Through Thick And Thin

“You know, you read my mind,” Amanda started. “I was just saying that. Because it would make more sense if they all came together and decided that one person would make the chicken pot pie, another would do the roast and another would do the brisket. Now instead we have three briskets, two pot roasts, seven casseroles and counting…and to think that this is all for a person who is no longer with us.”

“Yeah Grandma Leila didn’t even have cats,” Amelia pointed out.

“You know, I had suggested the homeless shelters,” Mark said as he walked to where Amanda was.

“That’s sounds great but we should probably wait until everyone is gone,” Chad said. “Respect and courtesy stuff.”

“Yeah, we probably should. But no one touch those red velvet cupcakes,” Amelia said as she reached for yet another cupcake.

“You need to pace yourself there, sis,” Amanda pointed put as she raised an eyebrow over the other.

“If you’d had one of these, you wouldn’t be telling me to pace myself,” Amelia said as she licked the frosting off her finger.

“Why? How good is this thing anyway?” Amanda started as she reached for the cupcake in Amelia’s hand.

“Hey! Get your own…” Amelia started but it was too late. Her sister had already grabbed a big chunk of the cupcake. She bit into it and immediately let out a series of moans.

“Should I be jealous?” Mark asked Chad in a low voice. Chad crossed his arms over his chest and smiled.

“Maybe, just a little,” he said in a whisper.

“Sally Ann Montgomery,” Amanda said as she took one more bite.

“Who?” Amelia raised an eyebrow over the other.

“The woman who lives on the other block, Grandma Leila’s very good friend from church, remember? She used to make really awesome bannofee pies and apple crumble cakes.” Amelia nodded.

“That was her?” she wondered out loud. “She looks so old.”

“In her defense, the last time you saw her you were ten,” Amanda said matter of factly.

Just then, one of Leila’s neighbors Al Weinstein popped his head through the kitchen doorway.

“Hey everyone,” Al started making everyone turn their attention towards him. “We just wanted to say goodbye before we left.”

“Oh…sure,” Amelia got up from the counter stool and dabbed the sides of her mouth as Amanda walked towards the door.

“We’ll just see you off,” she said taking Amelia’s hand and leading her out to the living room. For just a few minutes as they discussed food and Sally Ann’s baking skills, Amelia had forgotten just how much the sad looks from the rest of the mourners really upset her. She had to put on a strong face and force a smile as the people left, each of them taking the time to give the two sisters a reassuring squeeze on their shoulders, a hug or a simple handshake.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Leila Strickland was such a beautiful soul and I know she is in a better place.”

“Anytime you need anything, you can call us.” That was Al and his wife.

“Feel free to call on us at any time.” This was Sally Ann. “And I can bring you some food if you’d like.”

“Oh no, we have enough to last us…until Christmas,” Amanda said.

“Well, you should always remember that I am just a phone call away…though I am not very sure of your addresses…” Sally Ann’s forehead creased.

“I will make sure to get it to you,” Amelia said with a smile.

“That sounds lovely. You can email me too,” Sally Ann said proudly. “My grandson showed me the way around that home PC.”

“Good for you, Mrs. Montgomery,” Amanda said as she showed the last of the guests including Sally Ann out. She leaned against the closed door and exhaled loudly. “Listen to that,” she said in a soft voice.

“What? I can’t hear anything,” Amelia said.

“Exactly,” Amanda said as she walked towards the living room. “Total, complete silence.”

Amelia walked to the fireplace where the urn containing her grandmother’s cremains were in.

“She is in there,” she said in a soft voice. “Grandma Leila is in that little urn.”

Amanda walked to where her sister was and slipped an arm around her sister’s waist.

“Yeah, she is,” she said in a whisper.

“So, what now?” Amelia asked.

“Now, we take her to mom and dad’s graves and do exactly what she asked. Sprinkle her ashes over their graves.” Amelia forced out a laugh.

“I still can’t believe she wants us to do that,” she said.

“Well, she loved her daughter as much as she loved her son-in-law,” Amanda started. “I guess she couldn’t decide who to spend eternity with. So she decided to split herself right down the middle.” Amanda rubbed her sister’s upper arm. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” Amelia said.

“No really, Amelia. How are you doing with everything?” Amanda asked again.

Amelia cradled the urn and shrugged.

“Honestly, I am not sure. I’m glad she isn’t suffering anymore and at the same time, I am sad that I won’t see her again and…” her voice trailed off when a tear rolled down her cheek. “But I guess I’ll be fine, eventually.”

“We have to be. We are all that we’ve got in this world now,” Amanda said as her sister leaned her head on her shoulder.

“Yeah, not counting the Jewish side of the family,” Amelia said with a smile.

“Well, they hate us for not going to the synagogue and not doing the whole bar mitzvah thing,” Amanda said as she rolled her eyes.

“They brought brisket.”

“Four briskets…maybe they were trying to say something in code,” Amanda said as she pulled away.

Amelia put the urn back where she had found it and looked at her sister.

“Well, it’s us against the world.”

“Alright ladies,” Chad said as he walked into the living room. “We need help rolling out this food to the shelter. T minus ten minutes,” he announced.