I don't own any of the characters.
Jasmine was sobbing over a shoe box. Rebecca had her arm lightly around her daughter's shoulders.
"He…he…he was a good guinea pig." She managed to get out in between her sobs.
"I know, honey." Holiday soothed her daughter. Six stood a few feet away. He was definitely feeling uncomfortable. Jasmine was his one child that he didn't have a good rapport with. She was highly intelligent like her mother and wore her emotions on her sleeve just like her. But unlike Holiday, Jasmine seemed frightened by her father, always standing away from him or shrinking in fear of him. She was more at ease with her mother and enjoyed her company more. Right now she was distraught over the death of her guinea pig, Mr. Tinkles. Six was at a lost as how to comfort her. So he opted to stand aside and let Holiday do the comforting.
"I'm sorry about, Mr. Tinkles." Kenji said having a hard time keeping a straight face as he said the name.
Jasmine glared at him. "You never liked him especially after he went on you."
"That's why I like Mr. Tinkles. " Jade snickered.
Kenji threw a cushion at her. Jade plucked it out of the air and threw it back. Kenji swatted it away.
"Kids, knock it off. Your sister is grieving. How about a little respect?" Holiday snapped.
"Sorry, mom." Kenji and Jade chorused.
"We have to give him a funeral." Jasmine sniffed looking at her mother.
"Of course, honey." Holiday agreed. "We'll have it this afternoon."
Six started. "But it's raining." He protested.
Holiday shot him a glare. "What? You made out of sugar?"
Six had a retort on his tongue until he saw his daughter's face. It was of disappointment and resignation. The words died in his mouth and to his utter surprise he heard himself say, "I'll get the shovel."
0o0
"Dad, how deep does this hole have to be?" Kenji whined as he held the umbrella over his father.
Six and Kenji stood in the rain near the tree house. As Six dug up the wet dirt, he wished that they had gotten her a goldfish instead.
"This is good enough." Six said. He looked over to his wife and daughters huddled under the back porch waiting for him to finish digging. He nodded indicating he was done.
Rebecca opened up the umbrella and they made their way across the yard. Jasmine clutched her shoebox. She looked at the freshly dug shoebox-sized grave and started sobbing again. Six rolled his eyes. He can indulge. No one can see behind his shades anyway.
Jasmine knelt on the ground and reverently placed the box in the hole. She stood up. Six immediately started filling the hole.
"Wait!" Jasmine cried alarmed. Six stopped and looked at his daughter.
"I have to put flowers in first!" She pulled out a small wreath of daisies that she had made. Six mentally sighed and stepped back as she tossed the circlet of flowers in. He started to put dirt in the hole again when Jasmine put her hand up.
"We need to say a few words first!" She insisted.
"What?" Six asked.
"We can say them after dad buries the little pee bag." Kenji growled. He was tired of holding the umbrella.
Jasmine looked wounded and Jade jumped to her defense. "Shut up, Kenji. It's Jasmine's funeral. She can do whatever she wants."
Six could feel a headache starting between his eyes. "Jasmine!" He snapped.
Jasmine jumped fearfully and looked at her father.
"What do you want to say about your pet?" He said more gently.
"Oh," Jasmine seemed a little surprise that her father was not going to chew her out, "Umm." She pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. Six resisted the urge to bang his head against the tree.
"Mr. Tinkles, you were the best guinea pig in the world. I remember the day I got you. Dad had rescued you from an animal testing lab and when I first saw you I knew you'd be my best friend. You had the cutest little nose and a patch of fur the shape of a heart. Thank you for listening to my ideas and being willing to be apart of my experiments. Without you I'd never have won first place at last year's science fair. "Jasmine stifled a sob before continuing. "I'll miss you." Then she looked expectantly at the rest of her family. "Now you say something."
"You were such a happy guinea pig. You never caused any problems. You liked your carrots and lettuce. I'll miss your cute little face." Holiday went first.
"I liked how you use to run around in your cage and jump from the top level to the bottom like a furry ninja rodent." Jasmine said solemnly.
"I like how you can't pee on me any more." Kenji muttered under his breath. His mother shot him a death glare. Kenji sighed and said a little bit louder. "I'll miss your sense of humor."
Finally, everyone looked at Six. Six looked startled.
"You don't have to say anything dad." Jasmine said with a sigh.
Six cleared his throat, "Mr. Tinkles, I didn't know you very well, but you brought joy to my daughter and that alone made you a worthy addition to our family. We will miss you."
He took his shovel and buried the box. Jasmine looked at her father strangely. She went over and hugged him.
"Thanks dad." She said with her face buried in his chest.
"You're welcome." He answered while ruffling her hair. "Now let's get out of this god forsaken rain."
"Amen." Everyone responded walking back to the house.
"Can we get a dog?" Jasmine asked.
Every year around Easter my family goes to the grave sites of my deceased relatives to plant flowers and remember them. It's traditional. So this came to me as I stood in the rain with my sister's and my kids running around and my husband and brother-in-law trying to dig up the ground with me holding the umbrella trying not to let the run-off hit them. Fun, fun. Anyway, it's a hard balance writing about death. I don't want it to be morbid but there is something both funny and touching about funerals. I'm also trying to develop Six's and Jasmine's relationship. Hope you like it.