Chapter 99
A bad penny turns up
Roger had picked up Freya from her weekly practice session with the University of Portland's women's volleyball team, the Portland Pilots.
She was now a sophomore in high school and at 15, stood well over 8 feet tall. Wearing the usual 'Portland grunge' look of faded jeans, scuffed up sneakers, a sleeveless knit top and a long sleeved plaid shirt over that.
She looked fairly typical for a teen living in Portland, even if she was a giantess out of Norse mythology, a Jotun maiden.
Roger slowed for their driveway and as they entered it, the van's headlight beams swept across an old Dodge van with out of state license plates.
Roger pulled up alongside the old van and after glancing at the occupant, gritted his teeth and muttered, "What th' hell?! How'd she find me?"
He glanced at Freya and said firmly, "Do not get out of this van...Let me deal with her, I don't want an incident."
He paused a moment and said, "I mean it, don't interfere!"
Freya nodded that she understood and asked, "Who is she?"
"One of my exes, just sit tight until she leaves. If she sees you get of this van, she'll likely claim I had you threaten her or something."
Roger exited his van just as she exited her van.
She was a tall, slender brunette and at one time, was quite the beauty.
She took a drag on her cigarette, exhaled slowly and said with a smile, "Hello lover, it's been awhile... Aren't you going to hug me?"
Roger replied cooly, "Hugs are for the people I care about and I stopped loving you a long time ago, so let's drop the terms of endearment, shall we?"
She pouted briefly and said quietly, "Oooh, that's cold. I guess I had that one coming."
"Now that we are finally in agreement, what is it that you want?"
Taking another drag, she exhaled the noxious fume and replied," I was hoping that you'd have some room, but I'll take some cash to tide me over..."
Roger chuckled and remarked frankly, "You haven't changed a bit have you Marlena? Always running a game, only now, time's caught up with you and the younger women are pushing you aside."
Marlena appeared to sag as he spoke and she replied, "I see you're still the same, somehow you're always right and I really hated that about you."
Roger shrugged and muttered, "I wasn't always right, you sure showed me that."
She looked up at the big house looming over the neighborhood and commented, "I see you've done alright, living in a mansion and all."
"Don't be impressed, it's not mine, I just take care of the place for the museum I work at. I'm still the semi-broke guy you left for a richer man all those years ago."
Marlena grimaced and muttered, "And he left me for the next year's model as well. I did get a good alimony deal but that's all over now and all I've got left is this van."
Roger shrugged and remarked, "Then you'd better take care of it until you find a place to land, there's no room for you here."
He glanced at the big house and quipped, "Every room's accounted for, I'm afraid."
Marlena looked skeptical and commented, "I find that a little hard to believe when I see only the one vehicle parked here."
"Not everyone who lives here, drives, and some of the others who stay here are out of town right now...Now, I can give you some money just this one time, but this bridge got burned by you a long time ago and there's no going back. I am in a very good place in my life now and you, are no longer a part of it."
Marlena took a long drag on her cigarette, held it in a moment and exhaled through her nostrils.
"How much can you give me? I'm headed south."
Roger thumbed through his wallet and said crisply,"Three hundred... Take it or leave it."
Marlena shrugged, dropped her cigarette and stepped on it with a pedicured, sandalled foot.
Holding out a nicely manicured hand she said, "I'll take it."
Wordlessly Roger handed her the money, reached down and picked up her cigarette butt before tossing it into the open window of her van.
Marlena smiled wistfully and said hopefully, "No hug goodbye?"
"Sorry, I'm fresh out...Good luck and please, don't come back. You're not welcome here. Forget you know where I am...Seriously."
Marlena grimaced and muttered, "Damn...That's cold. Well, thanks anyway and try not to hate me. I made a big mistake and now I'm paying the price."
Roger smiled slightly and replied, "You're welcome and I don't hate you, I forgave you a long time ago. I just don't have room in my life for you, that ship is gone now."
Marlena tucked the money into her bra and climbed into her old van.
