"But it's not fair!", Kitty Pryde cried into her mother's shoulder. "I know sweetie, he will be missed", Theresa Pryde tried to comfort her daughter. Alas it worked for neither, as the tears were wept. "Why do this today? Of all days?", Kitty asked. "Honey; it was the only day that Kohen David was available", her mother said. They take another glance at it, at the coffin that contained the body of Carmen Pryde; of Kitty's father.
Kitty looked at all the people, who came; from the institute, the brotherhood, the avengers, the acolytes, the fantastic four, even colonel fury. They all came to support her and her mother, to be there for the funeral. Kohen David began the Kel Maleh Rachamim, or the Prayer for the soul of the departed. He first said it in traditional Hebrew, and then repeated it in English for everyone. "O God, full of compassion, who dwells on high, grant true rest-", but kitty didn't hear the rest. She looked back, seven days in fact; to when her mother called her at the institute. It was a bright sunny day, and everyone was playing baseball. Kitty was pitching, while tony stark was batting; and Fred Dukes was umpire this inning. X-men winning 6 to 5, in the 8th inning. Kitty was going to throw a screwball, when Ororo called for a timeout; Kitty's mom was on the phone, claiming to have terrible news. Kitty gave the ball to Scott summers, who struck tony out before kitty even reached the porch. "Mom, what's wrong?", Kitty asked. Kitty's mom was in pain, but the message was clear; a car accident has taken her father. The wails of agony were heard only by Xavier, alone in his office. Everyone else was loudly having fun outside, except rogue; she's there, but fun is not in her dictionary. Xavier called kitty into his office, his heart wanted to shatter; kitty had in only moments, become a whimpering mess. As kitty spilled the news, Xavier offered deepest condolences. Then they both heard Scott complaining that the avengers cheated, claiming that they had used powers to win; the final score was avenger's victory, 10-7. Kitty felt at her neck, the Star of David dangled there freely. She looked and noticed Xavier; he was talking of her father for everyone. Then kitty and her mom went up, both still holding down unshed tears. Kitty spoke of a strong wall, which provided safety and care; now collapsed. Her mother spoke of a pond, holding two fish; before a cold hook took a fish, separating them forever. Kitty looked up, into magnetos sympathetic face. He was urging her into the car, as everyone was heading to a memorial dinner; to celebrate her father's life. But before she left, she took one last look at the dates of birth and death; minus the year, both dates were only one week apart. Death was a week behind birth, shedding an extra gloom of misery today. "Happy birthday daddy", she said as she was driven away. (This story is for my father for his birthday, 02/09. Happy birthday dad)