Carpet. I was lying on carpet. When I opened my eyes, I saw that we were in the funeral director's office. Raimundo was just waking up on the couch. The adults were standing around talking. Miranda was the first to notice he was awake.
"Raimundo! Are you okay?"
"I-I think so. What happened?"
"You were looking at you mom, when suddenly you put a fist in your mouth and you fainted. You haven't been out long, but we were about to call an ambulance, "
"No, I'm fine,"
Then he remembers why he fainted and I can feel him holding back tears.
"Those shiny spots under her right eye and on her forehead. Is that where the bullet holes were?"
The funeral director looks uncomfortable.
"It's okay, you can tell him," said Miranda. "Raimundo is very brave, and sometimes he is too observant for his own good,"
The funeral director sighed. "I'm very sorry Raimundo. We did our best to make her look presentable, but we had to reconstruct most of the face from photos,"
"You did a great job," Raimundo tells him and the funeral director breathes a sigh of relief.
Raimundo gets up and brushes himself off. "You did a great job, but I don't think my mom would want anyone to see her. Could you please close the casket?"
"But she looks lovely!" Gram exclaims. "You're just upset right now Raimundo. I know this is difficult, but you're not the only one whose feelings matter here,"
I'm about to start screaming at her when the funeral director says "I believe he is right. I'm proud of the work we did, but I used to see Rachel walk by here on her way to 'Jays'. She was so beautiful and full of life. I used to think such liveliness should never die. And now it has. I don't think she would want anyone to see her either,"
The room is silent for a minute. If Gram says no, ghost-like or not, I'll close the dam casket myself. Then Raimundo says in a strong, clear voice "I think Mom has been hurt enough,"
"He's right," Gramp says to Gram, and the funeral director goes to close the casket.
The room dissolves, and I'm falling again, feeling proud of Raimundo for standing up to Gram like he did.
Sorry this chapter's so short. I promise the next one will be longer.