Starting it up she saw Freya emerging from Roger's van to stand alongside him, her towering form looming over both of them by two and a half feet.
On her pretty face, a pleasant smile.
Marlena chuckled as she looked the younger woman up and down with a frankness that bordered on obscene.
"I see now why you have no room here, you're living with the ultimate dream girl for leg men and femdom fetishists."
She threw the van into gear and commented tartly, "It must feel pretty good lying between those long legs at night!"
The van surged forward and exited the driveway before disappearing down the tree lined street.
A few moments later Freya remarked, "That war rude, does she hink we sleep taegaither?"
"That was typical of my first ex-wife. I have no idea of where my second ex-wife could be and I am fine with that. Marlena was a real piece of work and I hadn't thought of her in ages, seeing her again brought back a lot of very unpleasant memories."
Roger smiled at his towering companion, "I'm afraid I gave her the grocery money, but it got rid of a real headache for all of us."
Taking her much larger hand in his own, he smiled at the young giantess and said,"I certainly didn't tell her about us, she just made a lucky guess...Now, let's go tell Silky what happened to the grocery money..."
Freya smiled at him and said quietly, "Ah dornt hink she'll mind, uir pantry is well stocked."
Roger chuckled, "Our pantry may be well stocked, but all those hungry pups of Sasha's can go through a 50 lb bag of kibble in no time at all."
Freya smiled at the thought of Sasha and Golden eyes' last litter and their prodigious appetites.
"Ah hink we're okay wi' whit we hae."
Roger glanced down the street and mused, "Thank goodness she didn't try to barge into the house...I hate to think what Silky would have done to stop her!"
"Aye, th' Silver Lady can be verra scary at times." Muttered Freya.
Chapter 99.5
A sad day
When Roger finally saw Freya emerging from the school's front gate, he saw at once that something was amiss.
His normally cheerful companion had a somber expression on her face and her entire aspect was one of sadness.
What had happened? He wondered.
As she drew near, he could see tears in her eyes as she fought back her anguish.
Moments later Freya was seated inside their van and buckled in.
Leaving the school zone and heading home again.
Roger asked quietly, "What happened?"
Freya's response was almost a whisper as she said, "Lorna's grain mammy passed awa' lest nicht, it was huir uv a peaceful."
She paused, "She died in 'er sleep an' she's wi' 'er guidman noo."
Freya looked over at him and said, "Ah didne see 'er at skale today an' when Ah called 'er at lunch time, she tauld me whit happened."
Roger winced as he heard the news.
Freya and Lorna's grandmother had formed a very special bond and he well remembered seeing the tiny Japanese born woman all bundled up against the cold as she sat in the chair reserved for the crone aspect of the three goddesses, during Freya's now annual mid winter's solstice observation event.
Her tiny face all smiles as she took in the experience.
She loved sharing her 'secret family recipes' with Freya and the towering girl loved experiencing her cooking.
She would be sorely missed.
"So, what do you want to do?" he asked knowing that Freya would wish to help out in some fashion.
"Ah wish tae pay me respects but am nae sure ay whit tae dae."
Nodding in response Roger said quietly, "You can either ask Lorna herself or we can ask at their family's Buddhist temple for advice."
He looked over at his towering companion and saw that she was silently weeping, her tear streaked face a mask of sorrow.
Roger said softly, "We'll be home soon baby girl. We'll be home soon."
Freya sobbed as her emotions rose to the fore and she finally allowed herself to cry.
She had held her emotions in check for hours after learning of her friend's passing, she would not allow the queen bee types to see her crying while in school.
They were not going to enjoy themselves at her expense, not over the death of a cherished friend.
Arriving home, Freya all but ran into the house, her tears freely flowing now.
Sasha hovered nearby ready to be held if Freya needed a furry shoulder to cry on. Silky quietly brewed up some herbal tea and placed a cup on Freya's night stand next to her bed.
She stood next to the enormous bed while Freya wept, then tenderly covered the weeping youg giantess with a blanket.
