Sawyer, the Physics teacher. Sineas wondered if these people cared about Justin that much or their tears had been drawn from a crocodile river.

Sineas shook his head slowly, his eyes searching within the guests. 'Damn. This guy was some celebrity, hey?'

Clarissa smiled slightly. She replied, 'He had dozens of scholarships and was in line for a lot more. Especially rugby. He was a machine in the field.'

Sineas' eyes caught a disturbing sight. He nudged Clarissa. 'I think your friends must miss you…a lot!'

Sabrina and Doreen were making their way towards them. As always, Sabrina was in the lead. Their sorrowful looks had been replaced by something that looked a lot graver. The veils were off.

'You have a nerve showing up here, Claire,' said Sabrina leaning towards Clarissa's face. 'Especially after what you did to Justin,' she added.

'Ex-cuse me?!' She stepped back, her face looking tremendously offended.

'I'm sure that's why those officers came to see you and your freak friend today,' Sabrina said casting a nasty glance at Sineas.

Doreen was standing just a few feet from Sineas with her arms folded. She was looking suspiciously at him.

Sineas chose not to shy away. He stared back at her, his hands casually buried inside his pockets.

Sabrina snapped, 'I hope you rot in hell, Clarissa! You and your cheap imitation of a boyfriend!'

Doreen looked over at Clarissa and opened her mouth to say something. She looked back at Sineas. She changed her mind. 'Let's go, Sabrina,' she said.

Sabrina's eyes were locked furiously into Clarissa's eyes who looked entirely hopeless now. Sabrina looked like she was ready for a fight.

Doreen moved past Sineas and grabbed Sabrina's elbow. 'Sabrina, let's go,' she whispered.