I'm kinda disappointed on the number of reviews I got. Anyway thanks for the review Cuz! (Writer's Block 234.) Now on to chapter 2. Since this chapter is one of the saddest, I suggest that you have some tissues handy. I sure needed them!

Chapter 2

The Funeral

Marie came out of the car. 625 recovered quickly from his motion sickness. His golden yellow fur was restored to its original color. 625 stayed by Marie's side. They were both very quiet. They didn't say a word to each other. 625 grabbed a box of tissues from inside the house and then brought them to Marie. Marie put her hand in front of him, indicating that she didn't want any tissues. Peg called Marie into the bedroom so she could dress up in her new dress. 625 went back outside and sat on the porch. A lone sigh escaped his mouth. He placed the tissues at his side.

Gantu came in front of the house,'' Back from Hula class so early? Why are you so sad?''

'' It's...'', 625 didn't want to tell Gantu about what happened, but he was family. He had to tell,'' A funeral we're going to.''

'' Who died?'', Gantu asked.

'' Marie's father'', 625 sighed again,'' I'm worried about Marie. She seems depressed.''

'' Oh, do you think I should come to that funeral?''

'' Well G, you are family, so it's mostly your decision.''

'' I'll go too.''

'' It'll do good, for Marie's sake.''

Gantu saw tears in 625's eyes. He handed him a tissue.

'' What? I don't need a tissue.''

'' You're about to cry.''

'' I am so not gonna cry!'', 625 choked.

'' That's your I'm-about-to-cry choke.''

'' That's not true!''

'' Yes it is. Don't lie 625. When you lived in my ship, I hear you cry yourself to sleep sometimes.''

625's jaw hung open,'' Hey! You do too!''

'' I had a rough past, 625. You know that!''

625 put his arms across his chest,'' Aww G. I thought you were asleep when I did that.''

'' See now you admit it.''

625 seethed. Marie came outside followed by Peg. Marie let her head hang low. She had on a long black dress.

625 looked at Marie, then he thought, Oh no, It's the Grim Reaper.

Peg looked at Gantu,'' Want to come along to the funeral with us?''

'' Of course. 625 told me everything. I can walk there.''

625 entered the car's back seats. Marie sat in the front. She handed 625 a paper bag.

'' What no sandwich?'', 625 asked, hoping for a chuckle from Marie.

'' It's a bag if you feel like your going to get sick, use it '', Marie said.

'' I'm still not used to car rides, you know.''

'' I know. Remember last week?''

'' Aw! You just had to bring that subject back up, didn't you?''

'' Well the look on your face before you tossed your cookies was kinda funny.''

'' Stop reminding me.''

'' Okay. I'll stop.''

Peg drove the car down the street. 625 started to feel sick again,'' You know what? I think I'll walk to the funeral with Gantu.''

'' Okay 625. Be careful'', Marie said.

625 opened the car door and ran up to Gantu,'' Wait up, G.''

'' Aren't you going to take the earth vehicle?'', Gantu asked.

'' I was but... hey let me get on your shoulder.''

'' You got carsick again. Didn't you?''

'' Fine I did.''

Gantu laid his hand beside 625. He happily climbed up Gantu's hand and onto his shoulder.

'' Where's the funeral home anyway?'', Gantu asked.

625 rolled his eyeballs,'' G, that answer is so simple. Just follow the car.''

'' Marie told me that you get carsick. In my ship you never got airsick.''

'' That's a big difference G. A car drives on the ground, a ship flies in the air. Besides you sometimes made me airsick, who taught you how to drive a ship? Sometimes your a worse driver than I am. Wait!''

'' Ha, you said a comment about yourself being a lousy driver.''

'' I never drove a ship or a stupid car. Besides who can beat your lousy driving skills.''

'' You're back.''

'' What do you mean?''

'' Your back to your wisecracking self. You never do that to Marie.''

'' Sometimes I do... just for a laugh from her. Hey, what's this place?''

'' Is this the funeral home?''

They arrived to a tall funeral house. It seemed almost new. The building was a dull grey color with vines surrounding it. Marie stepped out of the car, her head still hung low. 625 climbed off of Gantu's shoulder.

625 couldn't help but feel sad for Marie while they entered the funeral home. His stomach dropped, as a sickening feeling came to his heart. He signed the guest book and looked solemnly at the wine red floor. The walls were a dark beige color. The curtains in the building was a deep dark black. 625's eyes were full of sadness which were clearly visible.