Roger called Lorna's father Tohru, to convey his condolences.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mom, Freya told me on the way home from school."
Tohru replied, "Thank you for calling. She passed away last night in her sleep, it was a good death, a peaceful one."
Roger said, "Freya wants to help but doesn't know what she can do."
Tohru chuckled and said quietly, "My mom really loved that girl of yours, she always got such a kick out of seeing her enjoying her cooking so much."
He said, "Mom would break out her own grandmother's cook books just for Freya, it was almost unfair really, but I got to see and taste family recipes I'd never seen before. Freya had that sort of an effect on my mother."
Roger chuckled and replied, "Freya does have that sort of effect on people and I'm glad she got to know your mom, they became such good friends over time."
"So what can we do?" asked Roger.
"You are invited to the wake which will be at four o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Nichiren Shu Buddhist Temple, our family's church." replied Tohru.
"Is wearing black okay?"
Tohru chuckled slightly, "Of course, black is always appropriate."
Roger remarked, "I just wanted to make sure as I'm not familiar with Japanese Buddhist funeral practices. I'd hate to show up wearing all black when Hawaiian shirts are called for."
Tohru chuckled and replied, "Yes, that would be an unfortunate choice for a funeral. You would be the topic of discussion for some time to come."
Roger laughed and said, "And I would richly deserve it!"
"Anything else I need to know?"
"We have a tradition of giving condolence money to the bereaved. It doesn't have to be a large amount given the nature of our family's relationships, and there are special envelopes available at the temple."
"Gotcha."
Tohru said quietly, "My mother is with my father now and I am sure she is telling him all about her rambunctious granddaughter and her gigantic friend who likely added years to her life by appreciating her so much. And for that, we are grateful."
Roger smiled to himself and said, "We'll see you all tomorrow at four."
Hanging up the phone, Roger quickly jotted down a list of what they needed for the wake.
While he did have a black suit and tie, Freya did not have a black dress although she did have the black robes as worn by the crone representative for the winter solstice event.
They would have to do with suitable modifications.
Black shoes in her size would be harder to find on such short notice.
Where was Anita or better yet, Silky?
They would know what to do.
Leaving his study he found Silky quietly stitching away on some black cloth, her delicate fingers working diligently on her project.
He had a feeling she was way ahead of him in that regard, Silky was just that way, always way ahead of him.
He asked anyway, "Is that for Freya to wear tomorrow?"
The slight nod of her pastel shaded bonnet was her reply.
"Thank you Silky" he murmured as he went in search of Anita, assuming she was home.
He hadn't seen her at school when he picked up Freya and he figured she had some after school writing club thing going on.
Anita had joined the writing club and often stayed late at school editing someone's work for them.
They still had no idea she was actually A. Larsen, author of several new young adult series novels and collaborator with Anna Karlsen on some more adult themed Gothic romance novels.
Lost in thought, he nearly collided with Anita who had just arrived home and was entering the house they all shared.
Anita's eyes were reddened also.
"I see you heard the news..." He said.
Anita nodded and said, "I got a text from Lorna a little while ago and came home early for once."
She sighed and remarked, "The club will just have to do without me for a couple of days, this is more important."
Roger smiled at her and asked, "I know you have black clothing for tomorrow and Silky is working on something for Freya. Is there anything we can do about black shoes for her tomorrow? Her usual scuffed up sneakers just won't do."
Anita thought for a few moments and said, "I have some black glove leather, I think I can make some covers for her shoes that should last through whatever it is they do at Japanese Buddhist wakes."
"That would be perfect!" replied Roger.
He knocked gently on Freya's door before entering her room.
Hearing her say, "Yes?! Who is it?"
He entered her room and said, "I need you to put on some shorts, we need to go shopping, you and I."
At her puzzled expression he replied, "You'll need some black stockings for tomorrow. Silky's working on your dress and Anita's going to modify a pair of your shoes as well."
"Me dress, whit dress?" she asked.
"Silky's altering your black robes for the crone aspect as it is the only thing here that will fit you."
