Chapter 98: Madison

We’re at the church for lunch. Somehow, I made it through all of the hugs and kind words shared by most of the town of Athens at the funeral. I left the ceremony just as my mother had planned it. I would much rather have had a private burial and been done with it, but if this was her last wish, I granted it.

My mother hadn’t been active in the church or community for many years. Visitors attended her funeral for the woman she used to be and to give me their support. Fortunately, there were only the minister, Hamilton, Memphis, and I at the graveside. A fitting goodbye to the mother that only yelled at me when she wasn’t ignoring me these past years.

Memphis insisted I allow the ladies of the Lutheran Church to serve a lunch for us. She reminded me that, once, my entire family was active in their church. I invited my girlfriends and Hamilton’s family to join me here, since I have no other family to accompany me.