Chapter Two: A Funerary Meeting
"Oh, Sassette, I… really don't think Gargamel would have wanted me to be there… And it's too risky, I can't allow-"
"But Pappy," Sassette pleaded, "Please."
Papa Smurf nodded. "I know, I know…" he fell silent, lost in thought. "Okay, Sassette," he finally relented. "If it is that important to you… I'll go with you. I'll take you to the funeral."
Scruple was quite good at keeping them informed about the relevant information. It was unconventional, but he knew this was for Sassette.
That's how Papa Smurf found himself getting dressed up, for Gargamel. Well, no. Not for Gargamel. For Sassette.
Sassette wore a more formal outfit than her standard overalls too, and together, the two smurfs set off to attend Gargamel's funeral.
They arrived at the location that Scruple had told them about by following his instructions accordingly. They soon came across the former apprentice once they arrived, who was helping to set up.
"Oh… you're here," he said.
"Gee… There don't seem to be many people, huh?" Sassette said, looking about. Papa Smurf had been concerned about being in the presence of other humans and possibly attracting unwanted attention, but such fears seemed to be unfounded with such sparse attendance.
Scruple's eyes went over the room. "Ah, some others will probably arrive soon… I think."
A young woman with long, black hair approached Scruple. "Balthazar's informed me that he won't be able to make it today," she told him.
Scruple hardly bothered to conceal his disapproving sigh. "Of course he… Alright."
The woman felt a tug at her long dress before she was able to turn and walk off again. Once she saw the source of the tug, she let out a gasp. "Sassette!"
"D-Denisa…? Tapdancin' turtles, ya look so different all grown up now, but ya still remember me," the smurfling smiled.
"Why of course I remember you, Sassette. How could I forget my bestest friend? Wow, I wasn't expecting to see you today… glad you could make it."
"From the looks of things, it looks like not many people did make it…"
"Oh, well, you know Gargamel… Always kept to himself, really."
"Well that's one way of putting it," Scruple muttered.
"But there's going to be more people than this," Denisa reassured her. "I've got some associates coming, not to mention that a funeral isn't complete without some official Funerary Attendees."
"What d'ya mean?" Sassette asked, confused.
At length, Denisa knelt down closer to the ground. "They attend the service, and pay their respects, and even offer their comfort during such a difficult point in people's lives when called upon. Kind of like a hired mourner… but without all the wailing."
Scruple sighed again. "You're making it sound normal, and not like the reality, which is that you happened to have connections to people that have decided to make it their business to attend funerals for a living. But you insisted, and it sounded respectable enough, so…"
Denisa shushed him. "I think some of them are arriving now… I'll go over to them."
"I don't know where she finds these people," Scruple remarked as she walked off. "I'd never heard of something like it before."
"You mean… they're comin' here today but… they never even met Pappy Gargamel before?" Sassette asked softly.
"Yeah. The place will look… more full. Probably a respectable enough send-off that Gargy would have appreciated."
Sassette looked up at Scruple, unsure of exactly how he must have been feeling in that moment. "I think you'll really miss Pappy Gargamel, right? You must care a whole lot, to have been so involved in the organising of all this."
"If I didn't, then who else would?" Scruple replied. "You know, Gargy took care of me for many years… He didn't take care of me very well though. Actually, he treated me pretty badly. That's just how it is sometimes, I guess. But in the end, he had no one else, which is kinda sad when you think about it. No one except the kid he mistreated for so long." He then remembered who he was talking to, and realised now was probably not the time to unload years of emotional baggage. "Uh… but if I'm being honest, yeah, I guess I'm kinda gonna miss him."
Papa Smurf stepped in. "If I may speak," he said politely, "I find it slightly surprising that you were so receptive to Sassette and I's attendance today. You were very helpful, and don't seem to have any ulterior motive."
Scruple allowed himself a brief laugh. "What, you'd think I'd try and capture you or something? That was Gargy's thing. The only way I take after him these days is in being a failed wizard. You know, I never really actually cared about capturing any of you." He finished off with a shrug. "Anyway, I think the service is starting soon, so you two should probably take a seat."