"Ah"
Freya got up to go wash her face to wash away her tears, while Roger got his keys and wallet.
"Whaur ur we gang?" she asked as they left the house.
Roger smiled and replied, "The only place I can think of would be a Lane Bryant store, they've got clothing for large women in general.
"Although I don't think they would have anything in your size, we may be able to find a pair of black stocking that might be large enough."
Freya nodded and asked, "Whit is happening tomorrow? I huvnae talked tae Lorna since lunchtime."
Roger replied, "I spoke to her dad and he told me what we'll need to do tomorrow at the wake. We've been invited to pay our respects at their church where the wake and vigil is being held."
"Ah"
A short time later they entered the Lane Bryant store at the mall and once Freya straightened up to her full height again, the sales staff collectively gasped.
What did they have in stock that could possibly fit a girl well over eight feet tall, even if she was slender for her size?
The floor manager fluttered up to them and said apologetically, "Oh dear, I'm afraid we don't have anything that could fit you dearie."
Roger smiled at the woman and said, "What we are looking for is a pair of black stockings that would reach up to her knees, we're hoping that you'll have thigh highs that might work."
The woman looked thoughtful for a few moments and she said, "We do have stockings for women up to over six feet tall, in fact we sell stockings to some of the senior women's volleyball team at Portland U."
Freya grinned and said, "Ah ken some ay th' girls oan 'at team, Ah wark it wi' them regularly."
The woman blinked a couple of times, then said, "That's quite an accent you have, are you Scottish?"
"Ah'm nae Scottish, Ah'm frae Canada." replied the towering young giantess.
"Oh"
The woman looked around and said, "Come with me, I think I have just the thing."
They fell in behind her as she strode towards the stockings and leggings department.
Moments later she stopped at a display and perused its wares while muttering to herself, "I think I saw them here, or was it somewhere else I saw them?"
Finally she exclaimed, "Ah! Here they are!" as she reached out and plucked a package from its hook.
Turning towards them she held the small package out and said, "These are the longest black stockings we have in stock, I can get bigger ones but it'll be a couple of days for them to arrive..."
Roger replied, "Unfortunately we need them tomorrow afternoon, they're for a funeral, sad to say."
The woman frowned and said, "I'm sorry to hear that, immediate family?"
"Nae, she was a friend ay th' family's grandmother." Replied Freya.
The woman said quietly, "It's still a sad occasion."
She sighed and said, "Okay, let's try these on to see if they'll work out for you?" as she opened the package.
Freya sat down in the chair offered to her and slipped off her sandals.
The woman handed her a stocking and Freya slipped her long right leg into it as far as it would go.
Moments later she repeated the performance then stood up to see how they looked on her.
The woman stood there quietly for a moment, then said, "You have such beautiful, long legs..."
She suddenly said, "I know I shouldn't do this but, I'm going to any way..."
She looked up at Freya and asked, "May I take a picture of you? My store manager is not going to believe this when I tell her about you."
Freya shrugged and said, "Ah dornt min', ye wooldsnae be th' first tae tak' me picture, at least ye asked first."
The woman grinned and said cheerfully, "You, my dear, are going to become a store legend!"
Moments later, half of the store's employees had gathered together to pose for a few photos of themselves and Freya Sigurdsdottir wearing the black stockings she was going to buy.
Afterwards as she slipped them off to put them away, Roger asked, "How much do I owe you?"
The woman chuckled and said gaily, "Are you kidding? Those are on me, you just gave us quite the free ad just now. She's the tallest customer in our company's history and we just happened to have what you were looking for in stock!"
On their way home from the mall, Roger and Freya stopped at an ATM and withdrew some money for the condolence money offering.
Tucking the cash into an envelope Roger commented, "I wasn't sure how much to give them but figured a coupla hundred would be enough."
Freya said quietly, "Ah hae some money stashed in me room, Ah can help some."
Roger smiled and said, "I think they'll appreciate your being there to pay your respects."
