On Being Dead Right

A tale of a Girl

Lily stared at her Grandma lying in her coffin with some fear. Her grandmother looked so life-like that she nearly expected her to come to life and start talking to her, as she always used to, with the smile in eyes and a teasing word of encouragement for her. Lily could not imagine never looking on that face again, not going to her cozy house after school and most certainly never having the best potato salad there was ever again. Never was a very long time, and Lily just could not understand.

Lily could not remember a time that her grandmother was not the referee between her and her parents. Her grandmother was that one person that could be counted on to support her, ensure that her voice was heard. Her grandmother did not always side with her, but she always made wise and logical arguments. She just made sense and would make others see that her way was the right way.

She slowly became aware of others around her, behind her, waiting to pay respects to the family. She found a place to sit, near the coffin, just a little past Grandma so that she could be near yet not in the way. After all, she was nearly seventeen years old, and while not a baby she was also not a grown-up either, at least in the eyes of those in attendance. Her large extended family tended to look on her as a favored child. She was the oldest grandchild of the oldest daughter, and this brought the blessing of being the first to reach important milestones. She was the first grandchild to walk, go to school, drive, get a job. She led the way…