"Scruple didn't seem to have many nice things to say," Sassette commented to Papa once they were out of earshot, "And I thought that, on today of all days, you're supposed to say nice things, and even if you do have mean things to say… that you're still not supposed to say 'em."
Papa Smurf put a hand on Sassette's shoulder. "I think Scruple might be dealing with a lot of complicated and contradictory feelings right now. But you're right – he's put in effort organising this for Gargamel, which certainly means something. He says that Gargamel had no one else… but when Scruple was a child, I think he had no one else either."
They found a relatively unobtrusive place to sit down. Papa had come prepared lest anything went wrong, so now he could ease his mind and just focus on being there for Sassette. He was about to reassure her further, but the service began before he could continue. She managed to remain mostly dry-eyed throughout the ceremony, Papa Smurf right there next to her at every stage. No one appeared to pay them any mind or really notice the two small, blue creatures at the otherwise uneventful funeral. They both sat in silence, and then, after some time, the proceedings were over.
As people began to get up from their seats, Sassette blinked, looked about, as if waking up from some kind of trance. The woman that had been sitting next to them was one of the few who still remained seated, like them. Sassette looked at her curiously, and then their eyes met.
"Hello, there," the woman said gently.
"Hello… Um, did you… know Pa- Gargamel?" Sassette asked.
The woman looked back at her sadly. "Oh, I didn't, I'm sorry. I never met the man, but I'm sure he was wonderful. I take it the two of you were rather close to him?"
Papa Smurf decided not to correct her.
"No one… Hardly anyone here who came today knew him. And even the people who did… it was like they didn't even care!" Sassette wiped a tear from her eye. "I think he deserved to have more people who really cared about him. Maybe then he would have been nicer."
"It looks like you have a very big heart," said the woman. "And I think Gargamel was very lucky to have made a friend like you."
Sassette looked at her lap. "Why are you here?" she asked. "If you didn't even know Pappy Gargamel…"
The woman at last introduced herself. "My name is Roesia, and I'm a professional mourner. Lately, a couple of other professional mourners as well as myself have been trying something different and extending our services, where we'll come and pay our respects but we're also here to talk to if you need it, and it seems like right now, you need it."
Papa Smurf spoke up. "I don't want to sound in any way impolite, but wouldn't introducing yourself as a mourner somewhat defeat the purpose?"
"We want to be open about what we are – we don't want to deceive anyone. We are important aids both spiritually and ceremonially. But if we're asked to not be so open about that, of course we're going to respect that. I can't speak for other mourners outside of my circle, however."
"It must be quite something."
"Yes, and it's always interesting, the kinds of people you meet at funerals," Roesia said casually. There was a slight glint in her eyes.
"Well we're not exactly people, are we, Pappy?" Sassette pointed out.
Roesia laughed good-naturedly. "Yes, I suppose not. But it was still a pleasure to meet you."
"Ah, Roesia," it was Denisa again. "Thanks for everything. Are you able to come and help us pack up?"
"Of course," Roesia stood up.
"Ooh, and I see you've met Sassette!" excitement slipped through Denisa's voice, but she kept it mostly subdued, given where they were.
"Sassette…" Roesia did her best to shake her hand, albeit awkwardly given their relative size differences, and then she shook Papa's too. "It was a delight."
"Wow, I like your necklace!" Sassette said. Roesia's movements had shifted the previously obscured piece of jewellery into view.
"Ah, thank you," Roesia said, hastily tucking it back out of sight, "It helps me to see."
"Huh…" Sassette said curiously, but Roesia was already getting up to leave.
So at that, the smurfs and the humans bid each other farewell, and Sassette gave the now-grown Denisa a big hug.
They went to say goodbye to Scruple, too, before they left.
"Thanks again for letting us come, Scruple," Sassette told him. "And… I wish you all the best. Hope things go well for you."
Scruple was a little taken off-guard. "Uh… yeah, me too I guess. And you… too?" he made a face, even at his own words. "You know, I don't know what old Gargy ever did to deserve your goodness… the guy really should've appreciated you more. Oh well. Yeesh, I've really gotta get going…"
Sassette smiled at that, and the two smurfs waved as they walked away from him.
"Goodbye Sassette, goodbye… Papa Smurf," Scruple said awkwardly, finding himself waving too.