Freya sighed and said quietly, "She war loch a granny tae me, always sharin' 'er scran wi' me an' tellin' me stories frae 'er childhood loch me own granny used tae dae."
She paused, "Ah'm gang tae miss 'er."
Entering the house once more, Freya was waylaid by Silky wanting her to try on the outfit she was working on and Anita wanting her to see what she had done to her shoes.
Roger slipped away and began looking into their dinner.
He ordered pizza.
Minutes after hanging up the house phone. Dena came and got him, she came into his study and said, "Come see whit they've dain fur 'er ootfit, Ah hink yoo'll loch it!"
Roger smiled at his tiny companion and followed her into the front parlour where Silky and Anita had set up shop.
There stood Freya admidst snippets of glove leather and black knit silk fabric.
Dena smiled at him and said, "Weel, whit dae ye hink? Quite th' transformation eh?"
Transformation was hardly the word for what Roger saw.
Gone was the slightly awkward, gangly girl he'd known for over five years and in her place, stood a towering young beauty clad in a simple black outfit.
It was a simple sleeveless dress that hugged her figure down to her waist then flared out slightly and came down to just below her knees.
With the dress was a short sleeved buttonlessjacket that ended just above her slender waist
Sheer black stockings covered her long slender legs and she wore ballet flat type shoes to protect her feet.
Her yard long braids were coiled up into a knot on the back of her head and confined by a black mesh hairnet.
The effect was simple elegance, not flash.
Roger's breath caught in his throat as he finally saw the beauty Freya would become and all he could do was gawk at her, his glib tongue stilled for once.
"Damn..." was all he could manage at first.
And at the baffled expressions on all their faces, he said thickly.
"I've lived with you for all these years Freya and today, it's as if I am finally seeing you for the first time."
He smiled and continued, "I always knew that you would be a beauty in your time, I just didn't think it would take a funeral for that time to arrive."
At his words, Freya blushed freely and said shyly, "Thenk ye, Ah feel sae different noo, aw dressed up."
He turned towards Silky and Anita, placed his hands over his heart and said, "You ladies are miracle workers and all I can say is thank you!"
Clearing his throat, Roger said, "The wake starts at four tomorrow afternoon and a vigil will be kept for those who wish to stay overnight."
He looked around and continued, "If any of you decide to attend the vigil, I'd suggest bringing a warm jacket and perhaps a thermos full of a hot beverage. The funeral itself will take place the very next day and we will be attending it as well."
Freya cleared her throat and asked, "Whit happens efter th' funeral?
"The casket is sealed then it is taken via hearse to the crematorium, then the immediate family takes care of the rest."
"Ah"
Anita at that point spoke up, "Freya, I need those shoes back as I wasn't quite finished with them and I'm pretty sure Silky wants to finish up your dress before tomorrow."
Roger excused himself to answer the door as the pizza had just arrived in time for Warren Johnson to show up at meal time.
While Roger and Warren noshed on the pizzas Roger had ordered, Anita, Silky and Freya continued working on her outfit for tomorrow.
They paused occasionally to snag a slice of the cheesy concoction baked onto the round doughy crust and duck back into the front parlour, impromptu workroom.
(Sasha and Golden eyes and their two pups Axel and Astrid, were snoozing in the living room for the nonce. )
Staying only long enough to say, "It's coming along nicely, we'll be done fairly soon!"
Roger nodded his acknowledgement and continued noshing.
Warren asked quietly, "Did I ever meet Lorna's grandmother?"
"Probably, she would play the part of the crone during Freya's winter solstice observances. She always got such a kick out being invited to attend."
Warren smiled and replied, "I remember her now, she was always all bundled up, her eyes just twinkling in merriment."
Roger chuckled and said, "From what I hear she was quite the character in her own right and of all her grandchildren, Lorna takes after her the most."
"So, who all is going tomorrow?"
"Well, myself and Freya for sure, I imagine Anita will be invited to come as she knows Lorna through shared classes and all."
"Ah"
Just before four o'clock they arrived at the Nichiren Shu Buddhist temple and parked where directed.
