Elmond Cemetery
The day was cold and windy, rather fitting if you had asked Hank Hall. He was dressed in a stifling black suit and tie, standing next to his brother, Don. Don was holding back tears, and for once Hank was jealous of his brother. Hank found himself numb and dry-eyed. He felt guilty for it. He was attending his mother's funeral and he didn't feel a thing. His father wept silently.
"Gayle Darwyn Hall was a supportive woman who lent strength to her husband and two sons," the priest droned on in an appropriately reserved tone. "She refused to take credit for all of her hard work."
Hank knew he was right. His mother had kept the peace in the house with incredible patience and love. He remembered all of the times she had stopped he and Don from breaking out into a fist fight.
"This woman was incredibly humble for all that she had accomplished in her too short life," the priest continued. "She had gained a degree in health sciences. She gave up an incredible career to raise her two boys. Instead of feeling embittered or sad for what she had given up she was proud of her sons' accomplishments. Thanks to her overwhelming support her son Henry excelled in sports and her other son Donald such good grades he has his pick of schools when he graduates."
Hank let the priest's droning voice go out of focus as his thoughts turned to his mother. Despite the obvious dangers his mother had supported him when he had joined the wrestling team and then the football team. When most mothers were complaining to their sons about the risks they were taking his mother was busy making sure he ate a perfect diet to support his strenuous activities.
"And with these words I would like to close this ceremony with a testament from her devoted husband, Judge Irwin Hall."
Irwin Hall, Hank's father, rose from his seat with the help of a cane. He was still recovering from his injuries that he had sustained in the same drive by that had killed his wife. He walked carefully up to the head of the crowd with Don at his side making sure that he didn't fall.
"I remember the first time Gayle and I met," the judge recalled. "She was studying here at the University, and I was gearing up to go to law school. We joined a study group together. It was for math, she had always had a hard time with math. I was joining on pretty much as a tutor."
At that point Irwin Hall coughed and tears sprouted from his eyes. Hank could hear a woman sniffle. Don approached his father to support but Irwin motioned him away. He wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
"I made fun of her chosen degree. I thought it wasn't practical or challenging at all," the judge chuckled ruefully. "When I told her this she looked at me with that beautiful fire in her eyes and challenged me to attend a few of her classes. I did. By the end of the week I had to concede that there was no way I could complete her degree. I think that was when I first began to feel love for her. No one had ever challenged me or gained my respect like she had in such a short time."
"I was lucky and somehow she grew to love me as well as I prepared to graduate, and move on to law school," the judge's voice broke and the sniffling woman began to sob in earnest. "I remember when I proposed to her she smiled at me and told me that she would accept only if I'd agree to never give up my dreams."
"She always wanted everyone to be happy," he continued. "So I think even through this tragedy she would want us to be happy. Let us remember the good times that we shared with her and her indomitable spirit."
And with those words they lowered her casket into the grave and began to shovel dirt on top of her. It was then that Hank finally realized she was never coming back. He would never feel her gentle hugs again or bask in the warmth of her smile. He finally felt something and cried. Don tried to hug him, but Hank shoved him away. The only hug he wanted to feel now was his mother's.
"Drop Outs"
Part 1: Emotional Response
by T. L. Veselka
Watership Dr., Elmond
"Judge Hall!" the reporters swarmed them as soon as they left the cemetery grounds. "Can we get a statement?"
"My sons and I need some time to deal with this tragic loss," Judge Hall told them. Hank glared at them from glittering hard eyes.
"Please," one reporter begged. "We would just like a quick statement about the two metahumans that saved your life in the hospital."
"Fine." Judge Hall gave up. He knew that the reporters wouldn't leave him alone until he said something. "I am grateful to them. Only a fool wouldn't be. However, they are criminals. We have police to do these things that operate under the law. These vigilantes shouldn't be encouraged."
"Judge Hall!" another began.
"I have said everything I am going to say," Judge Hall said firmly. Don helped him into the passenger side of the car and quickly ducked into the back seat. Hank wasn't far behind them.
They drove away, hoping that they wouldn't be followed by the media. A couple of the reporters quickly turned to their cameras to finish their report and try and buy more face time for themselves with the few words their father had given them.
"I'm glad those guys showed up," Hank stated firmly. "If it wasn't for them you'd be dead now!"
"And I told the press as much," their father assented. "However they shouldn't be encouraged to continue doing such things. There is a reason that vigilantism is against the law."
"I think sometimes it's a good thing they are out there," Hank pushed on. "What are the police going to do? They'll just put them in a cell for a while until they get a trial and then watch as they are let go by a jury because they pleaded temporary insanity, or some other bullshit excuse!"
"I hate to agree with him," Don added, more timidly than his brother. "But the police are just victims of a flawed system. They are powerless far too often, or sometimes they even on the wrong side."
"Have neither of you even thought this through?" Judge Hall asked incredulously. "If vigilantes like the two who saved me continue to exert their will and judgment without the proper channels it begins a descent down a very slippery slope."
"What?" Hank asked bitterly. "People begin to stand up to criminals and they actually get caught for once?"
"I understand your emotions in this, but you must think this through logically," their father began to lecture. "If they are allowed to continue then they can decide what a crime is and what isn't. If they can put on costumes and circumvent the law then who is to say that no one else can? It is far too easy to become judge, jury and executioner without the proper checks and balances."
"Well the system we have set up now sucks," Hank grumped. "Maybe we should let them have that power."
Judge Hall sighed, "We'll talk about this another time. I don't have the energy to argue with you right now."
They rode the rest of the way home in silence, no one wanted to talk about mom or the new vigilantes. One thing they all agreed on was that they were glad that Hawk and Dove had been there. Now if only they could have been there for their mother as well. Sometimes that thought made Hank more emotional than his father's stance on he and his brother's new secret identities.
298 Juez st., Elmond
The three had looked forward to rest when they arrived home, but there was to be none of it. Already when they arrived there were a couple dressed in dark somber clothes waiting for them to arrive with a dish of food. Their mother had been well liked in the community, especially in their own neighborhood.