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A/n this chapter takes place at the end of "If the Shoe Fits."

Death

Dad and I went to the park today. Dad said that Uncle Spencer was going to meet us and that we could play on the equipment. I was glad because I miss seeing Uncle Spencer. Dad said I could take the new bike I got for my birthday. I have to wear pads and a helmet because Dad and Mommy said that it keeps me safe. Sometimes Dad and Mommy ride with me, and they wear helmets too.

Uncle Spencer has an old car that makes me laugh when I see it. Uncle Spencer pretended to be sad when I laughed, but then he said that the car could do magic too. I'm not sure what that means, but Uncle Spencer said that old things could take us places, just like the Tardis on Doctor Who. He said that they could remind us of what life used to be like before we were born. I wish Uncle Spencer's car were the Tardis in disguise.

We met Uncle Spencer as soon as we got to the park. I was so glad to see him, and I was happy when I got to hug him.

"Hi, Henry."

"Hi, Uncle Spencer."

"Hey, Spencer," Dad said, and they shook hands.

Why do people shake hands? I decided I would ask Uncle Spencer one day. I told Dad I wanted to go on the swings.

"Be careful," Dad hollered as we went to the swings.

Dad always finds his friends and talks to them while I play because he said that swings and slides are meant for kids. He pushes me on the swings when I ask, but never goes on the slides. I told him that I think big people should play too.

Uncle Spencer and I went to the swings, and he pushed me for a little while. I like to get pushed on the swing because I can go high and see lots of interesting things around the park. Today I saw another mommy kicking a soccer ball around for another little boy like my Mommy does for me.

"Uncle Spencer."

"Hm, you okay, Henry." Uncle Spencer watched me as the swing started to stop.

"Yeah, I saw another little boy playing soccer with his mommy."

"Oh, you like to play with your mommy, right."

"Yeah."

Uncle Spencer looked at me, and I saw his eyes were curious. "What's wrong, bud?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, well, let's go see if the slide is free."

I went to the slide, and Uncle Spencer watched me play with Johnny, who came with his dad. We played for a while, but I didn't feel good, so I got down and went to Uncle Spencer.

Uncle Spencer is very smart. He always knows when I don't feel good. He took my hand and led me to a bench in the sun because it was a cold day. "You want to talk."

I nodded my head. "Mommy and Gramma were mad at each other."

I saw Uncle Spencer sigh. "I know, bud. Your mommy told me what happened. I'm sure they'll make up their quarrel."

"Mommy and Dad said that Mommy was sad because Gramma told me that Aunty Rosaline is in a better place. Mommy said we couldn't visit her because she died and we can't see her."

"Yes, that's true, Henry. Every living thing has to die, just like every living thing is born."

"Dad said everything dies to make room for others to have a chance to live. Why can't everything live all the time together."

Uncle Spencer hugged me to his side. "Because there are too many living creatures to stay on this planet we live on. The world is a huge place, but not so large that it can support billions and billions of people and plants and animals."

"Why?"

"Henry, have you ever ridden the train when it's time for people to work."

I nodded because I remember that Dad took me to the city when he had a day off. There were lots of people, and they had to stand all around us, and I couldn't see the other side of the windows until some of them got off the train. I was scared, but Dad kept hold of my hand, and he smiled. He told me lots of stories about Washington DC, and I forgot to feel afraid.

"Dadsaid it was rush hour and everyone had to go to work. They stood all around us, and every seat was taken."

"Did you like all the people around you?"

"No," I shook my head. "I thought it was scary and my tummy felt upset."

"If all the people that were born on earth still lived here, it would be like that train only a million times worse."

"Oh, I don't like that. I like to have my room and a place to play soccer with Mommy."

"Me too, buddy. It's nice to have a place you can go and be alone if you want."

"Is that where Aunty Rosaline went," I asked.

"Well Henry, some people believe in a place called Heaven. You see, they believe that everyone has a soul, and that soul lives on after death, but in a place, we can't go to until we die, too."

"Do you believe in Heaven and that we have souls, Uncle Spencer."

"Yes," Uncle Spencer said, and his eyes began to get shiny. "I know we do."

"Are you sad?" I didn't want him to be sad, so I hugged his arm.

"No, not very," Uncle Spencer said. "I had a friend that I loved, and she had to go away to Heaven."

"Oh, did she like magic."

Uncle Spencer cleared his throat and sighed. "I don't know, Henry. We weren't friends very long, and I never got the chance to do magic for her."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay because sometimes I feel like she's still with me, or looking out for me."

"Mommy said that when she looks at the moon, she thinks of Aunty Rosaline because they said that they'd always look at the moon and think of each other. Can a person that dies, see us?"

"I don't know, but I hope they can."

"You should do some magic for your friend, and maybe she'll see, and you won't be sad."

Uncle Spencer wiped at his face. His eyes had tears, but he smiled. "I think that's a great idea. Why don't we do magic together and maybe Maeve will see the trick and be happy, too."

"Yay," I cheered and Uncle Spencer stopped wiping his eyes.

"How about we do magic when you go for a nap, and we can be by ourselves in your room."

"Yeah, I like it."

Uncle Spencer hugged me, and he said. "Thank you, Henry. I love you very much."

"I love you too, Uncle Spencer."

Dad came over after a while and said it was time for the last bike ride and then we had to go home. Uncle Spencer watched us ride around the park. He said that he would have to get a bike, too. I hope he does because I want him to ride with me and always feel happy. I can't wait to go home and see the magic trick for Maeve.