Roger reached up and adjusted his tie before he said, "Welp, we're here shall we go in?"
He opened his door and stepped out, then stepped over to Freya's side of the van and held the door for her and Anita.
Lorna spotted them and came up to the van dressed in a black kimono.
She paused and bowed slightly before saying softly, "Thank you so much for coming."
Roger smiled at her and replied, " My condolences on your grandmother's passing. It is our pleasure to be here, even if it is a sad occasion."
Anita stepped out first, wearing a black linen outfit of her making.
Moments later, Freya emerged from the van and Lorna gaped.
Freya was wearing the outfit Silky and Anita had worked so hard on and she looked very nice in it.
Standing just about eight and a half feet tall, wearing the outfit freshly made for her, she looked stunning by any body's standards.
Lorna murmured, "Damn, you really clean up nicely girl. I really mean it."
She grinned, "Those queen bee types would be sooo jealous of you."
The two friends hugged tenderly and Lorna said, "I wish my granny could've seen you all dressed up, you look really nice."
Freya smiled at her old friend and said, "Ah hink she's lookin' doon oan us an' smilin' at hoo nicely we swatch, when we need tae."
Lorna smiled at Freya and replied, "I think so too, let's go inside, you guys are the guests I was waiting for. The rest are just family and business associates of my parents."
Joining hands, Lorna and Freya led the way into the small Buddhist temple while politely ignoring the sidelong glances at Freya's towering height and Norse goddess beauty.
Roger offered his arm to Anita and they followed close behind.
Lorna's parents greeted them and her mother murmured, "Thank you so much for coming, we appreciate your being here for her."
Roger smiled and said softly, "You have our deepest condolences, this is the least we can do, Akane and Freya were very close, almost like grandmother and granddaughter close. She will be missed."
At that, Roger reached inside his suit jacket, took out the silver and black envelope and presented it to Lorna's mother with both hands and a slight bow of respect.
"From all of us." he said as she took the envelope with both hands and bowed in return.
"Thank you" she murmured in reply.
The service began with the priest chanting a sutra while the family and guests began offering stick incense to the deceased three times.
There was a brief moment of confusion when Lorna insisted that Freya offer incense with the family and when one of her cousins wondered why, she was told.
"Freya had a very special bond with our grandmother, she was almost like a grandchild to her, that's why!"
Roger and the rest of the friends made their offerings at the incense urn reserved for the guests.
The wake ended when the priest finished chanting the lengthy sutra.
As many of the guests prepared to leave, folding cots were brought out and set up for those who wished to stay for the vigil.
Mako and Tohru, Lorna's parents came over to Roger and Mako said, "Thank you for coming, I know she would have appreciated your being here today."
Roger smiled at the couple and said quietly, "We are saddened to be here and yet honored, to have been invited to such an intimate occasion."
Tohru smiled and said quietly, "Our daughter would never forgive us if we had not invited you. My mother truly enjoyed cooking her secret recipes for Freya and thought of her like she was another grandchild. Albeit, a very large grandchild!"
They looked over to see Lorna introducing Freya to some of her cousins and they all smiled to see the smiles on their faces, as Freya was figuratively welcomed into the family.
Moments later, Lorna came up to her parents and said, "I need to get my change of clothes and sleeping bag out of the car." as Tohru handed her the keys, Freya came up to Roger and said, "Lorna's invited me to stay the night..."
Roger smiled at her and said, "I had a feeling this would happen, I took the liberty of bringing along a change of clothing and your sleeping roll."
Freya grinned and hugged him briefly before she took the proffered keys and the two went outside to fetch their bags.
As he drove home, Roger looked over at Anita who was sitting quietly and said, "Thank you for all the work you did last night."
Anita smiled at him and replied, "It was my pleasure, to be honest I've wanted to make something for Freya to wear for some time. She's such a big, beautiful girl, I just couldn't help wanting to dress her up."
She sighed, "I just wish it wasn't for a funeral."
