Prompt 43- Music

Continuation of the last chapter.

...

A few days after Squidward's death, a small crowd were huddled by an open grave, surrounded by several floral tributes and music sheets- laminated- of Squidward's favourite musical pieces.

SpongeBob couldn't stop crying- he had been through a lot of tissues and he was unsure of whether he could face up to Squidward not being around anymore.

A life without Squidward was suddenly looking empty.

Sandy put her paw on her friend's shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly. SpongeBob looked up at her. She looked as though she longed to say something, but could not find any words befitting their situation.

The two watched silently as Squidward's coffin was carried to its resting place. Mr Krabs, Patrick and Larry Lobster were amongst the pall bearers.

Patrick shot a concerned look at SpongeBob. He had wanted to be with his best friend- but Mr. Krabs had agreed for him and Patrick to help carry the coffin to the grave when the funeral was being arranged.

Patrick had been unable to back out of it in time.

...

The coffin was lowered, and Patrick made his way over to SpongeBob, where Mr. Krabs was already talking to SpongeBob. But as Patrick weaved through Squidward's relatives and narrowly avoided running into Squilliam Fancyson, he thought he heard music.

But no one present had an instrument with them.

What was more, it sounded like a clarinet. Patrick looked around wildly, hoping to find whom was playing it- but he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Giving up, he continued his way to join his friends.

"...look, laddie, I know this wouldn't be easy for either of us, but both out of respect for Mr. Squidward and for us to heal, I'm closing the Krusty Krab for a time."

SpongeBob couldn't vocalise any objections or agreements- his throat was too hoarse from crying.

"I'm sorry, SpongeBob."

"SpongeBob!"

Sandy, SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs looked behind them as Patrick came to join them. "Hey, Pat," SpongeBob replied dully.

"Hey Patrick," Sandy and Mr. Krabs added.

"Hi," Patrick replied, distracted. "SpongeBob, can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure, pal," SpongeBob confirmed, and the two left, leaving their friends alone. "What is it, Pat?"

Patrick told SpongeBob about the music. "SpongeBob, I know it sounds crazy, but I could have sworn I heard it! And it sounded like Squidward!"

SpongeBob was conflicted. On the one hand, he wanted to call Patrick out on his beliefs, say that it was a lie- Squidward was in his coffin.

On the other hand, Patrick, though he had done things that made him act like a jerk, he would never stoop so low as to tell lies at someone's funeral- especially at a funeral of the neighbour they loved so much. After all, Patrick had cared about Squidward too.

"When?"

"When what?"

"When did you hear it?" SpongeBob asked.

But before Patrick could answer, the jovial sounds of the clarinet began again.

"There it is!" Yelled Patrick, causing much bemusement from the other mourners. SpongeBob was alarmed.

"Patrick, shush! Keep it down!" the poriferan hissed, his blue eyes wide with shock. "I heard it too! And you're right- it does sound like Squidward. But how...?"

"You boys alright?"

SpongeBob and Patrick jumped as Mr. Krabs loomed in front of them. "Um...yeah, we're fine...Mr. Krabs." SpongeBob lied weakly. The crustacean frowned, but didn't press the matter.

...

For the rest of the day, the two friends didn't hear the clarinet music, and when night fell they agreed to stay at SpongeBob's house for the night.

"Squidward's house looks so empty," SpongeBob said quietly, looking out of his bedroom window at the octopus's empty house.

"Yeah...smells empty too," Patrick added. SpongeBob frowned at this odd statement, but let it drop and the pair went to SpongeBob's bedroom to sleep, where Gary and Snellie were already sleeping.

When Squidward died, his will said that the octopus wanted SpongeBob to become Snellie's legal guardian, for he didn't know anyone else who would look after her. SpongeBob was willing to open his heart to another snail- and now Snellie was here to stay.

"Goodnight, Pat," Said SpongeBob sleepily.

"Goodnight SpongeBob," Replied Patrick wearily. The two got into bed and lay there for a while, allowing their thoughts to course through their minds.

"Patrick?"

"Yes, SpongeBob?" the starfish asked.

"Do you think we'll see Squid in our dreams?" SpongeBob asked.

"Well, I hope so, buddy," Patrick answered with a nod. "It'd be nice to see him again."

"Yeah. We never got to tell him we love him." SpongeBob added. "So, if we see him in our dreams, that's what I'm going to tell him."

"Me too."

And so, the two friends eventually fell asleep, lulled by the sound of clarinet music drifting in from the window, where a white-blue glow illuminated the night.