They went up to a coffin, which matched the color of the curtains, a deep dark black. Inside was a dead body wearing a navy suit. It was Marie's father.

625 touched Marie's shoulder,'' Remember what you told me when you never said goodbye to your father?''

Marie nodded.

'' It's time. Say what you've wanted to say to him years ago.''

Marie went up to the coffin and closed her eyes, as she drew in a deep breath,'' I'm so sorry what happened to you. I haven't seen you in a real long time. That time I saw you, little that I've known that it would be my last. I love you, goodbye.''

Tears flowed freely down Marie's face. 625 held his tears in. A sad expression was on his face. He decided to say a few things, but couldn't find the right words to say. Marie sat next to Gantu, who stroked her head to comfort her.

625 couldn't help but feel remorse when it was his turn to say something to the dead body, but he knew that it would have to be done. A shudder went down his spine, as his golden yellow fur stood on end at the back of his neck. He searched for the right words to say. He had a feeling that the man's spirit was in the room, waiting for 625's sayings.

625 took a deep breath to calm down as he went up to the coffin. He found the words he was looking for, as he held in all of his tears, while his eyes shimmered like the morning sun. This was hard for him.

He closed his eyes and sighed. He struggled to say the words a it was his only chance to say them,'' I'm so very sorry for what happened to you. I know you'll be watching over Marie in the sky. I'll watch over Marie like if you were there, to watch over her. I'll promise to never hurt her and I'll make sure that she'll stay out of trouble. I know that Marie can't see you now, when you visit her from the sky, but there's something that I'll always know...''

He paused as tears flowed down his face,'' You'll always be in her heart because nobody gets left behind or forgotten, even if they died. You'll be in everyone's memories and hearts... including mine. Goodbye.''

He moved away from the coffin and found a box of tissues sitting on a table. He wiped the tears off his face. He brought the box to Marie.

Gantu couldn't believe that 625 could cry to a guy that he's never before seen in his life. Only pictures and memories could remind them of the happiness that Marie had with her father. Gantu felt sorry for Marie. He sighed, as he too had tears in his eyes. 625 noticed this and handed Gantu a couple of tissues, without saying anything.

The echo's of the announcement that Marie's father died echoed through his head. It was indeed way to familiar to him. It was in Fredrick's voice.

'' Last night there was a terrible storm...''

'' We tried to save him, but it was too late...''

625's heart began to ache from sadness. More tears flowed down his face. They dampened the fur on his face. Fredrick's voice continued to echo in 625's head.

'' It's about your father...''

'' He died...''

'' I'm sorry...''

A few hours passed. 625, Marie, Gantu, and Peg didn't budge from their seats. The time has come when it was time to bury Marie's father in the cemetery. They had to drive there, except for Gantu who was too big to fit in the car, so he walked. 625 was on his shoulder, since he didn't want to get carsick again.

'' Are you going to be okay, 625?'', Gantu asked, with worry for his old friend.

625 sniffled,'' I'm not so sure.''

They arrived to the cemetery, where the coffin was in it's grave. 625 read the gravestone. It said:

Marcus Stedford

Born in September 16th, 1962

Died in April 8th, 2005

625 found a yellow flower growing from the ground. He picked it up and placed it by the gravestone. There was a momentary silence for about ten minutes. Peg nodded her head to indicate that it was time to leave. 625 took a last glimpse of the gravestone and followed Peg.

Later...

Marie, Peg, and 625 sat down for dinner. 625 only picked at the sandwich that laid on his plate. He let the pieces scatter around his plate. Marie didn't eat a thing, neither did Peg. Gantu was settled into his house, he didn't eat a thing either.

'' May I be excused?'', Marie asked.

'' Me too?'', 625 also asked.

'' Of course'', Peg said.

625 and Marie left their seats and went to their bedroom. Marie laid in her bed and cried on her pillow. 625 sat beside her,'' Marie?''

'' Yes, 625?'', Marie asked.

'' I know this is hard for you, what I mean to say is... um...'', 625 stammered.

'' What are you trying to say?''

625 sighed,'' Your father will always be in your heart. He won't get left behind nor forgotten. You still have the memories of the good times you've had with him.''

Marie grinned and hugged 625. Those were some words that she needed to hear. 625 hugged back. A new warm feeling came to his heart.

'' You know what, Marie?'', The sandwich maker said.

'' What?''

'' At least nothing else could go wrong.''

Marie agreed.

TBC...

R&R