Smiling she said, "I'm sorry I never got to know Lorna's grandmother, she sounds like she was quite the character in her youth. I could easily see Lorna doing the very sorts of things her grandmother did."
Roger grinned and said drily, "That could be the reason why Lorna gets packed off to Japan every summer, her auntie Meiko trying to stave off history repeating itself!"
Anita laughed and remarked, "I'm not sure it's working. Lorna still loves her sports and all, and she knows some really choice insults in Japanese!"
Roger laughed and commented, "In almost every language I've picked up over the years, it was usually the foul language and street slang I picked up first. Go figure!"
"So now what do we do?" she asked.
"We come back tomorrow for the funeral and the sealing of the casket before it gets loaded into the hearst for her final ride to the crematorium."
They came home to a simple repast that Silky had made for them and at her curious look, Roger said, "Freya is staying the night with her friend for the vigil."
He smiled at the diminutive house spirit and said quietly, "It would be a good occasion for a gathering of bean sidhes to send her off with a good chorus of wailing."
Silky smiled slightly at him and took the Temple's address card from his outstretched hand, she knew who to contact for Roger's none too subtle, hinted request.
As he settled in for the night, he felt Dena's tiny form slipping into bed with him and snuggling up against him.
Her squeak of a voice piped, "Wi' Freya gain, Ah figured yoo'd be needin' me company tonecht."
Roger murmured, "Since when have you needed an excuse to sleep with me? Even Freya's presence never stopped you before."
Dena snuggled and purred, her naked body pressed against him.
"Tonecht is special, ye ur withit yer companion, wi' oanly me tae gie ye comfort."
Roger smiled and squeezed her tiny self very gently, "Thank you Dena, you are a treasure indeed."
She murmured, "Ah ken 'at, Ah was jist waitin fer ye tae admit it!"
He chuckled and quickly dropped off to sleep, Dena's comforting presence had that sort of an effect on him.
The next morning, Roger and Anita returned to the temple where they retrieved Freya's change of clothes and bed roll before the other funeral guests arrived.
Anita, Lorna and Freya then teamed up to dress each other up before the services began.
With them was one of Lorna's cousins who had flown in with her parents from Japan, she spoke little English but seemed to be enjoying herself with her American born cousin and her friends from school.
The girl couldn't help being fascinated by Freya's towering height and gentle presence.
Roger meanwhile, helped put away the folding cots that had been set up the night before.
The funeral began right on time and was very similar to the wake from the day before except Lorna's grandmother received a new Buddhist name to prevent her spirit from lingering in the realm of the living.
After the priest had finished chanting the sutra, family members and guests filed past the casket and placed flowers around the deceased's head and shoulders.
Roger paused a moment to look at her face, in death she seemed so diminished, shrunken was the word he thought of while gazing at her placid face.
He bowed slightly and placed his flower alongside her face, her eyes that once twinkled in merriment now closed forever.
Roger thought he heard Freya murmuring a goodbye to her friend as she laid her flower in the casket and walked back to her seat, stifling her sobs.
Lastly, the casket was closed and sealed by nailing it shut using stone hammers that came from Japan, then it was carried out to the hearse waiting outsite the temple, loaded inside and driven away.
Once the hearse had departed, Freya began to cry and soon, she was joined by Lorna and the two comforted each other while sharing their grief.
Tohru allowed his daughter to have her good cry, then he gently reminded her that they needed to be at the crematorium.
He bowed towards the temple first then he turned, bowed and thanked the family members and invited guests for coming.
Roger and company in turn, bowed towards the family before leaving the temple.
On the way home, they stopped at a Japanese restaurant to eat.
Once the staff got over their shock upon seeing Freya for the first time, they were shown to a roomy booth and given menus.
A few minutes later, their server, a mature woman stoppped by and said, "Are you ready to order?"
Roger smiled at the woman and asked, "What is appropriate to eat after attending a Japanese funeral?"
She paused, then said, "Considering it is lunch time, anything on our lunch menu would be appropriate."
She said, "Pardon me for asking, was it anybody I might know?"
"It was Mrs. Yamada, she passed in her sleep the day before yesterday." replied Roger.
The woman sighed and said, "I'm sorry to hear that, she seemed to be in good health, last I saw her at temple."
"She was 90 years old, people at that age can slip away at anytime." remarked Roger.
She smiled, "Yes, they do. My own Father did that, went to take a nap and never woke up."
"Okay, back to business, what would you folks like?" she asked.
Roger grinned, "I would like the chicken tonkatsu over brown rice and a small Miso soup. To drink, a hot green tea would be nice."
Freya smiled, "Ah woods loch th' beef curry ramen please, a large a body an' th' same tae bevvy."
The woman blinked and said slowly, "You wanted a large beef curry ramen and a hot green tea?"
"Och aye!" said the young giantess with a radiant smile.
Anita smiled and said, "Pork gyoza and a small miso soup for me please, and green tea as well."
The woman smiled at them and said, "It'll be a few minutes." then she scurried off to the kitchen.
They sat quietly and mostly looked around in the restaurant admiring the decor and enjoying the atmosphere while ignoring the sidelong glances at Freya's towering form.
They were simply a fact of life for her, by virtue of her size and looks, she stood out everywhere she went among the 'wee fowk' as her mom once said.
The food arrived and after a brief placing of chopsticks across their hands and saying "Itadakimasu!" They dug in.
Freya was fairly hungry and polished off her ramen rather quickly leading Roger to comment, "I'm guessing you guys didn't eat last night?"
Freya dabbed at her lips and replied, "We didne eat, we mostly talked abit Akane an' hoo she hud affected uir li'es."
"I'm sure you had much to say in that regard."
"Och aye, Ah did. Ah tauld Lorna's coosins abit 'er sharin' 'er recipes wi' me an' tellin' me abit 'er girlhuid."
She grinned, "E'en Lorna hudnae heard some ay th' stories she tauld me!"
Roger chuckled and said, "You have a way of drawing people out and getting them to talk to you and that, is a good thing."
Anita smiled and said, "I've often seen her sitting quietly while other kids talk to her, she listens to people and lets them talk."
When it came time to settle up the bill, their server came up to them and asked politely, "I hope you don't think I'm being rude, but may I get a picture of you for our wall?"
Freya smiled and replied, "Ah dornt min', Ah gie asked tae pose a lot. Th' Yamada Ramen hoose has a lot at picters ay me oan their wall."
Rising to her feet, Freya stepped over where the server wanted her to stand and stood smiling while her eight and a half foot tall form was recorded for posterity by another one of the servers.
There was a brief flurry of movement as they all gathered around her towering form and Roger took their picture.
Their server grinned and said, "The boss will not believe this when I tell him about you 's why I wanted proof!"
Roger chuckled as he handed over his plastic money card, "We get that a lot, I can't tell you how many times Freya's been asked to pose, especially by Japanese tourists."
As they drove home, Freya said quietly, "Thaur was th' strangest hin' lest nicht durin' th' vigil, Ah thooght Ah heard bean sidhes aw a'wailin' ootwith th' temple."
Roger smiled and said half to himself, "So Silky was listening to me after all."
He turned to Freya and said, "I asked Silky if she could arrange for Akane to get a good send off by a chorus of bean sidhes, I felt it would be appropriate considering her friendship with you."
Freya smiled and said, "Lorna will appreciate 'at, she heard them too an' asked me whit they waur."
Roger grinned, "I'm sure the look on her face will be priceless."
Och, 'at it will, 'at it will."
Once back home again, as they exited the van Anita declared, "Don't change just yet! I want to get a couple of pictures of all of us all dressed up!"
They waited outside while Anita scurried inside to get Dena, the wolvies and her camera.
A few minutes later, they stood in a relaxed manner while Anita set her camera on its timer, pressed the lever then scurried to join them before the shutter tripped.
To Roger's pleasant surprise, Anita even got Silky to join them in the impromptu family photo.
Her powers of persuasion were impressive indeed!